A Cowgirl's Pride by Lorraine Nelson Read Free Book Online Page B

good idea.” So much had
happened since she’d been gone. She wasn’t the same person anymore. Once he
found out how she’d been living her life, he probably wouldn’t want anything to
do with her.
    “I can’t think of a better one.” He grinned, and
she was lost.
    “Okay, I’ll try.”
    “That’s all I ask.” He kissed her then, a slow,
sweet kiss that had her remembering, had her aching for more. “See you later.”
    He allowed her to go first, not such a good
idea. She was ever so conscious of her derriere stuck up in the air as she
crawled out on her hands and knees. The twins were nowhere in sight, and she
hoped they’d gone straight inside to warm up. When she turned,
Cal
stood there with the
silliest grin on his face.
    “What’s so funny?”
    “Nothing, except to tell you that I enjoyed the
view.”
    “Very funny. I need to catch up to the boys. See
ya.”
    She rushed down the path to the front of the
house, relieved when she saw their shovels resting against the porch wall.
Darn! She’d forgotten hers. She turned to retrace her steps and bumped into
Cal.
“Sorry.”
    “No problem. Were you going back for this?”
    She smiled, taking the proffered shovel. “Yes,
thanks.”
    “No problem.” He slung his over a shoulder and
sauntered away whistling a tune from their teens, one they’d always enjoyed.
    She touched a cold, mittened hand to her lips,
thinking that he did—he tasted exactly the same as she remembered.
    * * * *
    The snow turned heavy and continued until late
in the afternoon. Power was off everywhere, and phone lines were down.
Cal
reckoned this was
the worst snowfall they’d had in years. He’d ridden out several times to check
on the stock. Most were huddled among the trees near the creek but seemed to be
weathering the storm all right. He’d send the wranglers out with fresh hay
before nightfall; maybe even include a bale or two of straw for bedding. Luke would
make the decision on that one though.
    He climbed up and started the tractor. Now the
snow had stopped, he could clear the yard, even though the heavy winds would
probably blow most of it back in by morning.
    He enjoyed playing in the snow this morning,
mainly because of Leah’s presence. At least she still knew how to have fun. He
smiled, thinking of that kiss. Meant as a simple kiss, a welcome home kind of
thing, it had rocked him clear to his toes. It’s a wonder their body heat alone
hadn’t melted the snow fort, without lighting a fire as Cammy had suggested.
    He figured they’d both done a lot of growing up
since she’d been gone, and it was foolhardy to think they could just take up
where they’d left off. She’d sure felt good in his arms, though. It had seemed
so right, as if he’d been waiting for her return, but that was nonsense. He
certainly hadn’t been celibate all that time. Had she?
    The tractor occupied his concentration as he drove
onto the main road and turned, preparing to widen the driveway on his drive
back to the ranch yard. A car pulled in behind him, but there was nothing much
he could do about it. Fencing ran along both sides, preventing him from pulling
over. Damned idiot could at least turn his high beams off.
    Cal
reached the yard and continued plowing, turning the tractor along
the trail through the field. They always kept it plowed back to the first gate,
and that’s where he headed. He’d just cleared the barn when he realized the car
hadn’t stopped at the house but was still behind him. Braking to a halt,
Cal
hollered out. “Who’s
there? What do you need?”
    “I have a message for Leah Manning. Is she
around?”
    “If she was, she certainly wouldn’t be plowing
snow. Who’s asking?”
    The back window rolled down, and
Cal
saw the sheen of
metal appear just in time to duck sideways as the bullet pierced the plastic
shroud. The car reversed, turned, and sped away.
    Wow! That
was some message!
    He shut off the engine, jumped down, and ran for
the house. Whatever trouble