Authors: Peggy Ann Craig
Anna nodded vaguely and a sad look crossed his face before he went to take a step toward her, then caught himself short. Shoving his hands into his pant pockets, he told her, “I once told you that you were welcome to stay at the ranch for however long you wanted. That offer was made to a boy. I’d like to extend that same offer to the woman.”
She took a deep breath and felt the heaviness in her heart begin to lift.
He cocked his head and studied her face. “Well? Will you accept?”
She nodded and wondered why her chest still felt heavy.
“Good.” He smiled and this time did come over to sit next to her on the bed. “That’s settled.”
Automatically, her eyes shot to his face. In particular, his lips. He sighed softly and began with, “We need to talk about that.”
Anna looked away. She knew what his next words were and didn’t want to hear them.
“I find you to be a very nice young girl, but—”
The door to his room swung open and Prescott entered. He looked anxiously at both Anna and Wade. “Thank God. I thought you might have strangled her.”
Wade actually grinned and got up off the bed. “Not this time.” But he gave her a gentle smile and a playful wink. “Were you able to settle everything over there?”
“Yes.” He nodded and looked at Anna. “His wife sends her well wishes.”
She nodded and felt guilt sweep over her. Prescott looked from one to the other and asked, “Has everything been settled over here as well?”
Wade hesitated, but avoided making eye contact with Anna. “I think we understand each other.”
Prescott seemed satisfied and broke out into a bright smile. “Good. So, if my services are no longer required here, I think I will turn in for the evening.”
Wade nodded and reached out a hand toward Anna. “I agree. It’s been a long day. Would you mind escorting Anna to her hotel room?”
“Of course.” He took her arm from Wade’s and Anna felt a sense of loss. She would have loved dearly to stay with him all night long.
“Anna,” Wade spoke to her once more before she left. “Let’s try to get through this journey with a little less excitement.”
She nodded, but felt embarrassed as if he was talking to a child. They left Wade standing alone in his room and as they went down and through the rowdy saloon, Anna hoped he stayed that way.
* * *
The remainder of the trip went without incident to Wade’s relief. He really had no idea what overcame Anna. She indicated that she had felt she was no longer welcome at the Circle H, which was as far from the reality as possible. He almost hated admitting it, but he liked having her there. She brought a certain element to the ranch which had been missing all these years. It wasn’t for the fact that she was the only female, since he recognized this feeling long before her identity was discovered. There was simply something about her as a person.
As she fidgeted awkwardly on the seat next to Kim he watched her closely and rubbed the back of his neck. Obviously he wasn’t the only one affected by the long trail. Nearly two weeks without a proper night’s sleep. Hell, he was anxious to get back to the ranch for that matter alone. Admittedly, he also wanted to get her safely returned to where she belonged. He smiled to himself and realized how true his words were. Even more so than him, that mountain was her home.
They had come full circle up the western terrain and would shortly be stopping in Lantern for their spring festivities. Usually a time for drinking and womanizing, Wade knew this year would be spent a little different.
He noticed Anna squirm on top of the chuck wagon and he frowned. Maybe she wasn’t feeling well. It wouldn’t be the first time someone threw up after days out on the cattle drive. He kicked Sty into a trot and brought him up alongside the chuck wagon.
“You okay?”
She nodded, but her eyes told a different story. Wade reached out and pulled the horses harnessed to the wagon to a halt. “What’s wrong?”
Shaking her head, she tried to quell the fear in her eyes. He knew instantly that it wasn’t her stomach upsetting her. Turning, he looked around their surroundings. It took a few minutes for him to recognize the familiar landscape since they had come in through the northwestern trail. Wade felt a sinking sensation in his stomach and turned a worried look toward Anna.
“Wade.” Prescott rode his horse up to them and looked concerned. “I think we better turn back.”
He nodded quickly, and pulled the chuck wagon’s horses around. Some of the ranch hands looked confused, but followed Wade’s lead. As they made their way back over the same trail they had just come, he stayed next to the wagon. She sat stiffly in her seat until they reached the end of the clearing that would take them out of that area of the woods. Then she turned and looked back.
Wade frowned and watched her emotionless face. Hell, he would give anything to know what happened in that village. Her eyes remained cold as she watched the woods disappear from view. He wanted to give her some type of comfort, but with the ranch hands all within view he was left simply riding next to her. Which, from the look on her face, he wasn’t entirely sure she would have wanted.
An hour later they pulled into Lantern, having taken a lot longer than anticipated since they had to reroute their path. Wade would have loved nothing more than to head straight back to the ranch and his own bed, but it was getting late and the men were getting restless being in a saddle so long. An overnight visit to their favorite alehouse always lifted morale.
With the horses all stalled in the livery and the ranch hands dispersed, Wade ensured Anna stayed close to him this time as both he and Prescott escorted her to Elizabeth’s restaurant. The woman’s face lit up upon seeing Prescott, and Wade thought if he and Anna weren’t there, she probably wouldn’t have acted so civil.
“Do you have a room for Anna?” Prescott leaned forward and asked in a hush whisper as there were a few patrons in the restaurant.
She nodded and gave the girl a warm smile. “What about you, Wade? Would you like a room?”
Taken aback, Wade did not reply immediately. Both his brother and Anna turned to look at him. He never took one of the rooms above Elizabeth’s establishment. It was common practice that he stayed over at the saloon during his town visits. He cleared his throat and suddenly felt very uncomfortable. Hell, why did Anna have to stand there looking at him?
“Sure.”
Elizabeth broke into a wide smile. “Let me just go and get your rooms ready.”
After she left, the trio stood there silently until at last Wade darted a glance at his brother. Prescott gave him an odd look and he knew what question was going through his head. Trouble was, even Wade didn’t know the answer.
Shortly, Elizabeth returned and said, “I’ve set you both up in rooms across each other. There’s a warm bath waiting for you in your room, Anna.”
Wade swung his bedroll over his shoulder then glanced at the girl before directing his attention to their host. “She won’t be needing it.”
“Oh?” Elizabeth’s brows rose, surprised. “Wouldn’t she like to wash away the dust from the trail?”
“She has a fear of water.”
“Really?” She turned stunned eyes to the smaller woman. “How odd.”
He noticed Anna look away and knew she felt embarrassed. Taking her bedroll and tucking it under his arm, he cupped her elbow and led her to the staircase that went to the rooms above. There were only four doors on the second landing, and Elizabeth had left the ones open that Anna and himself were to occupy. Glancing inside he decided to take the one facing the street as it would be noisier. He slipped into her room for only a few moments to deposit her bedroll on the dresser then departed just as quickly.
“Sleep well and I’ll see you in the morning.”
She nodded before he crossed the hall to his own room. When he turned to shut the door, he noticed her still standing in the hall watching him. He frowned, and motioned to her room. “Go on, get to bed.”
This time she did slip into the room and quietly shut the door behind her. Wade waited until he heard the lock click into place before he shut his own door. He didn’t want to take any chances. The last time he wanted to see her tonight would be behind that locked door. The next when she opened it for him in the morning.
Taking off his hat, he dropped it on his dresser and went over to look out the window. He could see the saloon a few buildings down. Its lights were burning brightly and even with his window shut, he could hear the noise coming from its interior. He thought about Marion and considered going down for a quick visit. Contrary to what she told him on his last visit, he was certain he would be very welcome. Not too many customers pay as well as he did.
He sighed and began to unbutton his shirt. Far too many sleepless nights had left him exhausted. The comfort of bed beckoned. As he stripped then crawled under the covers, he did think that a warm, soft female body next to his wouldn’t have been so bad. The last conscious image he had before slipping into a deep sleep, was not that of a redheaded saloon woman, but of a dark-haired beauty with big brown eyes.
* * *
Anna sat next to Wade as they watched his ranch hands compete in the roping and steer wrestling competitions. Bleachers were set up along the corral and women carrying parasols and men in their Sunday best sat to watch the sport that would stir up the dirt and soil a few bottoms.
Prescott and Elizabeth sat next to them and Anna laughed to herself when it was discovered that Wade’s brother was such a fan of the annual event. “Come on, Neil, get that steer’s head down low.”
She looked up at him as he stood on his seat and shouted to the competitors. Anna smirked and looked away. She caught Wade’s gaze looking at her. He smiled suddenly and she easily returned it. Ever since they had come back from Kamloops, something had changed between them. She wasn’t certain what it was, but there definitely was a difference. For one thing, he never left her side. Admittedly, Anna quite liked it.
“Hey.” Someone to her right said. She turned and saw Joe beckoning for her. Anna frowned and went over.
“They’re getting set up for the bull ride,” he told her and Anna felt a chill run down her spine. She had completely forgotten about the bull. “You best get goin’ or ya will miss your name bein’ called. I already registered ya.”
Anna bit her bottom lip and went to turn to look over at Wade. Perhaps to mentally send a message of help, but Joe grabbed her by the shoulder and turned her in the opposite direction. “No need to worry ‘bout him. I’ll let him know you’re okay.”
That was just the problem, Anna thought. She didn’t think she would be okay if she climbed onto the back of that bull. “Come on now.”
She turned and headed in the direction he indicated. Wade called after them and Joe shouted back, “No need to worry boss. Got him good and safe. Be back shortly.”
He quickly grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the pen where the bulls were being held and pointed to a very large one in particular. “That’s the one ya going to ride, so if you need to whisper a few words with him or somethin’, ya best get at it. You’ll be up soon.”
Anna’s large round eyes shot to Joe in alarm. The bull was the biggest and scariest animal she had ever seen. Why in heavens would she consider whispering to it? However, the lead foreman had already gone and Anna was left all alone staring at the beast that would surely be her means to death.
She hadn’t been standing there long when a few wranglers roped the beast by the horns and dragged him off to the far side of the pen, where a gate opened to a holding pen just big enough for the animal alone. She grew nervous and looked around anxiously for Joe. A tall and thin cowboy from the far side announced, “Next up, Peter from the Circle H. Bull riding.”
Joe’s animated face lunged into view and Anna would have sighed with relief, but he grabbed her arm and propelled her toward the area where the cowboys had dragged the mean looking bull. A thick rope encircled its massive stomach, which only seemed to irritate the animal more. He snorted and pawed the ground and gave the fence closest to him a good lurch with his body. Anna instinctively took a few steps back. Panic began to swell in her throat, replacing her nervousness.
“Get on, climb on up that there rail.” Joe gestured toward the fence. “Best position to straddle the animal without gettin’ your legs broken.”
Good Lord, she felt her stomach begin to rumble and she feared she may bring it up all over the bull. She tried to make eye contact with him, but his black eyes only glared and shook in his head as he thrust about violently inside the pen. Cautiously, she stepped up onto the first fence rail and felt the animal’s body slam into the barrier, sending Anna flying backwards.
“Come on, get up kid.” Joe grabbed her under the armpits and hoisted her to her feet. “Otherwise they goin’ disqualify ya.”
Which didn’t sound like a bad idea to Anna. The men were able to calm the animal once again and this time Anna succeeded in reaching the top. She held on for dear life as she looked down at the bull and sent a silent prayer up above.