Rustlers and Romance [Saddle Creek 1] (BookStrand Publishing Romance) Read online

  When Chase stepped onto the porch, Lauren’s lungs refused to draw in air. Just the sight of the man and his nearness excited her, even in such a grim moment. He made his way to a rocker beside her, sat, and sighed deeply. He looked tired, weary from the events and questions of the day and the drama going on with his horses. She wanted to cheer him up, wanted to sit on his lap and wrap her arms around him, but didn’t know how he’d react. She racked her brain for something comforting to say. Nothing that came to mind seemed appropriate.

  “Was the fence line cut again?” she asked to break the silence.

  “Yes, and Hank was right there. Not sure how he died, as there’s no evidence of a struggle or anything. We’ll just have to wait for the autopsy report, I guess. I hope Doc Stevens can find something out.”

  “Are there any more horses missing?”

  “No, and that’s what makes me think good ol’ Hank tried to protect my property when the rustlers showed up. He just happened to get in the way, wrong place at the wrong time. They had to take him out one way or another to keep him from talking.” He took off his hat again and rolled it around in his hands by its brim.

  “Any reason to think Clint might have had anything to do with this?”

  “Why? Have you heard from him?” He searched her eyes as if looking for the truth.

  “No. I was just wondering.” She shrugged her shoulders.

  “No reason to think he’s involved then, is there?”

  “I guess I’m just being paranoid.”

  “Well, that’s understandable. Anyway, we’ll know more after the autopsy. If your old boyfriend had a hand in this, I s’pose we’ll have to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.”

  “N–no, I–I just don’t want to be responsible for bringing you trouble, is all. Listen, if I see him or hear from him, you’ll be the first to know, because I won’t be here anymore. I’ve gotta stay as far away from him as possible, and I’ll run if I have to.” She rubbed her eyes that were no longer swollen—the bruises continued to lessen every day. As she looked at Chase, the weariness in his handsome face was apparent by the dark circles beneath his eyes and the extra growth of beard. Oh, how she wanted to touch his face and take away all the pain and fatigue.

  “I’m not sure what in the hell’s going on around here, so for the time bein’, I think it’s best you stay close to the house, but if you go out riding or into town for any reason, you need to be with Amos or me.”

  “You don’t have to worry about any of that. I don’t want to take any chances. I wouldn’t even know how to get to town from here anyway, and since I’ve never had the official ranch tour, I’m not going to be wandering around much.”

  “Good. I’ll give you the grand tour sooner or later, maybe in the next day or two. Just been a lot goin’ on.” He stood and put his hat back on. “Right now, I need to get back to work.” He winked at her and walked off the porch, heading toward the barn.

  Her body quivered as she watched Chase swagger away. His jeans fit perfectly on his backside. Her heart thumped in her breast, remembering how it felt to be held in his strong arms, to be kissed by his smooth, moist lips. Her knees weakened when she stood. She grabbed a corner post for support and watched him until he disappeared into the barn.

  After he was out of sight, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. What would it be like to be loved by someone so strong and protective? Her breath caught in her throat, and she became a little giddy at the thought. She liked the idea. Even though she didn’t know all that much about him yet, she had a feeling he’d take care of her in a gentle way, nothing like Clint. Chills ran through her body at the mere thought of her old lover, and she hoped she would never be touched by his cold, unfeeling, merciless hands again.

  She chastised herself for reminiscing about him and quickly changed her line of thinking. Chase was so much more of a man than Clint would ever be. She walked into the house with a smile on her face. She sat down at the kitchen table and began to make a grocery list and plans for lunch.

  Chase met Amos at the barn door, and they walked together to the office in the corner.

  “What are you thinkin’, boss?” Amos asked as they reached the door.

  “I’m thinking we need to bring on some extra men to patrol the fence line until we get this whole thing sorted out. What do ya think about that?”

  “Sure, boss, but it might be a mite tricky hirin’ new men at a time like this. Ya never know who yer gonna git.”

  “That’s why we’ll both interview them and do some checking into their background.” He took off his hat, then sat on the nearby high-backed leather chair. “Are all the records up to date with births and pedigrees?”

  “Sure are. I took care of it myself. I tell ya, I don’t like this, not one little bit. If’n we find out her woman-beater boyfriend had anything to do with the horses being stolen, I’m not sure I’ll be able to contain myself, boss.”

  “I feel the same way, but for now, we have work to do. Why don’t you head into town and see if you can find some extra men for tonight? I’ll help you interview them and check them out. Just bring ’em straight to the ranch.”

  “Alrighty. On my way, boss. I’ll be back as quick as I can.” The ranch foreman walked toward the pickup truck parked near the barn.

  Chase sat at the desk and watched Amos leave, dust flying up from the dirt road in his wake. Then he glanced toward the house, where Lauren now stood on the corner of the porch, her blue jeans accentuating her womanly curves. His attraction to her was overpowering, and an urge of protectiveness surged through him. He couldn’t imagine what kind of a man would strike a woman, and not just once, either. From what little information she had shared with him, he knew the man had beat the crap out of her before.

  He rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed as she turned and went into the house. He looked at the horseshoe clock on the wall and decided he’d offer her a ride around the ranch in the afternoon. She deserved to see where she lived, and he was sure all the acreage would make her feel safe and protected. He didn’t like the idea of her not being there in the morning to talk to over coffee or breakfast, and he looked forward to hearing the bell ringing for supper, knowing she would be there. He hoped she would stay—and for a very long time.

  She’d already become a sizeable part of his life, even after a couple days of knowing her. He welcomed her opinions regarding ranch matters, about when to open a new pasture, when the foals were removed from their mothers, when the yearlings were in the paddock and then moved to a different pasture. He explained the spring roundup process and branding his name of the ranch on each horse he owned. They talked about everything under the sun over the delicious meals she prepared.

  Chase stood and stretched his back, ran his hands through his hair, and donned his hat. Heading toward the house, he looked in at the horses in the corral. Most of the mud puddles had dried up, and the horses were gathered around the feeder, looking for breakfast leftovers. He glanced at the sky. It was a beautiful, clear spring day, but everyone in Wyoming knew it could change at the drop of a dime.

  The inside backdoor was open to take advantage of the breeze, and he stood watching Lauren make lunch. She looked like she belonged in his kitchen and found her way around efficiently. He opened the screen door and stepped inside. “There will only be the two of us for lunch,” he announced as he hung his hat on the wall.

  “Amos isn’t hungry?”

  He laughed. “That man’s stomach is always growling, but he’s not here. He went into town to hire some men for night patrols, and I’m sure he’ll grab a bite there.” He washed his hands at the sink inside the half bath located to the right of the backdoor. When he returned, she had lunch ready and waiting on the table. He wolfed down a couple of grilled ham-and-cheese sandwiches and fresh fruit salad.

  Lauren sipped on a cup of coffee. “Want some? I just made a fresh pot.” She stood and walked the short distance to the pot and topped off her cup.

 
; “Sure, that’d be great.”

  She reached for a clean cup, filled it, and handed it to him. “So…what are your plans for this afternoon? More checking of fence lines?” She joined him back at the table.

  “Yes, and I do believe I promised a pretty lady a tour of my ranch. I’m a man of my word, so if today’s a good day for you, I figured we could do both at the same time. What do you think?” He looked into her brilliant green eyes and studied her porcelain cheeks and alabaster skin. She was delectable and flawless despite her healing bruises. He reached for her hand, which lay on the table beside her coffee cup. Every nerve in his body seemed to sigh, yes. He rubbed his thumb over the top of her hand as volts of electricity shot through his body. Parts of him began to pulse at the idea of kissing her all over.

  Lauren licked her lips when the cowboy looked at them. She shivered at the contact of his warm, callused fingers. And then, just when she thought he wouldn’t kiss her after all, his lips whispered gently across hers. She opened to him as he deepened the kiss, threading his fingers through her hair and drawing her firmly toward him. His mouth became hungry and demanding, yet it always stayed somehow tender, in spite of the urgency.

  She’d never been kissed like that by any man, as if he wanted to consume her, to make love to her mouth, to possess her completely. Chase kissed her almost illegally, as if he wanted to steal her. Her feelings frightened her and excited her simultaneously. Adrenaline surged through her body, chasing desire, and her blood hummed with forbidden pleasure.

  Lauren, what are you doing? Be careful.

  One part of her brain screamed stop. The other part wanted her to give in. She let him kiss her again. He tasted of coffee, smelled like leather and horses, and he ignited her all over again. His arms folded around her, holding her close, and she felt—of all things—safe.

  When he raised his head, her lips felt bruised, and she could feel the razor-burn from his whiskers on the lower half of her face.

  “Lauren,” he murmured, cupping her chin. “You’re very disturbing to a man’s peace of mind.” He moved away from her. “Are you ready for that tour I promised you?”

  She cleared her throat. “Of course. Now would be perfect. Just let me clear these dishes.” She stood and moved their lunch plates and cups to the sink.

  Her heart still racing from his kiss, they walked to the barn together, loosely holding hands. They each saddled their own mounts, and he helped her astride Lucy before he mounted Midnight. Then they were off.

  They rode side by side, Chase’s horse a slight step ahead of hers, leading the way. They headed east first so he could check the fence again. She was pleased there weren’t any breaks along the line this time to disrupt their ride. After about an hour, they made their way to a grassy knoll on a point that overlooked the ranch house in the distance. They loosened the cinches and tethered their horses, then sat on a blanket Chase had tied to the back of his saddle to take in the view.

  “If you look through those tall pines, you can see the house from here,” he said, pointing. “Look there, by those birch trees. Do you see it?”

  “Right there? Yes, I see it,” she exclaimed before she turned and looked at him. His face was so close to hers she wanted to reach out and touch his stubbly cheeks. He leaned a little more toward her.

  “Lauren.” His voice was husky and then he lightly touched her lips.

  There was something provocative and promising about the way he said her name that sent pops of pure electric pleasure licking along her veins. The flare of desire in his eyes filled her with a sense of power. It made her feel sexier and more beautiful than she’d felt in a very long time, and she savored it.

  He leaned in close and nipped her lips, then deepened the kiss by slowly moving his mouth back and forth. His tongue tangled with hers as he plundered her mouth for more of her. Her heart pounded erratically in her chest, her palms sweaty, her entire body focused on what he was doing to her mouth.

  Desire slid through her, settling between her thighs, making her achy and needy in the span of a single, thundering heartbeat. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. She ran her fingers through his hair. His arms closed around her waist and he rubbed her back with his strong hands. She held her breath, willing him to never stop.

  His hands caressed her arms while his lips kissed her throat before he skimmed up the side of her neck, leaving goose bumps in his wake. Shivers chased each other up and down her spine. She gasped and arched her neck to give him better access. “God, yes.”

  He paused and looked into her eyes. She was astonished by his potent blue eyes and the intensely masculine aura he radiated with no effort at all.

  Chase seemed to be looking for an answer, and she gave him one. It was a heartfelt kiss, with his head cradled in her hands. Then they slowly slid to the ground.

  Chase’s desire raged painfully though his body. He wanted her. He wanted to feel every inch of Lauren’s sweet flesh beneath him— yielding, warm, and giving. He wanted to feel her arms slide around his neck as she moaned with the joy of wanting him in return. He wanted to taste her, to consume her, to hear her call out his name as he plunged hard and deep inside her. He wanted to feel her body close around him as he claimed her so completely he would never feel uncertain again.

  He clutched her close as he savored her kiss. The brown silk of her hair felt cool to his touch as he wound his hands tightly in locks that were as luxurious as the mane on any of his beloved horses. Her mouth was soft and giving as he caressed its intimate hollows with his tongue. He bared her warm breasts, her flesh sweet and fragrant, enticing him to suckle the perky, rigid peaks. Her body quivered as his caresses traveled a steady downward trail, as trembling hands and fumbling fingers ripped away her shirt and jeans.

  She lay naked beneath him, free of cotton and denim. The impact of the moment held him still. This was what he’d wanted, the driving desire he’d fought so hard to deny.

  Long, languorous kisses, intoxicating intimate exploration, all to the muffled gasps of undisguised passion escaped Lauren’s perfect lips. He quickly removed his boots, jeans and shirt.

  Breathless, mad with the delirium of wanting her, he poised himself, firm and hard, at the moist delta between her smooth, muscled thighs. Holding diligently in check, needing confirmation of her feelings, he watched the play of emotions on her face as he slowly slid into her. He saw a hunger there, one he shared. He saw wonder as he met her moist warmth. He saw anticipation building as he stroked her, and as his intimate thrusts gradually accelerated, he saw a need that reflected the intensity of his own.

  Conscious thought slipped away as Lauren accommodated him, joining him with loving fervor as her moment neared. She mumbled softly. A gradual shuddering assumed control as her body clenched tightly around him, and she gasped with pleasure. He held still with the need to burn the moment firmly into his memory, to erase any lingering doubts, and then kissed her long and deep until she quieted.

  His own passion erupted abruptly. He clutched Lauren tightly as the moment exploded in a hot, fiery blaze, shuddering breathlessly.

  Still joined, Chase sucked in gulps of air and rose on one elbow to look onto her unmoving face. Her thickly fringed lids twitched, then lifted with the languor of what he hoped was complete satisfaction.

  Her heavy eyelids fluttered as she drew his mouth down again to hers. She kissed him soundly.

  Chapter 9

  Lauren opened her eyes. Her head rested on Chase’s broad chest and she listened to his steady heartbeat. She slowly rose on one elbow and watched him sleep. He was a very handsome man, with a slight beard and smooth, soft, luscious lips. He’d used those lips lovingly and expertly just an hour ago to pleasure her. But still, his eyes were his greatest asset. They reminded her of the mood rings she’d seen in mall stores, changing color depending on the state of his mind. Angry was light blue, aroused was dark blue, and happy was bright, twinkling azure-blue. The hues of his eyes reminded her of the many la
kes she’d visited, each with their own unique beauty.

  He moved his lips, and she couldn’t help but lean down to kiss him. When she did, he grabbed her, pulled her closer, and deepened the peck into something far more meaningful and enticing and delicious.

  He looked into her eyes. “Any regrets?”

  “None. How about you, cowboy?” She pushed a forelock of his hair off his forehead.

  “Not one. I’ve never felt this way before, babe. I’ve never shared my ranch with anyone before either—except Amos, and he doesn’t kiss half as well as you,” he joked with a mischievous grin.

  “What about Edie?” she asked, fully aware it was a touchy subject.

  “She’s my neighbor’s granddaughter. We dated for a little while, but…well, it just didn’t work out. When she worked for me, it was all business.” He sat up, searching for his clothes. He found some of her undergarments and handed them to her and she began to dress.

  “Did her grandfather agree with that?” she asked as she bent to pick up her jeans.

  “What’s Duffy got to do with it?” Chase stopped what he was doing and waited for her to answer.

  She looked at him while she pulled her pants up her legs. “Don’t you think it’s a little strange that your horses are being sucked away through his property? How do you know they ever leave his land? They could be in his corral, for all we know. I’m sure the sheriff is checking into it,” she said, raising her hand to halt his interruption, “but it should have been resolved by now. What if he’s holding some kind of grudge against you for hurting his granddaughter?”

  “Hmm. You make some valid points, but Duffy and I go way back. We’ve both been involved with the Bureau of Land Management and the spring roundups for years.”