Page 29 of Cowboy Jeopardy

“Wait until you see it,” Eric said. “You can stand behind the waterfall. It’s so loud you can’t hear anything but the water.”

“And it’s deep enough to swim in,” Derrick added. “Dad doesn’t let us go that far alone. Not even with Monster.”

Speaking of the dog. Monster approached from the right along with Sadie and Heidi. Lightning snorted at sight of the dogs but didn’t startle.

When the sound of the waterfall reached his ears, he prodded his horse to pick up the pace. The waterfall had to be his favorite place on the ranch, and he was glad to share it with Dani. Lauren would’ve loved the spot that seemed cut off from the rest of the world. He slid from the saddle and let the reins drag. The horses wouldn’t wander far.

Dani slid from Daisy. “Wow.” She stepped to the water’s edge. “It’s beautiful.”

Water fell forty feet from where the mountain rose to the sky and plunged into a swimming hole so deep and cold Dylan had yet to reach the bottom. “Tastes like what I’d expect water from heaven to taste like. I think the source of the creek springs from underground somewhere farther up the mountain.”

She dipped her hand in the water. “It’s cold.”

“It’ll turn your lips blue swimming in it.” He took her hand. “Come on. Boys, stay close.”

He led her over rocks until they reached the waterfall. Mist coated their skin as they stepped behind the curtain into a small alcove.

“Do animals live in this cave?” She stared wide-eyed around them. “Seems too chilly.” She rubbed her hands over her arms.

“Are you cold? We can head back down.”

“No. Not yet.” She stuck a hand under the water. “Powerful. Have you ever jumped from here?” She stepped forward.

“No.” He pulled her back. “You’d break some bones when you hit the surface for sure.”

She peered around the curtain and waved to the boys. “I bet you come here a lot.”

“Every chance I get.” Dylan smiled at the look of rapture on her face as she turned from the water back to the cave.

“Who else knows about this place?”

“Only me, the boys, and now you as far as I know.” He leaned against the damp dirt wall. “I haven’t shown the men. If any of them found it, they’ve not said anything.”

“It would be a great place to hide.” She turned back to the water. “No one would find you here.”

He studied her profile, wanting to erase the worry he saw. Hopefully he wouldn’t ever need a place to hide. She hadn’t mentioned any more text messages, which led him to hope the one sending them had given up.

Buster patrolled the perimeter of the ranch every day, along with one or two of the ranch hands. No one had discovered any new tracks.

“Are you going to bring the campers here?”

“No. This is a special place. There’s another waterfall I’ll show them.”

She turned and smiled. “Good. Too many people knowing would destroy the magic.”

Magic. He liked that. Dylan reached for her, wanting very much to kiss her. She must have seen his intention because her eyes widened. Her lips parted. When she didn’t step back, he put his hands on her hips and pulled her forward. He lowered his head.

Frantic barking from below broke the spell.

Chapter Twelve

Dani woke beforeeven Mrs. White the next morning and stood at her bedroom window, her gaze on the woods in the distance. The sun barely peeked over the top of the trees.

Her mind dwelled on the kiss that hadn’t happened the day before. The kiss interrupted by the barking of dogs at a squirrel chattering at them from a tree. Had she wanted Dylan to kiss her? Yes, she believed so. It had been far too long since a man had looked at her as something to be desired.

A movement near one of the outbuildings had her pressing closer to the window. When the figure of a man stayed to the shadows, she determined it wasn’t one of the cowboys. Well, he wouldn’t get near the house or the boys’ room again.

She slipped her feet into the slippers near the bed and rushed from her room and down the stairs before she could change her mind. From a barrel near the front door, she grabbed an umbrella as a weapon. The old-fashioned pointy end would be better than her bare hands.

---