Page 92 of Falling for the Cowgirl
All that mattered was what Ivy thought. And clearly she had no desire to see him.
He closed his eyes to fight against the despair that had ridden with him the past weeks as he’d journeyed back to Colorado. He’d guessed this was how things would go, had tried to prepare himself. But he’d been hoping Ivy would at least give him a chance to explain himself and plead with her.
And he’d rehearsed what he had to say at least a hundred times.
Drawing in a fortifying breath, he opened his eyes and scanned the area. He couldn’t give up. He’d have to figure out a way to talk to her without allowing her another opportunity to run off.
He grabbed the coil of rope on his saddle. Using a stealthy and silent tread he’d perfected over the years, he circled round the cabin and climbed beyond the spot where he’d glimpsedher. Then he sidled in, keeping low and concealing himself as best he could behind the smattering of pines.
With the deepening of the evening, the forest was shadowed, but he had no trouble finding her. She’d hunkered down behind a boulder and leaned back, her legs stretched out in front of her. Her split skirt fell away revealing the trousers underneath that clung to her endlessly long legs.
She rested her head against the boulder, her hat on her lap. She’d let her hair down, likely when she swiped off her hat. And now the long dark waves tumbled over her shoulders in a glorious thick curtain, framing her beautiful face, highlighting the darkness of her eyes and lashes.
At the crack of a stick somewhere in the forest, she stiffened and glanced over her shoulder, peeking around her hiding place, clearly expecting him to approach from the front.
Little did she know that, from his perch in the hill above her, he had full view and access to her. Crouching, he began to unwind the rope. As he formed a knot and widened the loop, he slowly rose. “Told you I’d beat you in no time.”
At his bold statement, she sat forward and homed in on him, her eyes widening in surprise.
“Your roping skills are good but still no match against mine.” He fingered the rope, tucking it out of sight behind his thigh.
She watched him a few seconds, as though she might actually be glad to see him. Then her brows bent into a scowl. “Go away, Jericho. I don’t wanna talk to you.”
“I realize you probably don’t want to speak to me ever again, but I’ve traveled over a thousand miles to tell you—”
“Don’t say it.” She hopped up, as quick and nimble as always, and started walking away. “I ain’t listening.”
“Please, Ivy. Give me a chance—”
“Your chance already came and went.”
She was right. She’d already given him more than his fair share of opportunities to have her. But he had to try again, had to let her know he was done running. He lifted his rope and acted on instinct. He wound it in a sharp circle, twirling it in the air. Then, before she could get too far away, he flicked his wrist and let the rope fly.
He’d left the loop wide enough that it fell over her head and shoulders. By the time she realized what was happening, the rope was already skimming her torso. With a cry of surprise, she spun back around. But he’d already yanked at the slip knot, cinching it tight, pinning her arms to her side.
“Jericho Bliss! Let me go before I string you up and give you the whupping you deserve.”
“When I’m done talking, I promise you can string me up ... if you still want to.”
She wrenched against the rope worse than a belligerent calf. “I will.”
“I’ll even lend you the rope when I’m done with it.” He tugged the loop tighter, not enough to hurt her, but enough to keep her from getting loose.
“Fine.” She struggled anyway, her eyes flashing with anger and hurt and frustration.
Her attention dropped to his neck, then skimmed the length of him. For a second she seemed to be admiring his body. And the very thought spilled heat low in his gut.
When her gaze lifted to his, the desire in her eyes sparked the air. She ducked her head, as if she didn’t want him to see her reaction. But it was too late. Her spark ignited his hope.
He started toward her, coiling the rope as he made hisway down the hill, keeping his hold on her taut and secure. When he was only a few feet away, he stopped. “I’ve had plenty of time to think on us, and I’ve made my decision.” Would she remember the conversation they’d had about their relationship that day they’d been trapped in the cave during the fire? The one when she’d asked him to think about their future together?
“It’s too late, Jericho.”
“You told me that in the end, you’d accept my final choice.”
“That was before you left.” She wiggled against the rope.
“I love you, and I want to spend forever with you.”
