Page 29 of Unforgettable Cowboy (Montana’s Rodeo Cowboys #1)

“I owe you so much, Bailey.” Jenna stroked the palomino’s golden neck, and the mare turned her head to lightly bump Jenna’s arm.

There was no denying the affection between the pair of them.

“And you, too,” she said to Dylan as she stepped out of the horse trailer and closed the door. “I’d like to repay you, if I could.”

“No need,” was all he said before touching his hat in true humble cowboy fashion before turning to Bailey. “You’ll be heading south?”

“Yes, I will.” Because that was what she did. Traveled alone, although eventually she’d have a canine companion.

Was it enough?

It didn’t feel like it.

The two women stood side by side watching Dylan pull out of the campground, then Bailey turned to Jenna. “You’ll stay in contact?”

She shifted her weight. “I was thinking…I know that Milo is helping you out for a couple of shows, but you’ll still need to replenish your stock and it’s my fault it’s gone.

” Bailey began to protest, but Jenna shushed her.

“I have a place where you could stay. You could even go to work with me, if you wanted. I can always use a clever mind and clever hands.”

Bailey considered the surprise offer. Working with Jenna would be cool, but she didn’t really like to sew. She also wasn’t ready to turn her life in a new direction. Not yet.

“That’s okay,” Jenna said, clearly reading the direction of Bailey’s thoughts. “But if things change, the offer stands.”

“I appreciate that, but for now, I need to do what I set out to do.”

“I kind of thought so.” Jenna reached out to give her a one-armed hug.

“Where are you keeping the mare?” Bailey knew she shouldn’t ask, but she really wanted to know.

Jenna smiled. “Max Driscoll’s Palomino Ranch.”

Bailey laughed. “Needle in a haystack?” There were probably a hundred yellow broodmares on the property located in the eastern part of the state.

“I’d like to ask how you arranged that, but I won’t.

” Max Driscoll and her father had roped together years ago before they’d had a falling-out over Pinto’s drinking.

“You don’t want to know. It took some time mending burned bridges, but I managed.

The good thing is that it is fairly close to where I’m living.

I can visit her, even if I can’t use her.

That would be too dangerous.” Jenna pushed her long braid over her shoulder.

“Just knowing she’s alive and well and that Chance doesn’t have her is enough for me. ”

It was enough for Bailey, too.

“Are you okay?” Jenna asked as she walked Bailey to her truck. Bailey gave her a sideways look wondering how she’d become so transparent.

“I’m just glad this all worked out.”

“That’s all?”

Bailey gave a casual shrug then hugged her former roomie. “Keep in touch, Jenn.”

Bailey got into her truck, but before she started it, Jenna moved forward to take hold of the open window frame. Bailey let go of the key. She knew this look, had seen it several times during college as they’d hashed out their complicated twenty-something lives.

“Tell me.”

Bailey didn’t attempt to hedge because Jenna was like a Jack Russell chasing a rabbit when she got an idea in her head. She simply did not give up.

“I fell for a cowboy and it’s scaring me to death.”

Jenna was well aware of her past scars, but instead of the strict warning about men and relationships that Bailey expected, Jenna surprised her by simply asking, “Is he like Chance?”

“No.” The word popped out instantly.

Jenna raised her eyebrows, leaving Bailey to consider the adamance of her response.

“Do you know him well enough to be sure?”

She did and she didn’t bother to say it aloud.

“Is he trustworthy? Honest? No underlying agendas?”

Bailey nodded. Hayes was all those things.

“Then trust yourself.” Jenna gave a dark smile. “But also make certain you have an exit strategy. A good one.”

She patted the window frame and stepped back. “Keep me posted.” And in case Bailey thought her friend was talking about travel, she added, “Ping me on the trip, too, so that I know you’re okay.”

*

Hayes was elbow deep in the pipe that led from the spring to the water tank, pulling out the leaves and debris that had plugged it.

A trickle of water started draining into the almost empty stock tank as he flung gunk from his hand.

Cool. He reached in again, just managing to get hold of the small nest of sticks that were holding more leaves in place and pulling it out.

As soon as that part of the blockage was clear, water began to flow, pushing out smaller bits of organic matter that had backed up behind the mass of sticks. He rinsed his muddy hands and arms then stepped back. Good to go.

He wiped the back of a damp hand over the bridge of his nose, then went still as he sensed he was being watched.

Had a freaking black bear crept up on him? He turned slowly to face whatever had his senses tingling, then let out a breath as he saw Bailey standing on the small rise behind the water tank.

He pushed the brim of his hat up to see her better. “You’re back.” Which he hadn’t expected. Had there been an emergency? Had Chance showed up? “Did you get the horse dropped off okay?”

She moved closer, her hands in her back pockets. “We did. Then Dylan drove into the sunset like the hero he is.”

“Nothing wrong with a good hero,” he said.

She came a few steps closer, taking her hands out of her pockets for balance as her boots sunk into the boggy vegetation around the tank. “So you say.” She smiled a little. “I like it when I’m the hero.”

“Only because you’re not beholden to anyone.”

“Yes. That and…”

He realized he was holding his breath as he waited for her to finish her thought.

“Will you come with me to Laughlin?”

Of all the things she could have said, that was not even on his radar.

She glanced away as she continued. “I know you have a lot to do on the ranch, but I thought that since Jordan is staying for a few days—”

“Are you sure?”

She met his gaze dead on. “It’s one weekend.”

“To be followed by…?”

“More.”

His heart jumped at the certainty in her voice.

“I’m still figuring out what it looks like to share a life rather than surrender to it.” Her tone grew thoughtful, and Hayes moved through the muck until he was close enough to take hold of her upper arms.

“You’ve learned from your mom’s mistakes.”

“I did, but those mistakes left a mark. My mom never dated again after Bruce.” She gave a dismissive shrug. “She did find a nice guy to hang out with platonically though.”

Which Hayes hoped was not his future role. He simply couldn’t deal.

“How about you?” he asked. “Did you date?”

“I dated a lot actually.”

He doused the spark of jealousy that ignited deep inside of him. “Did you get serious?”

She frowned as she looked down at their boots, covered in green sludge and only inches apart. He felt her muscles tighten beneath his touch. “Just once. It scared me.”

“Once.”

“Okay. Twice.” She looked up at him. “Same guy.”

Hayes couldn’t put a name on the emotion that made it difficult to speak. He managed to get the words out despite everything. “Me?”

“Who else?”

“And?”

She closed her eyes and her mouth worked for a moment.

“Good question.” When she opened her eyes, they shone with a determined light, as if she was making herself move into the dark waters that stood between her and her goal.

“I have a lot to overcome. I will try my damnedest not to screw things up because of knee-jerk reactions.”

“I am aware of these issues, and I have a few of my own.”

She gave him a curious look. “Such as?”

His grip tightened on her arms, as if he was afraid that she’d slip away. If she did, he’d have to let her go, but she was going to go knowing how he felt.

“I’m protective.”

“Okay.”

“But not smothering.”

“Good to know.”

“I know what I want, and I’ll move heaven and earth to get it.” Her lips parted in that knee-jerk response she’d spoken of, but she held his gaze, waiting. “But I will never ever bend anyone to my will.” He quirked up one corner of his mouth. “Except Trev. I’ll bend him sometimes.”

Bailey laughed and took hold of his forearms, completing the connection between them. “I’ve been thinking about spending the winter making new stock. On my place. If I can get a neighbor to plow me out.”

“You want to live in a horse trailer during a Montana winter.”

“And if I do?”

He smiled easily. “More power to you.”

She lifted her face to his and he lightly touched her lips, loving the taste of her.

“If your neighbor tries to talk you into moving onto his place when the snow gets too deep, what might you say?”

“I guess we’re going to have to find out.” This time she kissed him, letting go of his forearms to slide her hands around his waist.

“This is so weird.”

Her head jerked back. “What?”

He brought his forehead down to touch hers. “One of the best moments of my life is happening while standing in green slime.”

She smiled that beautiful smile of hers. “Better than cow manure.” She tapped his chest. “That could be our motto.”

He laughed and wrapped her in his arms. “We’re perfect, Bailey.”

“Green slime and all?”

“Green slime and all.”