Page 133 of Ride a Cowboy

She tilted her head. “Very serious. We’re going to get married and buy a house in Compton Pass. He’ll inherit his parents’ hardware store while I work as a nurse and—God willing—we’re going to have a couple kids.”

He glanced at her left hand. She felt compelled to stuff it in her pocket so she wouldn’t have to acknowledge his shrewd look that told her there was no ring on her finger yet. “So you got it all figured out, do you?”

She nodded, wishing he wouldn’t give her that wicked look that made her think wholly inappropriate thoughts.

“Kind of reminds me of another saying.”

“My, aren’t you the king of quotations.”

He didn’t bother to acknowledge her snide comment. “A wise man once said the best laid plans often go astray. Seems to me your well-organized life could benefit from some shaking up.”

“My life is just fine. And none of your damn business.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” Daniel gave her a sexy, suggestive wink before turning and heading inside his trailer.

Sienna should confront him, blast him for being so forward, but the door slammed before she could form a proper retort.

She spun and headed back to the house, feeling furious and foolish. Daniel Lennon had a talent for twisting her words…and her insides into knots.

She didn’t need this.

God, she really didn’t need this.

Chapter 2

Daniel sat astride his horse and watched the clock as Doug ran a few drills to improve his barrel racing. He had been living on Compass Ranch for two weeks and for the first time in ages, he felt at home somewhere. The Compton family was, as his mother liked to say, good folk. They worked hard, played hard and, from what he could tell, they fell hard. He’d never met so many devoted, wholly in love couples in his life. After several years traveling the rodeo circuit, he’d seen one marriage after another crumble amongst the cowboys. So many, in fact, he’d sworn off commitment and sticky entanglements for a while. Living in Compton Pass had started to renew his faith in the institution, made him think that hitching himself to a pretty woman wouldn’t be such a hardship.

“How was that?” Doug asked, riding alongside him.

Daniel checked the clock. “Not bad. You shaved about half a second off your time.”

Doug’s grin grew. The boy reminded Daniel of himself when he was younger. There was no denying Doug had been bitten by the rodeo bug. While James enjoyed the sport, for the older boy it was just a way to pass the time until graduation, and to impress girls. Doug, however, was constantly driven to learn, to improve.

Doug sidled closer. “You think you’ll ever go back out on the circuit?”

For a long time after his accident, Daniel had considered returning, despite the doctor’s advice. He often dreamed he’d be the one to beat the odds, to come back stronger and better than before. Reality has a way of kicking you in the teeth. His arm wasn’t—and wouldn’t ever be—powerful enough to allow him to compete competitively.

He shook his head. “No. I’m afraid not.”

Doug’s young face reflected exactly how much he knew that loss must hurt. “Do you miss it?”

Daniel smiled sadly. “Yep. I sure do.”

“Yeah. I would too. Bet you had a lot of girlfriends when you were riding the bulls.”

Daniel swatted Doug playfully with his hat. “Is that the only reason you’re practicing so hard? To get that cute little blonde thing I saw hanging out here yesterday to notice you?”

Doug blushed and shook his head emphatically. “Hell no. I don’t like Denise. She’s annoying.”

“What did I say about your cussing?”

Doug glanced around. “There ain’t any ladies here right now.”

Daniel couldn’t argue with the boy’s logic. “You got me there.”

“You got a girlfriend?” Doug asked.

“No.” Daniel hadn’t had a serious girlfriend since he left Virginia. Truth be told, if there was a silver lining to his accident, it was that. He’d missed the companionship of a woman. Longed for someone to share his days—and nights—with. After years of one-night stands, he was hoping to turn over a new leaf. He was nearly twenty-six. The idea of settling down wasn’t as scary as it had been when he was twenty-one and thought he was ten-feet tall and bulletproof.

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