Page 41 of Rainwater
She could only mutter, “Oh my God!” as the horse erupted into motion. But he didn’t buck straight up in the air in that twisting-bronc motion. Instead, she saw horse and rider charge across the corral and cut a young bull from the herd with expertise. Then she noticed the branding fires and two of her ranch hands waiting with the red-hot iron.
It was something to see. A pure cowboy in action. Corey’s big thighs bunched and clung, and she noticed how the gray knew what to do without being directed. Corey already had his rope out and was swinging the lariat over his head with quick, easy flicks of the wrist. He handled the rope and the bull with skill and grace that startled a gasp out of her and the many ranch hands who’d gathered and now stood transfixed. There was a compelling magnificence about Corey that awed her. A powerful, radiant force that affected her down to her toes. A respect that insinuated itself around her. She watched him take an animalthat she’d considered hopeless and bring out the promise, the sheer beauty in him. Monster, as she fondly nicknamed the stallion, stuck to the bull like glue, so precisely and beautifully in tune with it that she found herself gaping along with the rest of the hands. Both man and animal moved as one in perfect harmony. They did ten bulls quickly and efficiently.
And she couldn’t help noticing the new spring to the gray’s step, the arrogant way the horse swished his tail and strutted.
She’d tried time and again to get That Big Gray Monster to obey. She’d cajoled him, bribed him, even trained him over and over and still, nothing had worked. Leave it to Corey to choose himself a rogue horse.
Whoops greeted Corey as he dismounted and patted the horse with pleasure. She saw his mouth moving and the horse’s ears swivel to catch what he was saying. He tipped his hat and his voice rose clear and full of authority. “Let’s get the rest of these bulls branded.” No matter how much she wanted to talk to Corey, branding was a hot, sweaty, dirty job ad these guys would be hungry by lunchtime. She figured she had better talk to Tex to make sure everything was okay in the chow hall.
Before she could turn away, Corey’s gaze captured hers. His eyes were blazing with triumph and a hardness she hadn’t seen before, as well as desperation that made her stomach knot. Very slowly, he raised his hand to his hat and just touched the brim before he whirled. She watched in awe as the horse took off, and Corey, with the agile grace of an acrobat, mounted the animal on the gallop.
Her heart fluttered in her chest. She felt a sudden and unexplainable urge to call him back and have a showdown with him. Tell him that her heart couldn’t withstand his indifference.
She bit her lip as she approached the chow hall, her mood bleak. The demolished canvas was still uppermost in her mind. What had he seen in that painting that had made him destroy it?
A shiver of apprehension wrenched through her. She was in for a battle if she wanted to win him. She thought about their night of lovemaking and yearned for the warmth, the sweet contentment and the startling passion that had swept over both of them when their lips had met. She wanted it all with him. Everything. Happily ever after. She wanted it for herself. She wanted it for him. And she wanted him for Ellie.
Ellie deserved a father like him. One who gave a damn. It was obvious that Corey enjoyed Ellie and she had such a huge dose of hero worship that Jennifer’s throat knotted thinking about how Ellie would feel when Corey left.
Jennifer found Tex in the chow hall, muttering and cursing to himself, and without a word, she plunged in and helped him prepare the huge lunch.
Hours later, the hands began to file in one by one and Tex made sure all of them had washed their hands before he let them sit down to eat steaming mashed potatoes, large thick steaks and fresh green beans. Jennifer searched the many faces, but could not find the one she sought.
Heading for the barn, she ducked inside the cool interior, a balm to the heat outside. Corey was brushing down Monster, preparing him for the afternoon workout.
“That was the most amazing horsemanship I’ve seen in a very long time.” Corey seemed to fill the barn with his presence, his sheer sensuality and strength permeating the very air. His short-sleeved black T-shirt was stuck to his chest, outlining every gloriously hard muscle. Jennifer felt a thrill in the tips of her fingers, the base of her scalp, along her exposed skin, like a slow warm tingling.
“It’s not so amazing, darlin’. He’s a cow horse and your neighbor had him riding fences. He was confused and didn’t understand. I just put him to work with what he enjoys doing. He settled down because now he’s happy.”
She sensed that he was annoyed she was here bothering him. Or was he nervous?
She watched him continue to brush the horse with strong, quick movements. His forearms, darkly tanned and powerful, drew her attention. He’d used those arms to handle hundreds of live beef on the hoof, stopping them literally in their tracks. He was easily the most devastating man she’d ever met and he didn’t even have a clue.
“Want something in particular, darlin’?” He turned and scowled at her, his voice edgy. He still wore his hat and it was pulled low over his face so that all she caught was a glimpse of hot aqua and a glittering flash of warning. He still wanted her and that thought sent little frissons of heat down her back.
She smiled at him, a wicked, nasty little smile that brought dancing lights to her eyes. A smile her father would have immediately recognized and sent her right to her room. It felt good. It felt too good to be her old self again to not play it safe. She didn’t want to play it safe anymore. She wanted Corey, hot, out-of-control and hers. “You nervous, cowboy?”
His eyes narrowed and flashed beneath the ominous brim of his hat. He looked every inch the outlaw she’d named him. He straightened from brushing the horse and faced her. With his legs spread, he dropped his hands to his hips, which bunched the strong, flexible muscles across his chest. Her eyes were automatically drawn to him, totally caught off guard as need rocketed through her. It wouldn’t be so hard if she hadn’t felt those sleek muscles with her own fingertips. Heard his indrawn breath catch when she’d touched his nipple with her tongue.
Her eyes lifted to his face. She could see him swallow convulsively. “Jennifer,” he warned.
“Are you going to draw on me? That’s fine with me. I like the weapon you use.” Her voice purred like a contented cat. “It’s sodeliciously…deadly.” She spoke slowly, letting the words come out soft and husky.
“Jennifer, don’t push me.”
“You won’t leave me, Corey. I need you.”
He swore so viciously that Jennifer stepped back. “Go back to the house and take care of business. Stop this right now.”
She bit her lip, suddenly contrite. Taking the few steps that brought her up to the stall, she picked up Monster’s bridle. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just don’t want you to think that what happened the other night was all one-sided. I wanted—”
He held up the hand with the brush in it. “You’ve made your point and I’ve made mine. Don’t say any more. Not another word.” He turned to finish brushing the horse.
Jennifer decided to ask him about the canvas when he was in a less volatile mood. She shouldn’t have pushed him so soon. But she wasn’t about to give up.
“Didn’t your parents ever discipline you?” he asked caustically, brushing harder than necessary. But Monster didn’t seem to mind. He snorted and leaned into each powerful stroke.
“Yes, but usually it didn’t do any good,” she said. “I was heading for a big fall, but I’m thankful to my parents. And they helped me pick up the pieces. They died knowing that I could handle the ranch. And I’ll die before I let Jay Butler think he can use me to take it over. That’s what he wants, you know. His ranch is adjacent to mine. He thinks now that my parents are dead, he can move in and take over my land. That’s what all this two-stepping stuff is all about. He doesn’t like to lose, Corey, and he doesn’t like interference.”
