Page 44 of Rancher's Pride

She returned just as I was ready to leave. “Here.” Our fingers brushed over one another when she handed me my cup. “Be careful. Those horses aren’t predictable.” Wrapping my hand around her arm, I pulled her to me. With my free hand, I tipped my hat back and lowered my head. To hell with being proper. I wanted to kiss her again.

Our lips brushed against one another, hesitant at first. I desired her more every day. She didn’t pull away, and in fact stepped closer. God, this woman was going to be the death of me.

Electricity flowed between us, and Fallon sighed as she opened her mouth, and I greedily took more. She’d set fire to my soul all those years ago, and now she was fanning the flames. I pulled away before I changed my mind about helping Griff, both of us breathing hard. “Be safe.” Fallon whispered as I turned for the door.

“I always am.” Reaching for her, I cupped her head and pulled her in for a deep, rough kiss. Fallon stood up on her tiptoes and leaned in to the kiss. Reluctantly, I pulled away and smiled as she rolled her lips together, hiding the grin spreading across her face. “See ya.” My voice is husky and my body wanting more, instead of walking out into the cold.

“Done kissing my sister?” Kipp said as I walked to my saddled horse.

“You peeking in my windows?”

“Nope, your lips are swollen and you’re smirking. Nash, is this smart?” He’d lowered his voice, and I was sure only the two of us heard.

“I’m pretty sure it’s not, but I don’t care anymore. Kipp, I’ve loved her as long as I can remember. I know you aren’t crazy about this, but I’m not going to stop because of you.” This was a conversation that needed to happen, but I’d expected it in private, somewhere warm. “I won’t ever do anything to hurt her again, and if I’m lucky enough to have her for the rest of my life, I will spend every day showing her and the girls how much I love them.” Climbing on my horse, I turned and headed for the gate.

“Nash, there’s nobody else I’d trust her with. I know you’re the right man for her. I just wanted to know where your head was.” He reached his hand out and I shook it. Over the years, nothing had broken our bond, and I should have known better than to think this would have. The only thing we both wanted for Fallon was security and happiness. Those were both things I’d give her unfailingly. Kicking our horses, they took off, and we went riding into the impending snowstorm that was heading down the mountain.

It took hours to get the horses down to the feed. They kept wanting to break off and head back the waywe came. We were all on edge, which didn’t make anything easier, and with the storm racing us down the mountain, this ill-fated rescue mission needed to be over.

The ranch came into view and thankfully; the horses decided this was good for them and they ran right to where they were supposed to. Feed, water and straw all at their disposal and I glanced over at Griff, his huge smile made my frown break and I smiled too. As much as I appreciated these mustangs being wild, the winters were hard and our summers had been dry. The herd was getting smaller, and I knew that weighed on Griff. He wanted these magnificent beasts to be able to roam as they pleased, but they might need a little more oversight from us.

“You look frozen.” Fallon frowned as she opened the door as I got to the porch. “Come in. I have the fire going and stew for supper.” She guided me toward the fire and took my frozen outdoor clothes as I peeled them off. “Did you find the horses?”

“Yeah, we pushed them into the lower pen. Griff’s going to feed them for the winter and then turn them loose.” The feeling was returning to my fingers as I rubbed them together.

“That’s good. I’m glad they’ll be protected,” she said as she stood beside me.

“We found sled tracks in and out of the mine. So we’re going to have to make it part of our routine tocheck it now. We should just blow up the entrance and cause a collapse, then we don’t have to worry about it. The gold that’s left in there won’t make anyone rich, it will just kill them trying to get at it.” Running my hand over my face, I caught a confused look on Fallon’s face before she left the room.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

NASH

“There’s no gold left in that mine,” Fallon scoffed, as she grabbed me the hot chocolate she’d had waiting for me.

“What do you mean?”

She looked over her shoulder, “you’re talking about the Blood Mine?” I nodded, standing in front of the blazing fire as she stood by my side.

“That’s the only gold mine we’ve got.” Holding my hands back to the fire, I needed to get feeling back in my fingers.

“It’s actually not. Eldorado is further up the mountain and very difficult to get to. I would think most people have forgotten about it. If you want to find gold, that’s the best bet.” She shrugged and I couldn’t help but stare at her.

“Fal, back to the Blood Mine. We’ll talk about the other one later.” I turned to her and watched her nod.

“Dad had it surveyed, oh probably eight years ago now.” She looked off into the distance and I wondered where her thoughts had gone. She didn’t normally talk about her dad, and Fallon had just easily walked into this discussion.

“Yeah, when he bought the place from old man Yull, he brought a surveyor in and she combed through the mine and whatever gold was there was mined out decades ago.” She shrugged and moved away from the heat of the fire, but I pulled her back to me. She was warm, and this was a better way to thaw myself out.

“I wish I could get my hands on those papers,” I said as I nuzzled into her hair.

“You’d have to take your hands off my hips for that to happen.” Her giggle was light, and she took a step back into me.

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Well then, I can’t take you to the surveyor’s report.” She wiggled out of my arms and set the cup I had been holding on the mantle. “Go get Lottie, I’ll get Josie and we’ll head over to Kipp’s. The reports have to be in Dad’s office.” She smiled and left the room. How had we missed all that I thought to myself?

It took longer to bundle up the girls than it did to walk over to the main house. “Kipp, Fallon knows something.” I yelled as we walked into his house. Maybe we should start knocking, but it wasn’t something any of us worried about.

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