Ryelee's Cowboy (10 page)

* * * *

Ryelee heard the soft knocking. She
opened the door and turned back to her window without sparing a
glance for Clint. She couldn’t look at him, knowing what he thought
of her. She just couldn’t. Every other cowboy? She didn’t know that
her heart could hurt so much. She thought that words didn’t have
enough power to hurt her anymore. She’d heard it all through the
years. No matter what she’d never be respectable. In the past she’d
always picked herself up and pretended that it didn’t matter. She
could no longer pretend.

Warmth exuded from him as he stood
right behind her.

“Please just let me be. You’ve had
your say. It’s fine. You think I’m easy. It’s not the first time
I’ve heard that and it probably won’t be the last. I don’t need you
in here checking on me. I’m not your responsibility. I only work
for you.” She was proud that she was able to keep her voice
steady.

He stepped closer, pressing his hard
body against her back. She took a fortifying breath as he snaked
his arms around her middle, pulling her back against him. His hot
breath on her neck made her dizzy, and when he kissed the side of
her neck, she wasn’t sure if she could remain standing. He made it
extremely hard to stay mad at him.

“Don’t, Clint. I’m not who you think I
am. I just want to be left alone.”

He kissed his way down her neck and
then up to her ear. “Honey, I’m so sorry. I put my big old foot in
my mouth. I never meant it.”

“You said it.” She didn’t dare turn
around. She didn’t want to see his lying eyes. “You said it, and
I’ve found that most people mean what they say. It’s better that I
know what you really think about me. I don’t have to pretend to
like you anymore. Makes my life easier in fact.”

“Ryelee.” He turned her around in the
circle of his arms. “I’m a jackass.”

“Yes you are. Please just leave.” She
began to push him away.

“Damn it! What I’m trying to say is
that I love you, Ryelee, and I wanted to know how you felt about
me.”

Ryelee sagged against him. He lifted
her up into his muscular arms, and she laid her head on his
shoulder. She still couldn’t look at him. She didn’t believe
him..

Clint sat on Ryelee’s bed with her on
his lap.

She struggled “No let me
go.”

“I just want to hold you. Please
Ryelee?”

Ryelee looked at him and saw something
in his eyes. She wasn’t sure what it was but it wasn’t lust. She
knew that look. He gave her a slight smile and she wrapped her arms
around him. He rocked her back and forth.

Finally, Ryelee stole another look at
Clint. He was much too good for her. Maybe she had heard him wrong,
but she didn't think so. She was so afraid if he found out what
she'd done to help her father he would hate her. She should tell
Clint she didn’t love him. It would be a lie, but it would be the
right thing to do. She didn’t have the strength to deny her
feelings. She wanted this man. She wanted to share his love. To
love and be loved in return. She couldn’t turn away from
him.

“Did you mean what you
said?”

“About loving you? Yes I meant
it.”

“I feel the same way,” she
whispered.

He leaned down and drew her bottom lip
between his, nibbling on it.

Licking his lip with her tongue,
Ryelee suddenly found herself flat on the bed with Clint above her.
She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him
closer. She wanted more kisses.

Clint pulled back and looked into her
blue eyes for a moment before he kissed her deeply, his tongue in
her mouth, exploring it.

She never knew passion before, but
this was what it must be, passion. He smelled like horses and
leather. Mixed with his masculine scent, it drove her wild, and she
couldn’t get enough.

His arms around her gave her a sense
of security. They were so strong. She could feel the hard muscles
on his back move as she stroked it.

Clint trailed kisses down the side of
her neck to the top of her nightgown. Then he abruptly stopped and
sat up. “We’d better take it slow.”

“But why?”

“I don’t want anything to happen to
you. I’ve had enough loss in my life. I need to take this slow.”
His smile for her exuded passion and promises. “Are you all
right?”

Ryelee nodded at him, hoping her love
shined from her eyes.

“I love you,” Clint told her, closing
the door behind him.

Ryelee hugged herself and smiled. He
loved her. She found it hard to believe, but she knew she had heard
him right. In her wildest dreams, she couldn’t have pictured a
better kiss. Didn’t she deserve some happiness in her life? She
hoped she had seen the last of her father and her role in the theft
would never become known. It was her only hope. Both thrilled and
terrified, her hatred for her father grew, as did the
disappointment in herself.

* * * *

The next day, Ryelee and Clint shared
many secret smiles. Clint found numerous reasons to come back to
the house all day. He just wanted to be close to her. It made him
feel like a teenager again. The fact that she loved him too made
his heart swell. They could build a good life together.

Burke finally caught up to him as he
worked with one of the yearlings. “How’s the horse business?” he
asked as he climbed up the wooden fence to have a seat.

“Couldn’t be better,” Clint answered,
smiling.

“I never did have a chance to ask you
about Sybil. What did the vet have to say?”

“She wasn’t sure why it happened.
Sybil is fine though. I’ll let her be until spring, and we’ll try
again.”

“King’s Crown has been bringing in a
lot of income.”

“Yes, he has. He’s one of the best
stallions I’ve seen in a long time. Once these mares foal, we’ll be
able to charge even more for his services. The quarter horses are
coming along too. I have a few rodeo riders interested in a few of
them. We definitely have some winners. The Drummond spread in the
next county is interested in all we have. I have an appointment
with Mr. Drummond tomorrow. He’ll probably buy all the cutting
horses. Your wife is making a pretty penny with her horse
ranch.”

“Good she can support me in my old
age. Seriously, I’m glad to hear it. You can take credit for it
all. I know Annie doesn’t know which horse is which.”

“She takes more of an active role than
you might think. She knows every horse and what they can do. She’s
amazing.”

Burke smiled. “I’ll be the first to
say she’s amazing. I never thought she’d take to ranch life, but
she has. She amazes me every day. How are Ryelee and the
baby?”

“Ryelee is perfect,” Clint
said.

Burke chuckled. “Good, glad to hear
it. So when are you going to make an honest woman of
her?”

“Our feelings are new. I’ll give her a
week, and then I’ll ask her.”

Burke smiled. “Sounds like a
plan.”

“Burke, can I ask you
something?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Do you think her background or the
fact that she’s pregnant by some unknown man makes her unsuitable
to be a mother to Rheenie?”

Burke paused. “I think that she’s
great. She obviously loves both you and Rheenie a lot. Don’t turn
love away. I know what a mistake that can be.”

Clint nodded. “Thanks, Burke.” He took
the halter off the yearling and let him run around the corral. “Any
news about the cattle?”

“No. It’s killing me. I want to wring
a neck or two when we do find them though. My prize bull Kingly is
what I really want back.”

“I don’t blame you. Keep me posted.
And, Burke? Thanks for the advice.”

“Anytime, bud. You know
that.”

* * * *

Ryelee backed away from the barn. She
had gone out because she wanted to see Clint. She didn't know how
she felt about his questions to Burke. He had doubts about her. All
of her happiness faded as she walked back to the house. Knowing
that he questioned her suitability to be Rheenie’s mother stung. He
had a right to his questions. The hurt became excruciating..
Everything seemed clouded over with doubt. She spied her father in
the woods, but she pretended that she didn't and quickly ran inside
the house. She wanted nothing further to do with him.

Chapter Six

“Ryelee, is Santa coming soon?”
Rheenie asked in an impish voice.

“Of course he is, pumpkin.”

“He won’t stop unless we make it
Christmas here.” Rheenie said seriously.

Ryelee paused. She’d never had
Christmas before. To her, it was a day to fear her drunken father.
She looked down on Rheenie’s hopeful face. “I have a secret to tell
you. I don’t know how to make Christmas. I’ve never had
one.”

Rheenie’s eyes nearly bugged out of
her head. “No way!”

“Way,” Ryelee replied with a touch of
sadness.

Rheenie rushed over and hugged Ryelee
around her expanding waist. “I know everything about Christmas.
I’ll show you how.”

Ryelee cupped Rheenie’s chin and bent
down to give her a kiss. “I’m relying on you to show
me.”

Rheenie started to dance around the
kitchen. “I will! Oh, I will! It’ll be the bestest Christmas
ever!”

Clint walked into the house smiling at
Rheenie’s excitement. “Whoa, little darlin, what’s going on
here?”

Rheenie ran to Clint and stood on his
feet. She raised her chin so she could see his face. “We are going
to make Christmas, Daddy. Ryelee never had a Christmas before.
Isn’t that sad, Daddy?”

Clint smiled and stroked his
daughter’s shiny black hair. “Never?”

Rheenie solemnly shook her head.
“Never.”

“Well, sugar plum, we’ll just have to
show Ryelee what Christmas is all about.”

“Presents!” Rheenie yelled as she ran
around the kitchen table.

Clint walked over to Ryelee, took her
hand, and kissed her cheek. “Now you know that presents aren’t the
reason for Christmas,” he reminded Rheenie.

“Good hill to men, and we have to be
grateful all over again,” she explained to Ryelee.

Ryelee’s heart blossomed as
she looked at both Clint and Rheenie. “I think you mean good
will
to men, and I’m
forever grateful for both you and your daddy,” she said, her eyes
tearing.

Clint hugged her. He held her for
longer than just a hug, and it felt like heaven to be in his brawny
arms. She couldn’t hold the conversation she heard between Burke
and Clint against him. It had hurt at the time, but Ryelee realized
he was just working things out in his mind. Obviously, he decided
her past didn't matter. In addition, over the last few days, he had
been very attentive to her.

“Okay, so what’s first?” Ryelee asked
gamely.

Her smile grew wider when both Rheenie
and Clint had different ideas. Rheenie insisted on cookies and
presents, but Clint thought a tree would be a good
start.

Ryelee sparked with excited
anticipation. A real Christmas! She couldn’t wait.

“Tomorrow let’s make a day of it,”
Clint said. “We can go into town and buy what we need then come
home and decorate.”

Rheenie jumped up and down in
excitement, but going to town didn't sound like a good idea to
Ryelee. She always avoided going. She didn't want to be stared at
or talked about, and she knew from experience just how cruel a
certain few of the town’s people could be. She didn't want to be
embarrassed in front of Clint and Rheenie.

Ryelee smiled for their sakes, and
they made plans for the following day. Somehow, she’d get through
it. Being pregnant had made her lose her edge. She was becoming
sensitive, and it had to stop. She needed to buck up and be the
same strong woman she had always been.

* * * *

Morning came quickly and brought with
it a nip of coldness in the air. Ryelee was glad of her coat as she
helped Rheenie into the truck. Clint walked up behind her, and she
was more than ready for him to help her up. She loved the sizzle
and tingle she felt when they touched.

Clint jumped into the driver’s side
and away they went, listening and singing along to the Christmas
carols on the radio.

The town of Weltworth looked festive
decked out in greenery with gold, silver, and red ribbons. Each
store had a colorful display in its window. The firehouse had a
great big tree outside of it decorated in several unique ornaments.
Ryelee knew that the ornaments were from the town’s people, but she
never had one to put on the fabulous tree.

Rheenie stared at everything in a
state of rapture. The look of awe on her face enchanted Ryelee, and
her heart filled with hope for a wonderful day. She just hoped
there would be no snide remarks directed at her.

Clint parked in front of Penny’s
General store. “We can probably get everything we need in here.” He
helped both females out of the truck.