Country Heat (King Creek Cowboys Book 1) Read online

  Boot steps sounded on the back porch, bringing Kit out of her thoughts and she swung her gaze to the door.

  It opened and Carter walked in. Her stomach did that silly little twisty-swishy thing again.

  Swoon.

  Damn, she had it bad.

  Today he looked as good as he always did. Something about him went beyond his hard, masculine cowboy looks that made him even sexier. He wore a western shirt and a straw Stetson. Faded Wrangler jeans fit him perfectly, and he wore a crafted leather belt with a silver buckle that had a longhorn steer head imprinted on it. His dusty boots made him look somehow rougher.

  He approached and she steadied herself by bracing a hand on the countertop.

  “Ready to head out on that ride?” He had a slight drawl that many Arizona cowboys spoke in.

  She wanted to sigh and melt every time he spoke.

  “I’ve been looking forward to it all week.” She gestured to the sack of food and the two thermoses. “I think I have enough.”

  He got so close to her she could smell his sun-warmed flesh and the masculine scent she’d come to associate with him. His body heat warmed her even though no part of them were touching.

  The fact that he was regularly in her “personal space” made her certain he had some kind of feelings for her too, whether sexual or more. He would get close enough that all she had to do was lean forward just a bit and she could kiss him. She hadn’t, of course, but she had wanted to.

  She was pretty sure he wanted to as well. Like now.

  “Guess we should go,” he murmured before he picked up the bag with their lunch in one hand and grasped both handles of the thermoses with his other. “Let’s head on out.” He turned and strode toward the back door.

  She nodded and followed. He paused and she almost ran into him. “Do you have a hat?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I didn’t even think about it.”

  He glanced at the hat rack. “Down at the bottom is one of my sisters’ hats. I think it’s Leeann’s. Go ahead and grab it. You can’t go out into the sun without something covering your head

  Kit bent and snagged the small straw western hat that had a leather hat band decorated with Conchos.

  He nodded as she straightened and set it on her head. “That’s better.” He gave her a quick grin. “You look cute in a hat.”

  She laughed. “So do you.”

  He chuckled and shook his head as he turned to go out the back door. “First time I’ve been called cute since I was just a kid.”

  “Ha.” She stepped through the doorway as he held the door open. “I bet all the girls called you cute in high school.”

  He snorted. “That doesn’t count.”

  They walked out into the cool morning, onto the soft ground that was a little damp from last night’s downpour.

  “I love the smell of rain.” She inhaled deeply and looked up to see a few wisps of white across the blue. “Not much in the way of clouds.”

  He eyed the sky before shaking his head. “Doesn’t look like rain.” He nodded to the barn as they neared it. “I packed waterproof ponchos in the saddlebags in case those storm clouds do come on back.”

  “A little rain won’t hurt.” She pushed her hair over her shoulder. “I haven’t been out to your barn yet.”

  “Sorry about missing our date to tour the ranch.” He reached the barn, flipped a latch, and opened the door. “Sasha came into the world earlier than expected.”

  Date. He’d called it a date again.

  She almost rolled her eyes at her silly schoolgirl thoughts.

  “Apologies definitely not needed.” She walked into the cool recesses of the barn and blinked to get used to the dimmer light. The whinny of a horse and a calf’s bawl greeted her.

  “Hold on.” Carter put his hand on her arm. “Don’t step in the cow patty.”

  Kit glanced down at a pile of fresh cow manure.

  “Not sure who missed this one,” he said. “I’ll grab a shovel.” He set the insulated bag and the thermoses on a hay bale before heading to the back of the barn.

  While she waited for him, she let her gaze drift over the stacks of baled alfalfa hay and straw; sacks of grain; as well as a wall of well-kept tack.

  The barn smelled of dirt, hay, and livestock, all familiar smells that reminded Kit of her grandparents’ much smaller barn.

  After Carter took care of the cow patty, he gestured for her to follow him. He started toward the aisle that ran down the center of the barn, between the stalls. “I’d like you to meet Little Joe.”

  Kit joined him and they came to a stop in front of one of the stalls. A huge black and white horse put his head over the stall door.

  Carter stroked the horse’s face. “This here is Little Joe.”

  “Hi, handsome.” Kit reached out and touch the horse, and felt the short coarse hair of his nose against her fingertips. She glanced at Carter. “I hate to be the one to break it to you, but there’s nothing little about this guy.”

  Carter smiled. “Mom named him after ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright on that old show Bonanza. I grew up watching reruns.”

  “I was wondering if that’s who he was named after.” Kit smiled. “Since your dad’s name is Joe, I guess it could have gone either way.” Carter chuckled as Kit looked over the horse. “Is he a Pinto?”

  “Yep. Sounds like you know something about horses,” he said.

  “A little.” She shrugged one shoulder. “No actual experience, but when I was a kid I was fascinated with horses. I was an obsessive reader, and I read a lot about them.”

  Carter patted Joe’s neck. “He’s a great ride for a first timer like you.”

  She pointed to herself. “Me? On a horse this big?”

  He nodded, an amused smile on his lips. “Little Joe is gentle and easy to ride.”

  She looked from the horse to the dirt beneath her feet. “Yeah, but there’s a lot of distance between his back and the ground.”

  “True.” Carter pushed up the brim of his hat. “Trust me. He’s a nice, solid, comfortable ride and doesn’t spook easy.”

  “Sounds like my Lexus, other than the spook easy part. They both have horsepower, too.” She ran a hand along the horse’s neck. His coat was short and smooth beneath her palm. “I’ll trust you this time. But if I end up on the ground, I’m coming after you.”

  He chuckled. “Promise?”

  “Ha.” She shook her head but had to hold back a smile. “Men.” She gave Little Joe one more pat. “I’m going to call you LJ.”

  “LJ?” Carter raised a brow.

  She dug a hair band out of her pocket as she spoke and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. “Sounds more manly that Little Joe.”

  “If you say so.” He moved to the next stall and she stayed close to him. “This is Heidi.”

  “Aren’t you a beautiful girl.” Kit brushed the horse’s soft muzzle. “I bet you’re spoiled.” Kit didn’t look at Carter as she added, “I bet he spoils all his women.” She bit her lip as her face warmed. She couldn’t believe she’d just said that out loud.

  His laugh was so close behind her that hair prickled with awareness at her nape. “I aim to please.”

  “I’m sure you do.” She scratched behind Heidi’s ear, her skin tingling with awareness of how close Carter was behind her. She didn’t dare turn around, because he might just see in her eyes what he was doing to her.

  Kit cleared her throat as she looked at the distinctive coloring on the horse. “She’s an Appaloosa, isn’t she?”

  “Yep.” Carter moved back to the Pinto’s stall and Kit nearly sagged with relief because the intensity of his presence had nearly been too much. He reached for a bridle and slid it over the horse’s head. “Let’s saddle up Little Joe.”

  She smirked as brought the huge Pinto out of the stall. “You mean LJ.”

  “Of course.” He winked before he gathered up tack and started saddling the horse.

  She helped him by following his inst
ructions, still wondering how on earth she was supposed to ride LJ. She didn’t know the first thing about getting on an animal this big, much less avoiding falling off. Guess she was going to learn.

  Carter saddled both horses with deliberate moves, making sure everything was cinched tightly and on securely. He slid the insulated bag into one saddlebag, and shoved one thermos into LJ’s saddlebag and the other into Heidi’s.

  When it was time to get settled into LJ’s saddle, Kit felt like tumbleweeds bounced around in her belly. Carter gave her instructions on what she needed to do.

  After he’d gone through everything, he helped her up and into the saddle on the left side. The leather creaked beneath her as she grasped the pommel and slid her booted feet into the stirrups.

  LJ remained steadfast and solidly in place as she adjusted herself in the seat and tried to get comfortable. She was surprised at how much she was shaking. She held onto the pommel with a death grip.

  Carter put a hand on her thigh and she shot a look at him. “It’s okay, Kit. You’re safe and you’ll do just fine.”

  She barely heard him because all she could do was feel the heat of his touch through her jeans. His palm was big and warm and it sent thoughts through her mind that involved no clothes and lots of skin sliding against skin.

  “Kit?” Carter’s voice cut into her thoughts. “You all right?”

  Not in the least. She nodded and gripped the pommel tighter. “Yes. Just ready to get going.”

  Carter gave a slow nod. “Before we leave, I’m going to go through some things with you so that you’ll feel more comfortable on the ride.”

  She was all for that.

  He spent time showing her the proper way to use the reins, the cues and commands LJ responded to, how to sit in the saddle, and how to use her knees.

  When he was confident that she could handle riding on her own, she nodded. “I’m ready.”

  He patted her thigh and the intensity of his gaze made her whole body shiver with desire.

  She didn’t know if she could handle having him touch her without losing her mind from the need to have him. To be with him.

  He slid his hand down her knee, sending more electricity through her, before he moved to Heidi and mounted the Appaloosa.

  Once they started off, Kit stopped worrying about how Carter was making her feel and focused on riding the horse. Even though LJ was smooth and solid beneath her, she still felt like she was going to slide off the horse and end up being dragged across the desert.

  “You’re doing fine.” Carter coaxed her from her perch on the ledge without her even saying how she was feeling out loud. “You aren’t going to fall off.”

  “I hope you’re right.” She gripped the reins tighter. “Because I’m a lot more scared than I thought I’d be. He’s big, he’s moving, and there’s no seatbelt.”

  “Maybe you need a booster seat.” His voice was teasing. “I can arrange for that.”

  She shot him a look. “Very funny. If you don’t behave, you won’t get any of the treat I brought for you.”

  He looked like he was pretending to think hard. “If I’m good do I get gummy bears? Cheerios?” Or how about ice cream?”

  “Taking ice cream with us would be a neat trick as we ride out into the desert.” She laughed and realized he’d gotten her mind off of riding LJ, if only for a moment.

  She looked ahead of them at the valley and the Superstition Mountains crouched in front of them. The mountains were tall, standing somewhat alone and separate from the other ranges in the area.

  “Lots of history and tales about the Superstitions.” Carter nodded in the direction of the mountains. “The tales they could tell.”

  “Isn’t there a legend about a miner or something?” she asked.

  “There are quite a few legends involving the Superstitions.” He was so relaxed and at home in the saddle that she was envious. “The “Lost Dutchman Mine” is one of the most popular of them all. You’ll find dozens of books and plenty of stories involving a prospector named Jacob Walz. He wasn’t actually a Dutchman, he was born in Germany in the early 1800’s.”

  Carter went on to tell her the tale about the mine, or a version of one, since there were so many. Listening to him took her mind off of her fear of riding because the way he told the story made it so fascinating.

  He told her a few popular tales of what was actually one mountain, a collection of rough terrain with thousands of mesas, plains, peaks, cliffs, bluffs, and plateaus. Many had gone into the mountain never to be seen or heard from again, and much of the area remained unexplored.

  Kit let her gaze drift over the land. I could learn to love this land. She glanced at Carter. I think I already do.

  8

  A droplet of water landed on Kit’s nose and she wiped it off. She started to say something when more drops sprinkled down on her and the horse. She looked up at the sky, the sun still shining with the closest clouds appearing to be miles away. A drop landed on her cheek, another on her forehead, and one on her eyelid.

  “The devil’s beating his wife.” Carter caught her attention.

  She looked at him with curiosity. “What?”

  “That’s what my grandma always says if we have a sunshower.” Carter glanced up at the sky and looked back at her. “When the sun is shining and it seems like rain comes out of nowhere.”

  “I’ve never been in a sunshower.” Kit shook her head. “What does the saying mean?”

  Carter pushed up the brim of his hat. “The raindrops represent the wife’s tears.”

  “Well, that’s cheery.” Kit smiled and realized no more drops were landing on her. “The rain stopped.”

  “Sunshowers are usually brief.” He adjusted his hat again. “So how are you feeling about the country life in your first week here?”

  “I’m enjoying it.” She shifted in her saddle as LJ picked his way through the brush. “It’s so different than L.A., which is superficial compared this lifestyle.”

  “I can’t imagine living in a place like L.A.” Carter shook his head. “I’ve visited a few times and visiting is more than enough for me.”

  Kit realized she was feeling comfortable with the rocking motion of the horse’s stride and she didn’t feel nearly as nervous as she had.

  “It’s no place to raise a family, as far as I’m concerned,” Carter said. “Do you want kids someday?” His question came out of left field.

  Kit snapped her attention to him. “I like kids.” She swallowed. “But I’m unable to have any.”

  She knew she should tell him the rest, but the pain of guilt and regret burned deep inside.

  His look softened. “Are you all right, Kit?”

  She nodded. Her throat was thick and ached.

  “Not everyone can who wants them.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “Adoption is always an option. Plenty of children out there in the world who don’t have parents and need a good family.”

  She knew that better than anyone. She should tell him about Michael. Now.

  “Phoenix has a homeless shelter who could use a cook now and again.” Carter took her off guard again. “I volunteer once a month. If you’d like to go next Sunday, you’re more than welcome to join me.”

  “I’d like that.” She found herself looking at him with new eyes. He kept surprising her. “I’ve worked with the homeless in L.A.” And I lived with them in San Francisco.

  “I don’t think enough people appreciate what they have.” He spoke in his slow, thoughtful drawl. “So many ignore the plight of people who need a second chance.”

  “My mother, sister, and I were homeless.” Kit blurted out the words. “When my sister and I were teenagers, after our father died. It was the kindness of strangers and my mom’s hard work that finally got us off the street.” As she spoke, she was afraid he would look at her differently now.

  “That’s why you were upset when my sister blundered onto the topic at dinner,” he said quietly. “She’s kind of like a bulldoz
er sometimes—just plows down anything in her way. Jill doesn’t mean anything by it. She just doesn’t always have a lot of tact.”

  “It’s all right.” Kit looked ahead as LJ and Heidi started heading up an incline. “Most people are fortunate not to have had any experience with being homeless or having a relative who is.”

  “I’m sorry you had to go through it,” he said. “Look how far you’ve come. And you said your mom owns a bookstore coffee shop.”

  “Yeah.” Kit’s heart felt like it weighed ten tons. “But my sister is still on the street. Mom and I have tried to give Sarah jobs, a place to live, and help to get her off drugs, but she still ends up strung out on crack and living in the shelter.”

  “Damn.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry to hear that. Anything I can do to help?”

  The fact that he’d just offered to help Sarah, melted Kit’s heart a little. “Thank you, Carter. I brought her to L.A. to live with me a couple of years ago, but then she disappeared. I was frantic until Mom said she’d shown up back in San Francisco, asked Mom for money, and went back to the street.” A deep feeling of sadness for her little sister penetrated Kit’s bones. “Maybe I need to get her completely away from California and help her start a new life.”

  “Sarah is welcome here.” Carter’s serious tone told Kit more than his words did. “I can find her a job here, at another ranch, or in town.”

  The backs of Kit’s eyes ached, as if she might cry. “You’re a good man, Carter McLeod.”

  He shook his head. “I’m just a man who believes in doing the right thing.”

  She smiled. “My mom would like you.”

  “I’m betting your mom is a great woman.” He smiled. “Mine thinks you’re terrific. Not to mention your cooking. Should have heard her raving to the neighbors when I visited her the other day.”

  “I enjoyed meeting your whole family that first night.” Kit couldn’t believe it was only just over a week ago—it seemed much longer. “They’re a lot of fun.”

  “I like to think so.” Carter moved easily with the horse as Heidi continued up a steeper incline. Kit wasn’t feeling quite as confident on the back of LJ as Carter clearly did on his own horse. It was easy to see that he had practically been born in the saddle.