Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
T he next morning, Cameron waited on Edward for their ride. This time, he showed up and even had the horses saddled and waiting when Cameron came outside.
“Good morning,” he said. “Everything is ready for us to ride. We need to get back in pretty early. We have a major blizzard arriving later this afternoon and we don’t want to get caught out in it.”
“Then let’s go,” Cameron said, stepping up into the saddle. He reached down and patted the horse on the neck. “This is a beautiful animal.”
Edward led the way out of the barnyard in the same direction that they’d taken the sleighs yesterday. If only the man hadn’t shown up when he did. Cameron was about to kiss Samantha.
Those full pink lips of hers were a temptation, he could no longer resist, and he’d been intent on finding out if she tasted as good as she smelled, looked, and felt against him. And then Edward had miraculously appeared.
Of all the times for him to suddenly show up.
“The animals will go with the property,” he said. “All the equipment, everything. I just want completely out from under the ranch.”
But Cameron knew that Samantha did not want to sell. In fact, if she ever learned that he was here to purchase the land, she’d be furious with him. And he couldn’t blame her.
Lying was something he didn’t like, and yet here he was being deceitful and lying for her brother. And that made him very uncomfortable.
“Are you in trouble, Edward?”
The man whipped around in his saddle. “What kind of trouble?”
“You know. Financial trouble?”
He was trying to see if the man would be honest with him or if he would lie to him as well.
“Of course not,” he said. “The ranch has been in the family for many years. We owe nothing on it.”
Liar, liar, pants on fire. Casey had told him they owed the bank money.
“I just remember you getting into trouble in college a couple of times and your father having to bail you out. He’s no longer around, so I just wanted to make certain you weren’t in need of being bailed out again.”
The man chuckled like it was no big deal.
“No, Cameron, I’m not in financial trouble of any kind,” he said.
Didn’t he know it was always better to be upfront and honest?
A voice inside his head reminded him that he was not being honest with Samantha. A cringe filled him. As soon as this was over, he was going to tell her everything. She needed to know. But, first, he had to wait on Tucker.
They rode for over an hour when Edward’s phone rang.
“I’m really busy right now. I know, but I’m out riding showing someone the property. This is not a good time.”
Cameron wished he could hear the other side of the conversation.
“All right, but you’re going to have to give me an hour. I can’t get back to the ranch before then,” he said.
Turning off his phone, he shoved it into the holder on his belt.
“I’ve got to get back,” he said. “Something’s come up.”
Probably a new card game, but Cameron didn’t say anything.
“I want to travel over that ridge over there and see what lies beyond it. You go on back. I’ll follow our tracks back to the house. I’ll see you there soon.”
Edward frowned at him. “Are you sure? It’s very easy to get lost in the snow. Everything is white and looks the same.”
As long as it didn’t start snowing, he’d be fine.
“The tracks will be easy to see. I’ll find my way back,” he replied. “But first, I’m going to the top of the ridge. How far does your land go beyond there?”
The man frowned. Of course, Cameron would have a surveyor check out the property lines before the deal was closed. And right, now he wasn’t certain he was even going to offer to purchase the land.
“About a half mile,” he said. “I’m going to leave you, but don’t stay long. You need to return before the snow starts falling or you’ll be lost.”
Cameron was not afraid. He’d been riding horses since he was a boy and he’d ridden almost every inch of the Burnett spread.
“I’ll be fine,” he said. “See you later this evening.”
Edward took one last look at him and then rode off, hurrying to get back to the ranch. Cameron turned his horse toward the ridge and climbed to get an ariel view of the ranch.
Dark clouds filled the northern sky and he urged the horse toward the incline. He needed to see what lay on the other side and then he’d head back to the house where the celebrating was probably already started.
Not being a part of the wedding party, he felt like an outsider trying to fit in, and it had not been comfortable.
When he reached the top of the ridge, the snow began to fall with a gentle sputter. Looking out over the land, he could see even more pasture beyond the ridge. The problem would be getting the cattle over the elevation. There must be an easier way to reach that land.
Turning his horse, he started back toward the house. The snow had picked up in intensity and he sighed, knowing he needed to get back.
“Come on, girl, let’s go to the barn,” he encouraged the horse.
Thirty minutes later, he knew he was in trouble. The tracks were covered and he wasn’t certain the horse was headed in the right direction. His fingers and toes were starting to ache with the cold. The wind had started to whip around him and he couldn’t see more than a foot in front of him.
Damn, he’d never complain about a Texas snowstorm ever again. This was frightening. All he could do was hope the horse knew which direction the barn was.
Through the blinding whiteout, he saw a dark figure riding toward him. Thank God, Edward had returned to help him find his way back.
“Cameron,” a soft female voice called. It was Samantha.
For the love of God, her brother had let her come out to find him, not himself. Was he crazy sending his sister out here?
“Samantha,” he called and his horse trotted toward her a little faster.
“I thought Edward would return for me,” he said when he reached her side. She was covered in snow and he probably looked just as bad.
A frown crossed her face. “We’ve got to get out of the storm. It’s worse than I expected. There is a line shack about a ten-minute ride from here. It’s in the opposite direction of the house, but it will take us hours to get back to the inn, if we don’t get lost.”
Already he feared frostbite. They didn’t have hours. “Let’s go.”
Once they reached the shack, what would they do? How long did storms like this last?
He wasn’t going to think about that right now when he couldn’t see in front of his face. His horse was about as close to Samantha’s as she could get. He hoped and prayed that their shelter had a place for the horses or they would be bringing them inside.
Finally after what seemed like forever, but was only about ten minutes, he saw a dark spot through all the swirling snowflakes. It must be the line shack.
When Samantha swung her leg over her horse, she dropped and the snow came up over her knees.
That meant they had received at least six inches in the last hour.
She turned to him and screamed into the wind. “Come on, we can put the horses in a shed around back.”
Thank goodness the animals wouldn’t be out in the cold.
Stepping down off his horse, he wished he’d worn different boots. These were going to quickly fill with snow.
Taking the reins, he led the horses around the back of the little building to a barn that would protect them from the elements.
Unstrapping the cinch, he watched as she removed the saddle. Obviously they were going to be here awhile. Reaching beneath the horse, he undid the straps and then removed the saddle. He carried it to where Samantha had set hers down and laid it on a railing. She stepped back into him then startled and turned right into his chest.
“Oh,” she said gazing up at him.
Warmth filled him as he stared into her large brown eyes.
“Why did you come after me? The wedding is the day after tomorrow.”
She tensed and he figured she was angry at her brother.
“Because I knew you were in trouble,” she said. “Edward should have stayed with you.”
Did he tell her about the phone call? Whoever had been on the line, had not been happy.
“He received an urgent call,” he said. “I was just going to ride up to the bluff and then head back. But the storm hit and covered the tracks.”
They were close enough that he smelled the sweet scent of lilacs that drifted from her. Gazing down at her full lips, he wanted to pull her to him and kiss her hard. If she hadn’t come for him, he’d still be out there hoping and praying the mare knew the way home.
Her pink tongue swept across her lips and she stepped back. “Come on, the horses have feed and water. Let’s go to the house and start a fire and get warm.”
A fire? Like the one smoldering between them? One that would soon be a raging inferno if he touched her again.
Following her outside into the cold, they walked around the side of the building, holding onto it, so they didn’t lose their way. When they reached the front door, she pushed it open.
The wind pushed him inside. Though it was only afternoon, already the skies were growing dark. With sudden insight, he realized they were not going anywhere until this storm ceased and he doubted that would happen before tomorrow morning.
A quick glance around the one-room building and he knew it was going to be an intimate evening.
“The bathroom is behind that door,” she said pointing to what looked like a closet. “The only shower is outside and I don’t think that one is going to work very well right now.”
A chuckle came up from his chest. He’d skip his shower in the morning.
There was a small kitchen, a wood-burning stove that had a stack of wood beside it, a small bed against the wall, and two chairs. Not exactly the Hilton, but way better than being lost in a blizzard.
She opened the door to the wood stove and put in logs and kindling.
He squatted beside her. “Let me.”
Taking the box of matches, he struck one and held it to the newspaper she’d put inside. The paper immediately caught but burned out.
Her brows raised. “I can do it.”
This wasn’t going to be as simple as it looked.
“I know you can. But I thought maybe you would see what kind of food supplies we have. A cup of coffee would be wonderful right about now.”
Standing, she went into the kitchen. “You’re right. That does sound good. Something warm.”
While he worked on getting the fire going, she found and filled the coffee pot with water from the sink. There was tension in the air between them but he had to keep busy. If he touched her, then it would be like an explosion going off and he’d have her in that bed exploring every inch of her full curves. As it was, he would have to sleep in a chair tonight.
There was no way he could lie next to her. And yet, that was a temptation he would really like to explore.
Finally, the kindling lit and he hoped and prayed there was enough to get a log going.
Bringing the coffee pot over, she put it on top of the wood stove.
“Primitive, but it works,” she said.
He rose to his feet and gazed at her.
“Did you tell anyone you were going after me?”
“Yes,” she said, her brows drawing together in a frown. “I just feel bad that Tara is going to have the happily soon-to-be-wedded couple all to herself to take care of along with those harpies they call friends.”
Realizing that he was supposed to be friends with them, she gasped. “I’m sorry.”
A chuckle came from him and he grinned at her. If only she knew the truth. These were not his friends and these people never would be in his life. They were shallow from what he could see. Entitled and so used to the world being handed to them on a silver platter.
“No need,” he said. “I’m here for the wedding. Then I’m heading home, if the weather will let me.”
The coffee pot gurgled and she poured two cups.
“Sorry, no cream,” she said.
“Don’t use it,” he replied. “Why don’t we sit and relax for a few minutes?”
The wind howled outside and rattled the panes of the windows. “We don’t have these kinds of storms in Texas.”
She nodded. “No, you don’t. This one appears that it’s going to last well into the night.”
Was that her way of saying that they were not going anywhere tonight?
He looked at the bed. “What are we going to do, Samantha?”
“Drink coffee and maybe play cards,” she said.
There were other things he would have enjoyed more, but those were not possible. Not with the potential sale lying between them. The sale she knew nothing about.
Maybe he should use this time wisely to find out more about the ranch.
“Tell me why the ranch is in so much financial trouble,” he said, knowing that it would shock her but needing to hear her side of the story.
Her brows lifted from her brown eyes and she gazed at him above her coffee cup.
For several moments, she was silent and he feared she was not going to say anything, but finally she sighed and glanced at him.
“Everything started going bad right before my father died,” she said with a frown on her face as she stared into the flames through the glass doors of the stove.