Chapter 9
Perched on the split-rail fence on one side of the rodeo arena, Max tucked his new cowboy boots under the rail and watched as Emberly showed off her skills at breakaway roping.
The grandstands and the VIP boxes of the outdoor arena were empty. The bullpens and holding area were dark and deserted. Only a few stadium lights were on to highlight their makeshift rodeo, and they highlighted her in all her beauty.
With a rope in one hand and the reins in the other, she sat in the saddle of her American quarter horse, a stocky chestnut named Princess, that Emberly said she’d had since she was a teenager.
As Kade released the latch on the pen beside her, a bleating calf scurried out.
In the next instant, Emberly began the chase, moving quickly and nimbly.
At the same time, she skillfully twirled her lasso above her head and then tossed it and looped it around the calf’s neck.
As soon as the ring was tight enough that it couldn’t come off, Emberly released her hold on the rope and let the calf go.
Kade gave a whoop from where he was sitting on the top post of the calf pen. “Eight and a half seconds!”
Emberly reined Princess to an abrupt halt, then tipped up the brim of her tan cowboy hat.
She wore a pair of well-worn blue jeans, a thick wool flannel shirt, and cowboy boots.
The outfit looked good on her. So good Max couldn’t stop admiring the curve of her long legs and hips and waist, even though he knew he should not.
“You sure you don’t want to join me on the rodeo circuit?” Kade asked with a grin for his sister. “You’ve still got what it takes.”
Emberly veered Princess around and flashed a smile at Kade. The smile was wide and happy and full of life. The sight of it made Max’s chest tighten with the need to see her smile like that for the rest of his life—which he knew was irrational and could not happen.
It was as if pulling her down on his lap earlier had broken a wall he’d kept erected all week. Now that it had crumbled, he was struggling to keep his feelings for her under control and had been ever since they’d left the cabin for this last activity.
Since the ranch didn’t host rodeos during the winter months, Emberly had wanted to recreate one for him as much as she was able.
First, they’d gone into town and shopped for authentic cowboy gear at an upscale place that had closed just for him.
He’d had fun picking out and trying on different items before finally settling on what he was wearing.
They’d returned to the rodeo arena, where some of the staff had set up for the performance. Kade had started with his bull riding, for which he had made a name for himself. Another ranch hand had demonstrated steer wrestling. Then Emberly’s cousin Carissa had done barrel racing.
Apparently Carissa was extremely talented in training horses. She came from a branch of the McQuaids that had been interested in taming the mustangs that had once roamed the high country freely.
Emberly had explained that Carissa’s side of the family owned an enormous ranch on the Front Range near Colorado Springs.
But she’d moved up to Healing Springs shortly after she’d discovered she was pregnant.
Without the father of the baby involved, she had stayed after the baby was born and gave horse-riding lessons at a ranch near town.
“And that’s how we do it here,” Emberly called as she directed Princess Max’s way, avoiding the few muddy spots left from the snow earlier in the week.
Good heavens. She was stunning. He may as well admit his thought. Whether holding a lasso or dressed in lace, she was always stunning. But for some reason today, now, she was especially enticing.
“What did you think?” she called.
“You were fabulous.” He almost added the word darling but caught himself just in time.
She reined in only a foot away, her vibrance and youth and beauty so intense that he wanted to reach for her and pull her onto his lap again.
She eyed his lap, as if thinking the same thing.
His pulse spurted. Surely not.
She cleared her throat. “In this sort of situation, you could lavish a little more praise, but only if it’s genuine.”
“Of course.” He thought back to a moment ago, when she’d held the rope in perfect tension above her head. “I could watch you ride a horse and rope steer all night.” Did he sound too passionate?
Her eyes narrowed on him. “No flattery. You know that’s one of the rules.”
He sat up straighter. “I am not flattering you. I meant exactly what I said. I thoroughly enjoyed your performance and would love watching you do it again.”
“Really?” Did her voice hold a note of hope?
“Yes. Really.” He was not sure why his own voice dropped lower. “The truth is, I love watching you do everything.”
This time her eyes widened.
“Did I say too much this time?”
“Did you mean it?”
“Absolutely.” Once again, the lines were starting to blur between the pretense and the truth of how he was feeling for her. Even though he’d told himself he would put an end to the flirtatious lessons she was giving him, he hadn’t been able to make himself do so yet, and he wasn’t sure why.
She cocked her head toward the arena. “So, do you want to try any of the stunts?”
“If I do, I shall only make a complete fool of myself.”
“I promise I won’t laugh.”
Before he could say anything, a voice behind him answered, “No, Emberly. We don’t let the guests try the stunts, and you know it.”
Max shifted to find Tyler standing behind him, his thick arms crossed.
The oldest McQuaid was in his usual cowboy hat, flannel, jeans, and cowboy boots.
He was decisive, commanding, and a clear leader, not unlike Max.
But he was also much more intense, somewhat gruff, and certainly not warm and welcoming.
“I think you’re done here,” Tyler said in a clipped tone, as though he didn’t approve of Emberly’s private rodeo in the first place.
Emberly visibly bristled. “We were fine, Ty. We were just doing some practicing like we’ve done plenty of times.”
A muscle in Tyler’s jaw ticked. “Fine. But it’s time to put an end to this.”
“Why?”
“You’ve given your guest preferential treatment all week, but this is taking things too far.”
Max’s gut tightened at Tyler’s tongue-lashing. Emberly did not deserve his censure. “Emberly is not to blame for any of this.”
“Max,” she started.
“’Tis true. When you texted the activities that we could do today, I chose this.”
“I wanted to do it too.”
“Regardless, I have encouraged more than necessary.” As he spoke, he leveled his gaze at Tyler. “So do not take your irritation out on her.”
“Don’t worry.” Tyler held his ground. “I’m irritated at you too.”
“Very well.” Max climbed down from the fence.
His new leather boots were shiny and clean and completely out of place next to Tyler’s scuffed and worn boots that had likely seen a great deal of hard work.
“I hope the irritation will very soon be replaced by satisfaction when I return home and do my best to promote your ranch in my country and around the world.”
Tyler’s expression remained hard. “You’ll return and never contact Emberly again?”
“Ty!” Emberly began to dismount her horse. “Stop right now.”
Max was not sure how to answer Tyler. All week, he had been telling himself his friendship with Emberly was confined to one week, that when he went back to his normal life, he would be busy and would forget about her.
He had even tried to convince himself earlier that he could never do a long-distance relationship.
But was it possible they could stay in contact? Perhaps text once in a while?
Tyler pinned his gaze on Max, clearly waiting for a response to his demand.
Max steeled his shoulders. “While I appreciate your concern for your sister, I do not make a practice of letting others dictate how I handle my friendships.”
“Friendship?” Tyler snorted. “From what I’ve seen, this thing goes beyond friendship.”
“Ty, that’s enough.” Emberly’s voice held exasperation.
“Truthfully, this thing is not your concern.” Max had already experienced such interference once in his life with Ava, and he refused to allow it to happen again.
Tyler took a step back, then nodded at the beautiful home on the hill, the one where the McQuaid family lived. “Dad wants to see you.”
Emberly shook her head. “Tell him I’ll stop by later.”
“He wants to see both you and Max.” Tyler’s voice sounded ominous.
Emberly hesitated.
“I am happy to do so.” Max had not yet met the head of the family, and he was not afraid of an encounter.
He had no doubt T.W. McQuaid had been kept apprised of his and Emberly’s doings over the week.
Did T.W. wish to scold him for spending so much time with Emberly?
If so, why bother now that his visit was almost over?
“You don’t have to, Max.” Emberly pinched the bridge of her nose. He’d noticed she did so when she was in a stressful situation. Was she resistant to taking him to see her father? Was that stressful to her?
“If you prefer that I not meet your father, then I shall accept your decision.”
“No, that’s not it at all,” she replied quickly. “I just don’t want you to feel the pressure.”
“Have no worry on my account. I am not afraid to meet your father.”
She studied his face and then nodded. “Okay, if you’re sure.”
“I am certain.”
Max drew in a steadying breath. He was in charge of his relationships, and if—and that was only if—he wanted to pursue something with Emberly, he would not let Tyler or her father interfere. He would not even let his own father stop him.
Of course, Max had never concerned himself with choosing a wife who would please his father.
But after his father’s role in shunning Ava, Max was even less inclined.
In fact, for a while during those days when he had been reeling with the pain of losing Ava, he had contemplated selecting someone his father did not approve of simply to serve his comeuppance.
Max no longer had the burning need for revenge.
But what would his father say if he became engaged to Emberly?
Not only was she a commoner, but she was a simple American without any fame or fortune.
While that didn’t bother Max in the least, what would his father think about a gun-shooting, lasso-throwing cowgirl becoming queen of their nation?
Max almost smiled at how an engagement to Emberly would surprise his father. Perhaps his father would regret not letting him marry Ava, who, although not royalty, at least lived in his country, spoke the language, and was familiar with royal ways.
Yes, a woman such as Emberly would likely be a thorn in his father’s flesh. And no doubt he would discourage the union, perhaps try to prevent it.
No, if Max were ever to seriously contemplate such a wild plan, he would have to take drastic measures to ensure the union occurred. Most likely he would need to elope.
Elope?
Max almost scoffed aloud. What was wrong with him?
His thoughts were entirely out of line. He was quite possibly losing his mind.
Just because his feelings toward Emberly were heightened, it did not warrant his fantasizing about marrying her.
He’d probably only done so because he was growing more desperate with the looming deadline of his birthday.
He would not actually consider a permanent union with Emberly. More importantly, she would never consider a union with him. If he even hinted at it, she would laugh in his face.
Truly, he was mad for even thinking about it, and he would be better off putting such far-fetched notions from his mind.