Page 17 of That Fateful Ride

“Robert?”

The ones with him looked over to see Polaris moving toward them at a smooth jog trot, in the middle of the street, small dust swirls kicking up from the hooves as he moved.

Tyler held up a hand and whistled. The cowboy hat riding low over the rider lifted and he found himself snared by brown eyes. His heart turned over, even knowing that this was technically supposed to be Robert.

A small shift of the left hand on the reins, navigated Polaris closer to their side of the street even as the horse slowed.

“Didn’t know you were headed to town, Robert.” Cy secured his gelding then looked back at the rider.

“We’re heading to see the women.” Tyler grinned, showing off his misaligned teeth. “I heard both Sharla and Megan have taken a shine to you.”

Cy lifted an eyebrow as he held her gaze. Had they now?

Perhaps it was embarrassment which had her skin flushing, perhaps it was nothing more than the damn cold wind that never failed to whip through this canyon in winter.

“You joining us?” Why he asked the question he didn’t have a clue, it wasn’t like he wanted to partake in any of the women in there. No thanks. The one he wanted currently sat before him on a pony she’d gotten as a gift from the Indians in the area and was acting as her twin brother.

“No.”

That was it. One word. No further explanation.

Tyler stepped closer to the dun, head tipped back, black bandana around his neck fluttering in the wind. “Why not?”

Cy observed as the rider leaned down a tiny bit and shrugged. “Already been. Have to stop at the general store and pick up some staples.” That head popped up. “I was told I was making dinner because someone had other things to do today.”

Yeah, she was pissed. Cyrus knew this was going to take some doing to dig out of the hole he’d put himself in. Truth was, he had a lot of plans today and this hadn’t been one of them.

“Gonna make some of those biscuits you do, Robert? Your mama’s recipe?”

Tyler shifted closer and Cy swallowed back his possessive growl, not wanting any man close to his woman.

“That had been the plan, if I can get more flour from the store.” He sat up straight. “Reckon I’d best be getting along.” A tip of the cowboy hat and Polaris had moved on.

“No offense Cyrus,” Tyler said. “But that boy’s mama’s biscuits are damn good. Not hard like yours.”

He grunted, not wanting to talk about Rebecca posing as Robert cooking with him so he could keep her close to him. In his periphery he noticed how Bill watched him, calculating, wondering.

Without waiting for the others, he turned and stepped up onto the sidewalk and entered the saloon. Bill and Tyler right behind him. The riders immediately sought out women and headed up the stairs while he scanned the room for a game.

Adjusting the hat on his head, he walked to a table and took a seat with a nod to the others gathered. Across the room, he saw Sharla, her dark skin agleam in the light, she sat perched on the knee of a man he didn’t know.

“Haven’t seen you around in a while, Cy.”

“Don’t get a lot of free time running the station, Landon.” He took the cards that had been dealt him and took a peek. “Actually was just out to get some supplies.”

Landon James was a rancher in the area. His daddy was rich so he thought he could do whatever he wanted. From his perfectly coifed hair to his new clothing rarely was anything out of place on him. A womanizer and one who had no problem taking a woman even if she said no.

“That’s right, you had an Injun attack not to long ago.”

He waved for a card after tossing in some money. “Thanks for your concern.”

“Gentlemen,” the owner and madam strolled up. “I don’t allow fighting in my saloon. You want to have words, you take it outside.”

He nodded up at Gwendolyn Royal, she’d been a madam back east and had come this way thinking she was going to marry a man. Rumor had it, he wanted to put her to work on her back and she didn’t see it going that way. Now she was alone and had her own establishment. She may be a woman, but the men in this town didn’t push her for she was quick to draw and didn’t miss what she aimed at.

“I hear the army’s finally sending some soldiers out to help your riders.” She perched against his chair, long fingers smoothing along the nape of his neck and tangling in the hair that fell to his collar.

Cy wanted to move away, but he wasn’t wanting to explain why he was moving from a woman’s touch. Didn’t feel like telling the world he’d gone and fallen for Rebecca, not when he’d not told her yet.

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