One Stubborn Cowboy (8 page)

He pulled back a few inches, holding her face close to his, his breath fanning across her cheeks, Kelly stared up at him, unaware of the bemusement in her own expression, her mouth craving his.

"You're still a rowdy cowboy, aren't you?" she asked, her eyes dropping to his lips. "This isn't the place for lovemaking."

"Honey, anywhere I want is the place. And what better spot than where Althea can see it's not her I want, but you."

Chapter 4

Kelly started to protest, but Kit simply pulled her against his mouth again and kissed her long and hard.

She was breathing erratically when he released her. "Is that called staking your claim?" she asked, her voice tremulous. Her heart slammed into her chest, blood heating through her body. The other people in the crowded room faded from view. She saw only Kit.

"Yep."

His eyes roamed the room in blatant satisfaction before he looked back at her. "And everyone who needed to know it, saw."

"Oh, great." Embarrassed, she glanced around, noticing people talking, catching the eye of one or two, blushing as she quickly moved hers.

"When Althea leaves, you and I can have a huge fight and everyone will know you're free again," he said softly.

She pulled back and glared at him. "I'm free right now, cowboy. Kisses mean nothing. Don't ride me or I'll walk away and leave you to Althea."

His eyes gleamed. "Don't ride you, when it'd be so much fun?"

Kelly flushed at his words and rose on trembling legs. "I'm going for some food. Want something?" She stepped away from temptation, from danger. She needed a few minutes to get her emotions under control.

"I'll take a plateful."

Kelly kept a watchful eye on Kit as she loaded up two plates with an assortment of the food on the tables. She considered her hasty agreement for the charade. She hadn't thought about it much, just that he'd seemed so upset, and she reacted. His vulnerability struck a chord deep within her. And now that she'd met Althea, she wanted to help him even more. Could they fool the whole town, though? And for how long?

When the dance ended, Clint and Sally offered Kelly a ride home. Accepting, Kelly worried Kit might prove difficult when bidding her good-night. But he didn't say a word. Waving them goodbye, she entered her house wondering at the disappointment that he hadn't at least tried to kiss her again.

* * *

Kelly woke late Sunday morning. She was heavy lidded and headachy, wishing for more sleep, knowing her body thought she should be up with the sun. Even after her shower, she was listless. No more late nights for her. After only a couple of weeks in Taylorville she was adjusting to country hours.

There was plenty to do around the house. She could put up shelves so she could unpack her books. She could wash the linens, work on the new storybook. But Sundays were lazy days and she didn't have much motivation. She rather wanted to think about the dance, remember Kit's kisses and the awkward situation with Althea.

She drifted to her backyard, hot in the afternoon sun but shaded by the large oak tree that grew on the border with Molly Benson's yard. She sank into one of the lawn chairs and dozed, lazy and content. San Francisco was probably foggy and cold. She rarely sat out in the afternoons there, unless it was during the warm, sunny days of September.

If she still lived in the city she'd have had brunch with friends, made plans for the week and scarcely had time to do routine chores. Life was slower here, and she was surprised at how fast she was adjusting. Wouldn't her friends be surprised?

"Hi, Kelly. Enjoy the party last night?"

Old Mrs. Benson walked sedately across the yard, two glasses brimful of iced tea on a silver tray. "I brought refreshments." She sat daintily on the second chair and smiled at Kelly.

"Thanks. It sure gets hot." Kelly took a long drink of the icy liquid and settled back, smiling at Mrs. Benson. "The dance was enjoyable. I met a lot of people."

"I saw you sitting with Kit Lockford. He was always a wild boy."

Kelly nodded, but said nothing. Had Molly also seen his kisses? How could she have missed them? Everybody and their brother had to have seen them.

The old woman settled back in her chair and smiled. "I remember how Kit used to come into town, whirling the girls around, buying beer from the store. Then he and his rowdy friends sat on the benches drinking and carrying on. Sassing people as they walked by, flirting with all the girls. Aye, he was a wild one. You'd think nothing could have contained him. All he cared for was being rowdy, having fun and riding the rodeos."

"Rodeos?" Kelly was intrigued. It fit. He was brash and brave and gutsy. He'd have loved the rodeos.

"Yes. That's what he did, ran that ranch of his and rode the rodeo circuit. Rode the broncs and bulls. Won most of the events. When he was away, Clint took care of his ranch."

"The ranch belongs to Kit?" Kelly asked, trying to get it all straight.

"Sure does. Though Clint might be a partner now, for all I know. But it was Kit's. He took over from his mother's brother. Built it up grand with all his winnings. Fixed up that house for Althea. Never thought young Sally Maguire would be its first mistress."

Kelly was fascinated. "Kit and Althea were engaged, he told me," she said slowly, wondering about them. Did he still want her despite his careless words last night?

"Yes. Wild girl. They made a wonderful couple. She so tall with that rich auburn hair, and as wild as he was. Always egging him on, joining in on the parties, following him to the rodeos."

"So what happened?" Kelly knew the result, but not why. She couldn't understand the why.

"That young madam tossed him over when she heard the doctor's report that he'd never walk again. Returned his ring while he was still in the hospital. Awful row they had, so I heard. She was screaming at him, and he pleading with her. It ended by her flinging his ring across the room at him as she marched out."

"God, how awful." Kelly's gentle heart ached for the pain he must have gone through, especially just after finding out the extent of his injuries. How cruel of Althea.

"I've always thought so. Kit's not a bad one, just wild. Shameful the way Althea treated him. Though in the long run I think it best Kit learned about her before marriage. I hear her current marriage is breaking up."

Justice? Kelly wondered.

"The way I heard the story, there was a nurse at the hospital that was hard up, widowed young, had a small child. Kit gave her the ring and told her to sell it and see it brought some happiness somewhere because it sure hadn't brought him any. When he came out, he was a bitter man."

Kelly couldn't believe Althea had been so cold, so heartless. No wonder he hadn't wanted to appear as if he was still carrying the torch for her. Kelly's anger rose on his behalf as she thought about it.

"Althea married one of the Kendricks boys a few months later. He's in real estate. They live in Stockton. Didn't see him last night. Wouldn't expect to if they are breaking up."

Kelly didn't want to talk about Althea. She hoped the woman would return to Stockton soon. Maybe she was only in town for the weekend. Had last night exhibition fooled her?

Kelly fiercely wanted it to have fooled her. She was surprised at the feeling of protectiveness she felt toward Kit. Ha, she'd never met a man who needed less protection.

"How did Kit get hurt?" she asked, curious.

"Rodeoing, like I said. He was at the Cow Palace for the Grand National. Riding a bull. He got gored pretty bad, injured his spine, internal injuries. For a while they didn't know if he'd live."

Kelly shuddered at the picture Molly described. She'd never thought in graphic detail just how he'd become paralyzed.

"The doctors told him he might never walk again, but he's so headstrong he had to prove them wrong. That's why he struggles about on those crutches so much. He's done a lot more than anyone thought he would. Though I did hear a year or so ago that they wanted him to have another operation. Something experimental. It could improve muscle control beyond what he has. I'm not sure I heard right, though."

"He, uh, he didn't tell me how it happened, just he'd been injured by a bull," Kelly said slowly.

"I don't think he talks about it much. But it festers in him, I think. And I guess he'll never get over it. He keeps himself shut up at that ranch working hard. Doesn't party now. He's changed so much, poor boy."

Kelly smiled gently at Molly Benson. Her words echoed Jefferies from the other day. She understood their sentiments a little better, but Kit Lockford was still too much a man to be called boy. Except for a certain expected bitterness, he'd taken what life had thrown him and continued. Still worked his ranch. And if he didn't socialize, well, after the trauma of his fiancée's defection, he could be excused for avoiding that.

Molly talked at some length about others at the dance and Kelly listened with half an ear, her thoughts caught up with what she'd learned about Kit. She was glad Molly had joined her and filled her in on his background. She had a feeling he'd not be as willing to share. And she didn't want him to know how curious she was about him.

* * *

Monday Kelly worked on the story line for her book. She blocked out the chapters, decided what pictures to incorporate for illustrations. And made a schedule of the different stages for completion.

Tuesday she worked at her drawing board in the morning. Taking a break in the early afternoon, she walked down to the store to pick up a few things, and visit with Beth. She saw Jefferies across the street as she was leaving and waved to him, smiling in secret. She was beginning to belong. The people in town made her welcome and she felt connected. She had never had that before and it warmed her heart.

Catching a flash of color from the corner of her eye, she turned and watched as Kit Lockford's big blue-and-white truck approached--at a reasonable rate of speed, no less. It slowed and stopped even with her.

Jumping down from the sidewalk, she walked to the driver's door.

"Cop bust you for speeding?" she asked, smiling in delight to see him again. Looking at him almost in hunger, she was startled to realize how glad she was to see him.

"Slowed down just for you, darlin'. Got to keep my best girl happy and she doesn't like speeding in town."

She smiled at his nonsense. "Right, pull the other leg, why don't you?"

"I'll pull them both if you want, and wrap them right around me." He stared down at her for a long moment, while Kelly felt heat rise in her cheeks at the picture his provocative suggestion painted.

He smiled sardonically, as if he could read her mind. "I'm going to Stanton to get some livestock medicine. Want to go for a ride? I want to talk to you."

Kelly considered and nodded. "Why not?"

She went around to the passenger door and climbed in. Excitement welled up inside. She'd never spent very long in his company. It was a half hour's drive to Stanton, the same back. Could they keep from fighting for an hour?

And what did he want to talk about? Had he had second thoughts about their pretending to be involved? Had he decided he wanted to take up again with Althea? She frowned, looking out her window. She didn't want that. Not that she'd have any say in the matter if he'd changed his mind.

He pulled away, speeding up as the edge of town approached, soon hurtling down the highway. Kelly laughed softly in bravado, knowing he was teasing her.

"I forgot you'd need a special vehicle," she said after a few minutes watching him operate the hand controls. "I didn't know trucks came with the options."

"I paid a hell of a lot to get this rig. It's four-wheel drive, too, so I can go off-road."

"For ranch work?"

"Right." He didn't say any more and Kelly kept quiet as she watched the rolling brown hills speed by. He might as well be alone in the truck for all the attention he was paying her. She thought he wanted to talk to her. Another five minutes and she'd had enough.

"Are you originally from Taylorville?" she asked, just to break the silence.

He threw her a quick look and arched one eyebrow. "Surely the town's busybodies have filled you in on my sordid past by now."

"Do you think all people have to talk about is you?"

He was silent for a minute, then grinned when he heard her begin to mutter.