Page 28 of Roping the Alien Cowboy

I turned to walk away before she could see the anguish in my eyes. This was how it had to be. Even if it tore me apart inside.

“Kian, wait-” Kate called after me desperately.

I kept walking, hands balled into fists. I wouldn’t make this harder than it already was. She had made her choice. And so had I.

Chapter 10

KIan

I was cleaning my laser rifle when Kate walked into my dwelling, her blonde hair windswept and cheeks flushed from being outside. “Hey, Kian,” she said brightly, “are we still on for that camping trip you mentioned? I know you’ve been busy with sheriff stuff lately, but I was hoping we could get away for a little while.”

I hesitated, racking the rifle with more force than necessary. I’d been avoiding Kate ever since I saw her fiddling with that blasted communicator again. The woman was obsessed with trying to contact her people and get off this planet. Why go on some camping trip together if she was just going to up and leave at the first chance?

“I don’t know if now’s a good time,” I said gruffly. “Rustler activity’s picked up again. I need to keep close to the village.”

Kate’s face fell. “Oh. Yeah, of course.” She scuffed her boot against the floor. “I just thought it would be nice to see more of Surlon’s beauty, like you said. And we haven’t spent much time together lately.”

I felt a pang in my chest at the dejection in her voice. She was right - I had been avoiding her. The truth was I missed her company. Her wild stories about space adventures, her sharp wit, the way her eyes crinkled when she laughed...

No. I couldn’t let myself get drawn in. Not when she was so set on leaving.

Kate turned to go, shoulders slumped. Before I could stop myself, I heard my own voice saying, “Wait. We can still go camping. Wyatt and Lance have patrol well in hand.”

She glanced back, eyebrows raised in surprise. “Really? Are you sure?” At my nod, her face lit up with that radiant smile that always made my heart skip a beat. “Great! Thank you, Kian. This trip means a lot to me.”

I hoped it did. Because I was counting on the stark beauty of Surlon’s canyons and mountains to change her mind about leaving. Out there, away from the village, maybe she would feel the pull of this planet like I did. Understand why I could never imagine living anywhere else.

We left at sunrise the next day, Kate riding behind me on my stallion, Dakari. Her arms wrapped tight around my waist as we galloped across the desert. I tried not to dwell on how perfectly she fit against me.

By midday, we reached the sweeping valley I had chosen for our campsite. Cottonwood trees lined the riverbank, and in the distance, the red rock formations of the Valley of Fangs jutted skyward.

Kate’s eyes widened as she took it all in. “This view is incredible!” She squeezed my arm in excitement. “What should we do first?”

I secured Dakari while Kate unpacked our gear. We spent the afternoon hiking along the rim of the valley, gazing out over the landscape. The wind whipped through Kate’s hair as she leaned against me, both of us quiet with wonder.

When the suns began to set, we made camp beneath the cottonwoods. I built a fire while Kate laid out our bedrolls. We cooked dinner over the flames, talking and laughing. It felt good to see her relax and be herself again after so many weeks of tension.

After we ate, we reclined on our bedrolls to gaze up at the dazzling night sky. Surlon’s moons and constellations were a sight few off-worlders had witnessed. I pointed out the myths behind the star clusters, retelling the ancient stories of our people. Kate snuggled close, utterly enthralled.

“It’s so beautiful here,” she murmured. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” She shivered as a breeze drifted through camp.

I drew her closer, wrapping my arms around her slender frame. Our faces were inches apart, and the urge to kiss her was overwhelming. But I held back, unsure of where her heart truly lay.

“Kian?” Kate said softly, her fingers trailing down my chest. “Why did you really bring me out here?”

I hesitated, but the words tumbled out before I could stop them. “Because I want you to stay. On Surlon. With me.”

Kate’s eyes widened, and for a long moment, she just searched my face. My heart pounded as I awaited her response.

Finally, she whispered, “Then give me a reason to stay.” And she pulled me into a passionate kiss beneath the endless stars.

***

I woke slowly, Kate’s warmth pressed along my chest. Her soft breaths tickled my skin.

When I opened my eyes, twin suns peeked over the horizon, bathing the room in golden light.

My heart swelled, gazing at Kate nestled against me. How did I get so lucky? To have her here, sharing this quiet intimacy.

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