Page 47

She nodded. “I can’t move my ankle much, but the cub is the only one I’ve seen so far.”

“Good. Can you lift your pant leg?”

She did, and immediately felt the blood rush to her cheeks. It was just a couple inches and Bennett had seen her in shorts before. But still, her exposed skin cradled in Bennett’s warm hand felt intimate. And right. Not that she would admit either.

“It looks sprained. Not broken, but yeah, not great, either.”

“I don’t—” Her voice cracked. “I don’t know how I’m going to get back.”

Helplessness overwhelmed her.

“Where’s Golden?” he asked. Her leg was still in his hands and his thumbs rubbed gently above and below the swelling. Heat flashed low in her stomach, but fear kept it at bay.

“I’m not sure. She wandered off, and I didn’t want to call her back and bring attention to where I was in case the momma came looking for her cub.”

“That’s smart. Will she make her way back to the barn?”

Maggie nodded, heat pressing on the back of her eyes.

“I think so. She knows the way.”

“Okay, then give me your hand and I’ll take you back.”

“Bennett, you don’t have to—”

“Can you stop telling me what I have and don’t have to do?” He held out a hand, and in a quick movement she was up without having to put any weight on her injured foot, and in another sweep of Bennett’s agility and strength, she was on the back of his horse. “I’m on my way to make sure your cows made it back anyway.”

“Thank you. For all of it. I just didn’t want to put you out after… well, you know.”

“Maggie, I’m not the smartest man on the planet, but I got the message loud and clear that neighbors and business partners is where it ends for us. Consider this the neighborly part of that deal, okay?”

She nodded until he jumped in the saddle behind her and slid his arms beneath hers to work the reins. His sculpted chest and strong thighs cradled her, making her feel safe and very much like taking anything other than friends off the table was a poor decision on her part. He smelled of sawdust and honeysuckle, and she resisted the urge to sniff until the scent became part of her cataloged memories of him. They were adding up pretty quick.

“So, you’d rescue Carl like this?” she teased.

He chuckled. “Okay. Maybe consider this a one-time-only damsel-in-distress package. Exclusions apply.”

His hands settled on her lower thighs and her smile deepened. She might not be able to build a future with the man, but she could appreciate the chivalry and sheer masculinity of someone she was attracted to.

“So, what happened?” he asked. She recounted the story, starting with the bee, then the bear sighting.

“You know how to drum up drama in a place largely without it, don’t you?”

“Perhaps. At least my intentions were good.”

“What were you doing out here alone anyway? You need to tell me—I mean someone—if you’re heading into the canyon.”

“You’re not my keeper, Bennett Tucker.”

His breath was warm on her neck when he laughed.

“Believe me, I wasn’t applying for that position. So, what else?”

“What else?”

“Why’d you really go out there? Because you and I surveyed the canyon crossings two days ago and nothing’s happened to change ’em since.”

Her mouth fell open, but thankfully, he couldn’t see that. “How do you—never mind.”