Page 14 of Home to the Cowboy's Arms

“I try to be. A good cup of my coffee does wonders and my own rocking chair overlooking my own garden always helps. But there are mountains to see here from this porch and fresh air to breathe.”

“I see.”

“Oh! Look, isn’t it incredible?” She had jumped up from the rocker and her gaze was on the driveway. He turned to see what had transformed her so quickly.

A herd of horses, all sizes and colors, was being herded quickly up the drive until they turned just before the cabin and were trotting by as if on display for her enjoyment. A couple of the cowboys riding along with them raised a hand in greeting and grinned at her enjoyment.

“Isn’t this great? They’re incredible. Horses are so beautiful.” Cade was enjoying watching her watching them. It was a totally different side of her. Perhaps there were a lot more layers to this woman than met the eye.

“They’re just saddle horses, probably bringing them down from the high-country pastures.”

“I think they are all beautiful no matter what they are. I always wanted a horse growing up. I wanted to be adopted by people who had horses. That was what I kept telling the social worker.” Then she stopped, her gaze remaining on the disappearing herd.

“You were adopted?”

She remained silent for a few moments. The excitement of earlier had disappeared when she finally turned back to him. “No. I was never chosen. And we are wasting the morning. I heard them say when I was picking up the tacos that there may be more storms heading our way after lunch so let’s get moving.” She grabbed the small bag that sat across from her on the side table and headed down the steps. He followed slowly.

It was clear that the mood had changed. Cade was mulling over the last few minutes and realized it had to do with his asking about adoption. He had no idea that there was obviously something in her family that she wasn’t into sharing…at least not with him. Or was it just at the moment? He’d steer clear for the time being.

“This is a spring pool that I think you’ll find interesting.” Her words brought him back to the moment and he could see an older man and a younger one on one side of the pool. It was evident that the younger one was working with the man on some exercises for his legs. Across from them was another person with a little girl lying across her outstretched arms. Perhaps teaching the child to float? He followed Tori to one of the two benches that sat beside the pool. On the other bench was a woman and man intently watching the child’s progress.

“Hello,” Tori said, taking the empty bench seat. “Is it okay if we sit for a few minutes? We don’t want to disturb you.”

“Please do sit,” the woman responded. “Our daughter is almost done with her therapy session. And she is so focused on the work that she tunes all else out.”

“Therapy? This is one of three such pools, correct?”

“Yes, there are three. The rest of the pools are for families and tourists…the public. There is a limit placed on them of course and that is nice. It doesn’t get crazy like some pools do. Many come just to relax. Others, like our daughter, use the hot springs as part of their physical therapy.”

“And the therapists are on staff here?”

“No, actually,” she responded. “They’re on the staff of the local hospital and the doctors prescribe the treatments. Jessie, that’s our daughter, was injured when a car crashed into her school bus waiting at a stop sign. That was three months ago.”

“She’s been working with a therapist in this pool that long?” Cade had his own question.

“Only for the last six weeks. After the crash, she had no use of her legs. We were afraid she might not regain it. But with a wonderful doctor and lots of therapy, she can actually take a couple of steps before she needs help now. The doctor thinks she’ll be back walking again. We had almost lost hope when we started this, but it has been amazing for her. And there are others…such as that man over there, Mr. Gardner. He had a stroke, paralyzed along one side. But he has arm movement now and they are seeing improvement in his leg. This is a wonderful place.”

“The pools are not just for pleasure and fun. That’s interesting.”

Tori smiled. “That is wonderful to hear. Thank you for sharing and we hope Jessie will continue to heal.” They walked along the winding path. A gentle breeze had picked up. Sounds of laughter and conversations drifted in and out. The largest pool was at the highest point on the property with an unblemished view of the surrounding mountain range where snowfields were still in evidence on the highest slopes.

*

Tori sat thebag on a table under an umbrella and took out the towels she had brought along from the cabin. She looked over at Cade. “You swimming in your clothes? I would advise against it.”

Just business. Negotiating in a bathing suit…always a first time for everything. She wound her hair up in a coil and secured it at the top of her head with a clip she also took from the bag. As long as she kept busy, then the nerves that were playing just below the surface would be manageable. It wasn’t as easy to keep her attention off the fact of the sound of Cade standing just a couple of feet away, a shirt being unbuttoned and landing on the table, the zipper sounding next. Maybe she should have just ended with lunch and a discussion in the dining room. Too late now.

“Last one in buys dinner,” she called over her shoulder and then the next thing she knew she had a mouthful of spring water and was coming up for air.So much for a graceful entrance into the pool.But she had made the mistake of looking back at Cade, registering the site of rock-hard abs, broad shoulders with muscled arms and long legs that made her misjudge the distance to the second step down into the pool. So, it was really the man’s fault. That made her feel better…for a moment.

“You okay? Need a hand?” The hand appeared in front of her as she clung to the side of the rock ledge.

She shook her head and waved the offer of help away. “No thanks. I’m fine. Not my most graceful entrance, but I did beat you into the water. I am thinking a juicy steak tonight…since you’ll be buying.”

She turned and swam away from him with strokes that were a lot more graceful. All was well for a few minutes. She made a show of doing laps all the while she was aware of Cade, treading water and then seeming to stop and lean against the opposite rock ledge, a thoughtful deep furrow creasing his brow as if pondering some deep subject. Maybe he was having second thoughts about his negative decision of allowing the private springs on his land to go public. At least a girl could hope for such a thing to happen. This was their last shot at what she considered a no-brainer. But the man was stubborn. And much too good-looking for his own good. She noted the way a handful of the ladies in lounge chairs around the pool had taken a sudden interest in him. Who wouldn’t? She’d admit he was one fine male specimen. But she was sure he knew it, too. And she wasn’t going to be another fawning female in any male’s lineup.

*

Bad idea. Youshould have listened to your gut, Lockwood.If he had, he would be working horses in the ranch arena, penning cattle. Then there would be dinner with fellow ranchers at the monthly cattlemen’s meeting. Instead, he would be sitting across the table from Victoria Parker. Somehow the given formal name was popping into his mind a lot more often since she had walked out of her room last night and then today when she shed her outer clothing, and he caught sight of a well-hidden fact… There was an incredible female body hiding away from her constituents. Women in bikinis were nothing new, but the mayor clad in a snug one-piece black suit with cutouts in some interesting places made the springs heat up a bit in his estimation.

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