Page 27 of Unforgettable Cowboy
She did not sound disappointed.
He reached for her, settling his hands on either side of her waist.She didn’t pull back, but instead gave him a what-next-cowboy smirk that almost hid the flash of uncertainty in her eyes.They were in full view of the kitchen window, but he doubted if Estelle would care, and also doubted if she’d rat them out to Wade.Bailey took a loose hold of his sleeves near his biceps, the challenging half-smile still playing on her lips, the look of uncertainty long gone.If she kissed him, it would truly slow down their day.
“Ready to move some cattle?”he asked in a boss voice.
She laughed and stepped back.“I’m up for it if you are.”
“How do you usually move them?”
“By borrowing Andy or Ben and using the quads.”
“Today you just get me.”
“Only you.Huh.”She bit her lip.“I need to leave early again today if possible.They have a few dogs at the shelter.I’d like to meet them before they all get snapped up.”He tilted his head and she said, “I’d like a travel companion.”
Hayes wasn’t certain that rescued dogs got snapped up fast, but he liked the idea of Bailey not being totally alone on her property.And a woman traveling alone could certainly use a dog.A big one.
“I have to buy headphones for Wade.Want to go together?”
“Why not?”
He hadn’t expected her to agree so easily and it must have shown because Bailey laughed.“I took your words to heart, Hayes.I don’t have to do everything alone.”
“True.”
Her expression shifted toward the serious side.“Do you know what the difference is between us now and us back in the day?”
Hayes shook his head and Bailey put a hand on his chest over his heart.He felt the warmth of her palm through his thin cotton shirt.“The ability to understand the difference between what we want versus what we should have.”
He wanted to ask which category he was in, but she dropped her hand and headed for the gate as if the matter was settled.
Hayes stared after her, thinking the matter was far from settled, then followed her to where she stood holding the gate open, waiting for him to follow her through.She was right.If they were going to town that afternoon, they had to get moving.
*
Bailey watched Hayeseasily maneuver Spot across the hillside to cut off a splinter faction of half-grown calves and guide them back into the herd as they headed cross-country to the pasture he’d checked the day before.The creek was still running, so the cattle wouldn’t need the water tank that he’d attempted to fix the day before.When the creek dried up, they’d move the cattle again or fix the spring, depending on the amount of forage left.
Well, it probably wouldn’t be “they,” because Bailey would be moving on shortly after the rodeo.She hoped to hear from Jenna soon or at least get a coded text that indicated an inkling of a plan to secrete the mare in a different locale.Even though she loved Jenna, she was ready for it to be over.She might have to give up and call her, as any concerned friend would.Just a check-in, to make certain she was doing okay after the breakup.Maybe going no contact was in itself suspicious.This was her first time involved with a caper, and she wasn’t certain they were doing it right.
“Hey!”
Bailey gave a start as she realized that a steer was heading to parts unknown on her side of the herd and then urged her mare forward to cut him off.The steer shook his head, tried again, but the mare was seasoned.She lunged at him, snaking out her neck to bite him on the butt.
“Atta girl,” Bailey laughed as the steer gave up and retreated to the safety of the herd.
The ride back to the ranch was a quiet affair.Thermal cells were starting to build over the mountains to the west, the bottoms of the clouds flattening out in a way that promised the possibility of thundershowers in the late afternoon.
“I hope the weather is decent for the rodeo,” Hayes said.
“Why are you still competing?”The question appeared to come out of nowhere, but Bailey had been wondering about it for days.
He looked surprised.“Hometown crowd.”
“Cheering for the hometown hero?”Hayes had never seemed like an adulation guy.
He laughed.“Hardly that.I like the challenge.”
“Aren’t you getting a little old for that kind of challenge?”
