Randall Pride (12 page)

“Boy, you gonna eat my mashed potatoes or sleep?” Red yelled at him.

Toby snapped his head up to discover most of the people at the table, his family, staring at him. “Uh, sorry. I guess the week off made me soft.” Then he took a bite of the offending potatoes and chewed determinedly.

When he got up to help clear the table, B.J. put a hand on his shoulder. “You don’t have to help if you don’t feel well, son.”

“It’s not that, Mom. I can help. I just have some thinking to do.”

He didn’t get any thinking done during the clean up because Elizabeth was helping tonight. Since she was the only female of the second generation at home, she organized her male cousins. Toby ended up beside her at the sink, rinsing the dishes she’d just washed. Their hands frequently touched, making him want more.

“Don’t drop it, Toby!” she warned him as she passed him a platter. He’d been trying to avoid her touch to reduce his frustration level.

He firmly grabbed the platter. “I won’t.”

“Are you missing Lonnie? I thought you’d have plenty of guys around with all the cousins.”

“Yeah, I do. But, in some ways, having Lonnie here was different.”
I don’t have to worry about these guys seducing you.

“It’s kind of lonely for me, being the only girl. Without Caroline, Victoria and Jessica, all I have are you guys.”

He heard the loneliness in her voice, but he couldn’t offer to be her best friend. That wouldn’t work. So he only nodded.

When he finally escaped to the Pad, even the guys were wanting to know what was bothering him. After assuring them he was fine, he withdrew to his room and threw himself down on the bunk. He had to find some answers to his questions. Most specifically to the one question: What was he going to do…about Elizabeth?

He’d always told himself that while there was nothing illegal about their marrying, it would be frowned upon socially. And he didn’t want to bring any shame to the Randall name.

True, but most of their neighbors knew the truth of their relationship. He didn’t think they would be scandalized. Would his father think it was a bad idea? Why hadn’t he ever asked him?

Because it was too great a risk.

That answer seemed to pop up out of nowhere and Toby lay there, contemplating it. Why? What was he risking?

Several things entered his mind, but he dismissed them. Finally, it came down to the greatest risk of all: losing his family.

It was always risky to pursue someone you love, to risk your heart. But if his family, and most especially Elizabeth, rejected his heart’s desire, then he’d not only lose her but his family as well.

His beloved family.

Oh, his mom wouldn’t refuse to speak to him. But coming home to the big family, arms wrapped around him, wouldn’t be possible. It would be too awkward.

Chad and Megan would avoid him. Elizabeth would find other places to be when he came back. His male cousins would welcome him to the barn, feel pity for him, but he wouldn’t be oldest cousin, world champion rodeo rider, someone to emulate and admire. He would be poor Toby.

Toby leaped to his feet and began pacing the room.

Was Elizabeth worth such a sacrifice? Especially when he had nothing to convince him she would welcome his advances?

After all, it wasn’t like he could kiss her and see if she responded. If she slapped his face, he couldn’t avoid her for a couple of weeks and it would blow over. He was her cousin!

He sighed and rubbed the back of his head. Had he stayed away from her for seven years hoping the feeling would fade? And what was this feeling, this wanting, that persisted without any encouragement
for so long? Chemistry? It certainly couldn’t be constant contact. He’d stayed away.

And yet, the minute he’d seen her, felt her pressed against him, her welcoming kisses on his face, it had leaped out of control like a spark striking a brushfire.

All he had to do was kiss her, and he’d set another brushfire of family response that would either burn away the undergrowth that confused everything and make a wonderful future possible, or set a flame that would destroy his future as a Randall.

Looking out at the dark night, staring at the twinkling stars, Toby Randall faced a horrible truth.

He was a coward.

Elizabeth sighed.

It was Saturday. Her free day. Her day to get caught up on chores. Her day to take stock of her situation and make plans for a new direction.

Her day without Toby.

He’d gotten a phone call yesterday demanding his presence in Denver today. He’d left before daylight so he’d be able to make the shoot to redo a magazine ad. So he wouldn’t keep the gorgeous models waiting.

He was spending his day putting his arms around expensive supermodels, and she was sitting around moping.

That thought threw her into a frenzy of activity that by lunch had her laundry done, her room cleaned, the entire downstairs vacuumed. Her mother protested the vacuuming because several women came from town to do the basic cleaning every week, but Elizabeth had energy to burn.

At lunch she sat down with Red, Mildred, her mother Megan and Anna.

“Are you feeling all right, dear?” Megan asked.

“Yes, fine. Just a little restless.”

“I guess this weekend is dull compared to going to Denver and seeing the rodeo,” Red commented.

“I think it was the shopping more than the rodeo that caused the excitement,” Anna said. “When I took the girls to Denver to shop for school, even Torie was excited. Jessica is always excited about shopping, even here, of course.”

Of Elizabeth’s two younger girl cousins, Jessica was very feminine. Torie was quieter, more studious. Elizabeth grinned. “I can believe that. And the stores in Denver are exciting, but I don’t need to do any shopping for a while.”

“Too bad,” Red said. “’Cause you could’ve gone with Toby again today.”

She’d thought about it. But she’d decided that it wouldn’t be a good idea. She didn’t want to become too obvious, tagging after Toby at every opportunity.

With the entire afternoon to get through, Elizabeth resorted to what she used to do when she had a problem. She decided to go for a ride.

An eagerness filled her. “I’m going to go for a ride.”

Her mother protested, “But it’s cool out today. And the weather’s a little unsettled. Are you sure?”

“I’ll check the weather before I head out, Mom. And I’ll be sure I’m in early. I’ll be in way before the guys. I just need a little fresh air.”

Red and Mildred added several warnings that she
dutifully listened to, then she asked, “How about you, Aunt Anna? Don’t you want to warn me, too?”

Anna chuckled. “No, Elizabeth. You probably know more about horse-riding than I do. But be careful.”

“I will. I’m going to take old Buttercup. She’ll keep me safe.” The horse was a buckskin that had been retired a couple of years ago. Her gait was steady and to be trusted. And Elizabeth knew just where she wanted to go.

As kids, the cousins used to go camping over the first mountain pass, on the back side of a little mountain. She could take a snack and break her ride. She’d be able to think there.

“Red, could you fix me a snack?”

“You bet, honey. Cookies? An apple?”

“I think I’ll be bad and have cookies, but I’ll need something to drink. I’m going to change. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Half an hour later she was in the saddle, headed west. What a good idea. She drew in the clean air, filling her lungs. Not that the air was bad at the house. Not at all. But she had to share it with so many people. She loved her family. They were all supportive, loving. But there were so many of them. And she couldn’t share her problems with them. They wouldn’t understand.

She wasn’t sure she did herself.

But she couldn’t go on like this. Only happy when she was with Toby. Even then, when he was upset
with her, she wasn’t happy. Which didn’t leave much time to be happy. On the hayride, the second half had been wonderful. She had ridden in Toby’s embrace. She could’ve kissed his chin, or—or even his mouth. His lips were so tempting, so strong.

“I’m sounding like a teenager with raging hormones, Buttercup. Don’t worry. I promise I’m older than that.”

But lately she was beginning to wonder.

Fortunately Buttercup knew the path. Elizabeth only had to correct her a couple of times. Otherwise, she let her mind drift over her relationship with Toby…and what she was going to do.

She was almost to the point where they’d camped, a grassy area wedged between two rock formations. There were several trees. They’d always called it their fort.

She was smiling, thinking of those carefree days, when an antelope bolted from behind a nearby rock, startling both her and Buttercup.

Buttercup was frightened and reared. Normally Elizabeth could’ve handled her reaction, but she hadn’t been paying attention, and she immediately tumbled off the horse. She landed wrong on her left foot and pain surged up her leg.

Worst of all, instead of calming down, Buttercup turned and ran…back up the mountain path toward the ranch.

T
OBY CHECKED
his watch. It was three o’clock. His foot pushed a little harder on the accelerator. He
wasn’t sure where his sense of urgency came from. He’d been away from the ranch more than he’d ever been there in the past few years. So it wasn’t that he wasn’t used to being away.

But for some reason, he felt a need to get home, to be sure everything was all right.

He released the tension with a sigh as he pulled to a stop by the house. His panic must be for nothing. Everything looked normal.

Then he caught a movement out of the corner of his eyes. He checked the area about the barn and saw old Buttercup. What was she doing out? Maybe she was looking for more food?

He got out of the truck and went to put her away. If the storm he’d heard about hit tonight, she’d be grateful for the protection of the barn.

When he got close enough to see that she was saddled, that tenseness returned. He checked her out for injuries and found none. Then he put her in the barn and headed for the house at a run.

When he got to the kitchen, no one was there. “Hello?” he called. “Where is everyone?”

Red stuck his head out of the bedroom off the kitchen. “We’re restin’, boy. Where’s the fire?”

“Who went out riding?”

Red grew more serious. “Elizabeth, why?”

“Did she take Buttercup?”

“Said she was.”

“Buttercup is back, still saddled, but no one with her.”

“What?” came Mildred’s voice, fear rising.

Red came into the kitchen, tucking his shirt into his jeans. “You think she’s down, out there?”

“Has to be. I checked the barn. But Buttercup was outside the corral. Did she say where she was going?”

“Naw, but she promised to be back early,” Red told him, looking at his watch. “’Bout now I reckon.”

He passed Toby and crossed to the door leading to the hall. He opened it and called, “Megan? Hurry down.” Then he turned to face Toby. “You going after her?”

“Yeah. I bet she went to our old camping place. She’d just have time to ride there and come back if she left around noon.” Red nodded in confirmation. “There’s a big storm coming in, carrying rain and sleet. Maybe snow further up. I won’t have time to get her down that mountain before sunset, and it will be too dangerous after that, so pack for overnight.”

“Right. You go get ready. I’ll pack camping gear. You’ll take a second horse?”

“Yeah.”

Mildred rushed in as Toby headed for the back door, and he left Red to fill her in. Footsteps on the stairs meant Megan was about to burst into the kitchen and he didn’t want to break the news to her.

Ten minutes later, he was back, long underwear under his jeans and shirt and a rain slicker on his arm. Red had a pile of gear on the floor, and Mildred was
filling a canteen with water. Megan and Anna were cutting four thick roast beef sandwiches.

“You ate lunch, didn’t you, boy?” Red asked.

“Actually, no, but—”

“Fix another sandwich,” Red ordered.

“I don’t have time, Red. I’ll be all right.”

“I’m not sending you out in a storm with no food in your belly.” He nodded then relented slightly. “You can eat it while you’re riding.”

Toby knew it would save time to agree.

Anna started work on another sandwich while Megan came to him. “You’ll bring her back safely, won’t you?”

“Sure, Aunt Megan. You know I will.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “It’s just another camping trip.”

“What if she’s hurt?”

“I’ll take care of her. I’m taking a first-aid kit. Quit worrying. I’m taking a radio with me, so I can let you know. Okay?”

He hoped he’d thought of everything. The only thing he didn’t know for sure was where he would find Elizabeth. She was a good rider. Not one to lose her seat easily. And there’d been no marks on Buttercup.

If he found her at once, before the rain got too bad, everything would be okay. If she spent the night out on the mountain, unprotected, he couldn’t make any guarantees.

“Could you get me a change of clothes for her?
It’s supposed to rain and we don’t want her catching a cold.”

Megan ran up the stairs at once.

“Start your sandwich while you’re waiting on her,” Anna suggested, pushing it in his direction.

That made sense, so he filled his hollow stomach with the sandwich, then started on his way.

Red went to the barn with him and loaded everything on the second horse while he saddled Cocoa. He took the food and put it on his own horse, just in case he and the second animal got separated.

“Be careful and bring her back safely,” Red said, slapping Toby on his leg after he’d mounted.

“I will, Red. Thanks. I’ll try to radio by the time the guys get in. Tell them to wait for my call.”

Red cleared his throat. “Yeah. I will.”

Toby urged Cocoa out of the barn, the second horse following. He tied the lead rope around his saddle horn. He could already feel a change in the weather. Elizabeth would never have set out for a ride with it like this, but he suspected that at noon there’d been nothing to indicate a storm.

He set out at a steady lope, hoping to make as much time as possible while he was on level ground. Once they started up the mountain, he’d have to slow down.

And, please, God, let him find her.

E
LIZABETH
tried to curl her legs tighter to her body. She’d taken her jacket off and had it pulled over her
head to serve as some sort of shelter from the rain. Her back was to a rock beside the trail.

Pain shot through her as she moved her ankle. She wasn’t doing such a great job of keeping herself dry or warm.

She’d hoped Buttercup would go all the way back to the barn. It was her only hope for rescue. But it would have to be Red who came. The old man would have a hard time in this weather. And in another hour, no one would be able to get up that path in the dark, with it slick with rain.

That would be crazy.

And the men would only now be getting back from their day’s work. Unless they’d taken a radio with them. She’d better start trying to figure out how to survive the night.

Up here, it was already getting below freezing at night. The only coat she had was drenched. It was a denim jacket with sheepskin lining. If the rain stopped soon, before it became too soggy, she might—who was she kidding? At best, she’d get through the night and have to go to the hospital for dehydration and frostbite.

She shrugged her shoulders. No sense crying over spilled milk. She was here now, alone, with no supplies. And she’d never kissed Toby.

That random thought almost made her laugh. But with the shivers that were coursing through her, she couldn’t quite manage that. She was facing the trail
that led back to the ranch. Back east. The rain was coming from the west.

Some small noise alerted her to movement. Concentrating her gaze, she thought she saw someone through the rain. Red! It must be Red.

She tried to rise up, but she only got to her knees. “Red!” she screamed.

The figure came to a halt, then started moving again.

Did that mean he’d seen her? She sank back into a heap against her rock and waited, straining to see through the rainfall.

If it was Red, he would have brought shelter of some kind, because he’d know they couldn’t make it back down the mountain in the dark. But even better, if it was Red, she knew he’d bring food. Wonderful food. Her snack had gone with Buttercup. She’d had nothing since lunch, and it took a lot of energy to keep up all those shivers.

Fortunately, she was right beside the trail, so a couple of minutes later, she got to her knees again, ignoring the pain, when the rider got closer. The yellow slicker made it easier for her to see him in the gloom. “Red!” she called again.

The horses came to a halt and the man got down. “Not Red. It’s Toby, if that’s all right?”

Her eyes welled with tears at his response. “Yes! Yes, I’m so grateful. I didn’t think anyone would be there but Red.”

“You’re hurt?” he asked, ignoring her response.

“My ankle,” she replied, her voice filled with shame. She was a better rider than that.

He didn’t touch her. Instead, he stepped past her, leading the two horses to the grassy patch. “I’ll be right back,” he called over his shoulder.

She sobbed, then chastised herself for her weakness. She might be miserable and frightened, but it hadn’t been an easy ride for Toby. The least she could do was contain her misery.

In amazement, she watched him set up a one-man tent against one of the western rocks. He threw a pack in the tent after removing the canvas it was wrapped in to keep it dry.

Something dry. What a wonderful thought. Could he even build a fire? She couldn’t move enough to get wood, even if she’d had a match. And she didn’t.

He suddenly appeared beside her and scooped her up. “I’m going to put you in the tent. I want you to take off your wet clothes and get inside the sleeping bag. Throw them back out.”

“Y-yes,” she agreed, her teeth chattering.

“Do it fast. And be prepared cause I’m coming in after you as soon as I see to the horses. It’s a two-man tent tonight.”

She nodded, her voice caught in her throat. It was a small tent. But she’d share with Toby gladly. After all, he’d rescued her. But she would’ve anyway. She wouldn’t be able to rest if he was out in the storm.