Page 15 of The Cowboy's Close Quarters Claim

Looking up the hill, I see Jojo-- the more experienced herder of the two Aussies-- join Macy as the dogs move the last of our cattle over the hill in a cloud of dust among the sharp, bossy barks and the stamp of hooves.

What I can't see is Gunner.

My shallow breathing means my voice won't rise above a reedy whisper, and there's no hope of cell service out here.

Making a mental note to make sure we carry two-way radios from now on, I consider my options. No way I'm hiking up that hill in this condition, so I pull my pistol out of the holster and fire three shots to signal for help.

I hear the high rev of an off-highway vehicle coming from the opposite direction and curse Gunner for not getting to me first.

He's likely busy dealing with the cattle and making sure they stay on our side of the fence. Can't fault the man for doing his job.

A two-seater side-by-side pulls up by the tree that I've managed to hobble over to and I grip the butt of my pistol in its holster when I see the rider.

"Ma'am? You all right there?"

Who am I kidding? I hold up my empty palm and shake my head to the negative.

"Kicked. Cracked rib or two," I wheeze, wrapping my arm around my chest in hopes the pressure will make it easier to talk.

The man crosses the distance between us in a few long strides.

"How'd you get kicked?" He looks around, noticing there's not an animal in sight, then gives me a lopsided grin under a bushy beard as he gently feels along my ribcage for injuries.

"Busted fence on our side," I wave weakly in the direction of the property line. "Had to round up some strays."

It doesn't take much thinking to figure that the man hovering over me is likely one of the Ralston boys.

"Riley," he says gently. "You working for the O's?"

Talking uses breath I don't have much of so I nod to that.

"Clem-- herdsman," I rasp.

Riley laughs at my offered handshake, and instead, bends at the knees and whisks me off my feet like I was a child.

"Well, Clem, you're lucky I was so far out, or I might not have heard your signal. You're right about the ribs and, from thesound of it, you probably punctured a lung. Let's get you into town to the ER."

A couple days ago, this rugged stranger might have piqued my interest. If not for the classic tall, dark, and rugged thing he has going on, then for the way he lifted me off the ground like I don't weigh a thing-- which is far from the case, I assure you.

Damn Gunner O'Leary for showing up and ruining me for other men. How the hell am I supposed to look at another man now?

Riley carries me with ease toward his vehicle and the only thing that the brutally handsome cowboy stirs in me is gratitude for helping me get to medical care.

"Put her down, Ralston! I swear I'll blow your skull wide open."

Gunner

The cows comebarreling through the last opening in the fence with a thunder of hooves and protesting noises as the dogs push them from the rear.

That means Clem oughta be coming up the hill right after them, and I reckon she's had enough time to think on her own now that she'll be ready to hear me out.

Because I've had some time to think things through too, and my mind's even more made up than it was when she stomped off.

Clementine's the girl I never expected I'd find. The one I'm meant to settle down with and start a new branch of the O'Leary family tree with.

Whatever her excuses for denying the obvious are, I plan on working them out and putting my ring on her finger as soon as she lets me.

As soon as I'm reasonably certain the last animal is on the proper side of the fence, I stretch a length of wire over to the next post and hope it holds till Clem gets back and helps me with the final touches.

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