Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
“There a problem here?”
“Cy,” she breathed on a whisper.
A new voice, menacing in its own right, intruded. The instantaneous reaction her body had told her who it was before she even looked. The advance knowledge didn’t help as her gaze hungrily ate up the vision there.
Cy rode a large paint and watched them from under the brim of his cowboy hat. His face was unreadable yet she could feel the tension pouring from him.
Anson’s grip relaxed. “Nothing. Just having a discussion with my girlfriend.”
She gasped with indignation. “I am not your girlfriend.” She stepped away from him only to refocus on Cy. So powerful, he drew many an eye. People watched them and she thought it more his good looks and the fact he was a stranger as opposed to the color difference.
“Rebecca?” Cy spoke her name with rugged familiarity.
“You know him?” Anson sounded furious. “This…man?”
Not bothering to respond, she lifted her chin. “What are you doing here, Cy?”
Her cowboy lifted his head and speared her with his gaze, one eyebrow lifting. “We need to talk.” He rested his arms on the saddle horn.
Anson babbled but she ignored him. She shook her head.
She rolled her “You shouldn’t be here.”
A slight narrowing of his gaze. “Did you think I would let it go?”
Honestly? Yes, she had. She moved her mouth but nothing came out. She broke left and dashed away, cursing her skirt and how it slowed her. Forcing herself to walk before she entered the house, she closed the door gently behind her.
“How was your walk?”
She kept her face averted. “It was okay, Mama. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, child.”
Rebecca paced behind her closed bedroom door. Cy. Here. Oh God, she felt nauseous again and a bit like riding away on Polaris. Why was he here? What possible reason could he have for showing up?
Bigger question would be why she felt this way just from seeing him again. Her fingers burned with the desire to touch the silky sandy brown hair and let it flow over her skin. Follow the contoured and sculptured muscles.
She was too keyed up to sleep and snuck out to the barn. To her surprise, her Indian friend, Nita waited there by Polaris. The moon offered a small bit of light. They shared a hug and she asked, “What are you doing here?”
“Father said he saw your horse but not you. Are you okay?”
She bit her lower lip and shook her head. “I’ve fallen in love and I’ll never see him again.”
Nita held her and whispered soothing words to her. They talked into the night before Nita had to leave. Alone, Rebecca went back to her room.
She fell into a restless sleep only to wake as if she’d not slept at all, frustrated both emotionally and sexually, from dreams filled of Cy. The cold morning air helped to wake her further. On automatic, she did her morning chores and started the fires for washing. She barely ate her breakfast and escaped as soon as possible.
She worked on instinct and was off to the side when the large paint trotted in the yard. Nice horse, sure, but it was the man on his back, which made her knees wobble. Cy. She touched her hair and smoothed her dress before she realized her actions. He dismounted and walked to the table.
“Can I help you, sir?” her mama asked.
“I was told you took in laundry, ma’am.” His gaze moved to her and she found herself nearing.
“I can take this, Mama.”
Her mother glanced between them both before walking back to what she’d been doing.
“Why are you here?” she demanded in a harsh whisper.
His dark hazel eyes never wavered as they bore into hers. “We need to talk.”
“There is nothing for us to talk about!” She slashed her gaze to her mama--grateful she ignored them, or pretended to.
“Really? The guy you were with last night mean anything?”
Was he jealous? Someone else approached and her heart raced. She swayed and before she knew it, she was in his arms again.
“Are you okay?” His deep voice was full of concern and made her want nothing more than to snuggle up to his large chest. Perhaps he would hold her tighter and kiss her.
“Rebecca!” Her mom rushed over. “What happened?”
“Nothing, Mama, I’m fine.” She struggled to get up both grateful and saddened when he released her. Catching his gaze, she silently pleaded with him not to say anything. “Thank you, sir.”
Mama didn’t seem concerned and she spoke to Cy. “Did you get the information you needed?”
Cy never took his gaze from her. “Yes, ma’am and I’ll be back tomorrow. Good day, ma’am.”
He tipped his hat and left. Not without sending her one final look. He meant it, he’d be back. She had to talk to him away from here, out from under her mother’s watchful eye.
Early afternoon, her mama approached her. “I need you to go pick some things up from the general store.”