Born to Be a Cowboy Read online

  “If or when they do, I’ll call you. I know how anxious you are. And if there’s no phone service in the hills, I’ll personally deliver any information I have.”

  She reached over and squeezed his hand. “Thanks, Finn.”

  She glanced at their hands, then up to his face and waited for the space of a heartbeat, as though anticipating something more.

  With his eyes on hers Finn lifted a hand to a strand of her hair that drifted across her cheek. It sifted through his fingers, softer than silk, and he tensed, reading the invitation in her eyes.

  “I’m so glad I have you on my side, Finn. You and your family.” Her warm breath whispered over his face.

  “I’m glad, too.” He could feel her in every pore of his body. Calling on all his willpower he reached around her and opened the door.

  With a warm smile she turned away and stepped inside. “Good night, Finn.”

  “’Night.”

  Finn waited until the door closed before moving down the hall to his room. Once inside he crossed to the window to stare at the hills, black with cattle.

  She’d made her feelings clear.

  He could’ve kissed her.

  Should’ve.

  Would’ve, except…

  There was that damnable lawyer’s code of honor again.

  There were times when he wished he’d never had to give up the old ways. The old Finn, the rough, loud, coarse tough guy who took what he wanted, when he wanted, would have said to hell with the rules.

  He walked to the bed and sat on the edge while nudging off his boots. After stripping, he climbed naked into bed and lay staring up at the ceiling.

  That kid was dead and buried under years of learning the right way to live and work and love. If he wanted to be called Mackenzie Monroe’s son, he would play by the rules.

  Even if it killed him.

  And dear God, this time, it just might.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The rain began shortly after midnight and continued into the morning. By midafternoon Finn decided to call it a day and leave his office to return to the ranch. On the long drive home he prayed Penny had been persuaded to wait until tomorrow to haul her supplies into the hills. If the highways and asphalt roads were covered with this much rain, it stood to reason the dirt trails leading to the herds would be ankle-deep in mud.

  As he stepped into the mudroom, the silence of the house mocked him.

  Zachariah walked out of his room holding a legal magazine. “You’re home early, Finnian.”

  “I was hoping Penny would use common sense and wait another day.”

  “We talked about it. She knows the perils of this much rain, but she’s missing her Samuel.”

  “She’ll miss him a whole lot more if she gets buried in mud somewhere along the trail.”

  The old lion smiled. “Is it Penny you’re worried about, Finnian? Or is it the pretty woman assisting her?”

  “Both.” Finn merely grinned. “Okay, I think you know.” He turned away. “I’m going to change.”

  “And then?”

  He paused in the doorway. “And then I guess I’ll just have to head on up to the hills and make sure everybody’s safe.”

  “A hero to the rescue.” The old lawyer put the kettle on for tea. “Would you like me to pack you a lunch?”

  Finn was halfway across the parlor. “No time. I’ll eat something tonight with the wranglers.”

  “You’ll be staying in the hills tonight?”

  “With this rain, it looks like it.”

  Finn drove the all-terrain vehicle across a soggy meadow before beginning the ascent into the hills. A gusty wind made the torrent of rain feel like icy pellets against his face. Even his wide-brimmed hat was no match for the weather. He would have preferred the comfort of a truck, but he knew it could prove too heavy for the water-soaked ground.

  The higher he drove, the heavier the rain fell, mixing with the melting snow atop the mountains and running in rivers that carved deep trenches into the soil.

  As he rounded a curve, he came upon the ranch truck, its two front wheels buried in muck.

  Seeing no sign of Jessie or Penny, he stepped from his ATV into knee-deep mud. The back of the truck had been carefully covered with a tarp. The trays of food were still inside, which told him the women had gone on ahead.

  He climbed aboard his vehicle and started forward. At the next bend in the trail he spotted both Penny and Jessie, slogging through the rain.

  “Oh. Are we ever glad to see you.” Penny threw her arms around her brother-in-law’s neck and planted a kiss on his cheek.

  “Not as glad as I am to see you.” He grinned at Jessie, brushing damp hair from her eyes. “There’s so much water, I was worried I might find the two of you swimming.”

  “It would have been a whole lot easier than walking in this.” Jessie stepped closer. “Is there room on that thing for two more?”

  “You bet.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Hop on, both of you. Let’s get going.”

  Jessie climbed on behind Finn, and Penny settled herself behind Jessie. Finn gunned the engine and they started a slow, steady climb until they reached a high meadow, black with cattle. Despite the rain, wranglers on horseback rode the perimeter while others walked among the cows, assisting in the calving, and often helping newborn calves to stand in the soggy, rain-drenched grass.

  At first glance it appeared to be bedlam. But a closer look proved that every cowboy seemed to know exactly where he ought to be when he was needed.

  Spotting them, Sam turned his gelding toward the ATV and slid from the saddle to gather Penny close. Afterward, he held her a little away to give her a long, steady look. “Were you engaging in a little mud wrestling, Money?”

  She and Jessie shared a laugh. “Our truck got stuck and we were hoofing it when Finn came along.”

  Sam grinned at his brother. “Finn, the hero. Not that I’m surprised.” Keeping his arm firmly around his wife’s shoulders, he started toward the nearby range shack. “Why don’t you two lovely ladies go in there and get warm while Finn and I see about getting your truck up here?”

  Penny and Jessie needed no coaxing to get out of the cold downpour. When they paused on the long, covered porch, Sam tied his horse to the hitching post and climbed aboard Finn’s ATV.

  With a wave, the two brothers took off, spewing a stream of mud behind.

  “Ahh.” Jessie sat on a wooden bench outside the door of the range shack and tugged off her soaked boots. As she tipped each one over, mud and water trickled out.

  She peeled off her socks and wiggled her toes.

  Beside her, Penny did the same.

  The two young women were laughing as they stepped inside the cabin.

  “Finally. Snug and dry,” Jessie murmured.

  “And soon it’ll be warm.” Penny crossed to the fireplace and held a match to kindling. Afterward she filled a blackened coffeepot with grounds and water and placed it over the fire.

  As it brewed, the two women took turns showering, and before long the cabin was filled with the wonderful aroma of coffee and woodsmoke. Finally warm and cozy, they sat in front of a roaring fire and sipped strong, hot coffee.

  Jessie rolled the cuffs of her denims before tucking her feet underneath her on a cushioned rocker. “Do you think Sam and Finn can get our truck out of the mud?”

  “If they can’t, they’ll send for a couple more wranglers. After the hard work the crew has been putting in up here, they’re not about to let all that food sit on the side of the hill.” Penny laughed. “There’s one sure thing that can turn a man into a superhero. And that’s hunger. Whether the reward is food or good loving, a man will do whatever he has to.”

  Jessie shared her laughter. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Penny studied her over the rim of her cup. “So. How about you and Finn? Are the two of you at that good loving stage yet?”

  Jessie gave a shake of her head. “We’re…attracted. But we haven’t ac
ted on the attraction.”

  Penny bit back a smile. “Your choice? Or Finn’s?”

  “Finn thinks we should keep our relationship on a purely professional level.”

  “Hmm.” Penny arched a brow. “I’m not surprised.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Finn is the youngest, and he was separated from his older brothers at a very vulnerable age. So when they first came here to live with Mac, Finn wasn’t ready to trust anybody or anything. From what I’ve heard, Mac had to work really hard to gain Finn’s confidence. But once he did, Finn decided the sun rose and set on Mackenzie Monroe. I think he’d do anything to make his adoptive father proud. He certainly wouldn’t want to violate a client-lawyer privilege just to satisfy his lust.” Penny put a hand to her mouth to stifle the laugh. “Though I have to say, there’s something awfully sexy about a guy who’s trying to do the right thing, even if it kills him.”

  “You mean, even if it kills me.” Jessie joined in her laughter.

  Penny’s eyes went wide. “Really?”

  “Are you kidding?” Jessie put a hand to her heart. “I’ve never met a man like Finn. Besides being drop-dead handsome and sexy, he’s smart. What a combination. And his loyalty toward his family really touches me. All he has to do is look at me, and I go all weak in the knees. There’s just something about him…”

  Her voice trailed off at the sound of vehicles approaching.

  The two women flew to the door and watched as Sam drove the truck alongside the porch. Finn turned off the engine of his ATV directly behind the truck.

  Both brothers, coated with mud from head to toe, were grinning like fools as they carried the trays of food to the door and handed them off to the women.

  Sam started toward the distant herd, with Finn behind him. Over his shoulder he shouted, “Let us know when supper’s ready.”

  Jessie called to Finn, “Don’t you want to clean up first?”

  “Why?” His smile widened. “I’ll just get dirty again.” He winked before walking away.

  “Hey, Buck.” Sam slapped a big hand on the shoulder of a grizzled cowboy. “Say hi to my brother Finn.”

  “Another brother?” The old man grinned, showing a gap in his mouth where teeth were missing. “I already met the one who’s sheriff.” He turned to Finn. “What do you do? When you’re not birthing calves, that is.”

  The wranglers around them shared a laugh.

  “Finn’s a lawyer,” Sam said. “But he’s pretty good at calving, too.”

  “But not as good as Sam.” Finn offered a handshake. “Nice to meet you, Buck.”

  Sam turned to another cowboy to say, “Clint Sawyer, this is my brother Finn.”

  Instead of calling out a greeting, the wrangler turned his back on them.

  Finn shot a surprised look at his brother. “Friendly guy.”

  Before Sam could respond, the wrangler shoved his way through a cluster of bawling animals to assist an agitated cow struggling to give birth.

  Sam remarked, “Reminds me of our introduction to the joys of being a rancher in springtime, our first year here.”

  “Yeah. Mud and blood and calves dropping all around us.” Finn gave a shake of his head as he plowed ahead and assisted in another birth.

  A short time later Finn looked up as Otis shouted to Sam, “One of our wranglers needs stitching up.”

  “What happened?” Sam peeled off his gloves and started toward the old man, with Finn trailing behind.

  “Sawyer got his arm cut real bad on barbed wire. He’s already headed toward the truck. I’m going to have to drive him to the clinic at Haller Creek.”

  “It’ll take you hours to navigate all this mud,” Finn called. “Maybe Roscoe could stitch him up here. He’s stitched up plenty of cowboys and animals.”

  Otis shrugged. “Sawyer said he’ll be needing a tetanus shot, too. Danged barbed wire was rusty as an old nail.”

  Sam nodded. “Okay. Just stay safe. And you may as well spend the night at the ranch. No sense trying to get back up here after dark.”

  When Otis nodded and walked away, Sam dropped an arm around Finn’s shoulder. “Lucky you came up here today. With one of our new hired hands and Otis both out of commission, we can really use you.”

  “Glad to oblige.” Finn was grinning. “Of course, I really came up here so I could enjoy Penny’s good cooking.”

  “Tell that to somebody who doesn’t know you like I know you, bro.”

  At Finn’s questioning look, Sam gave him a level look. “What really brought you up in the hills today was Jessie. But I will say this. You’ve got good taste.”

  With wide grins, the two brothers dove into the thick of the herd and were soon swallowed up in the gritty task of calving.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Best food ever.” Sam, freshly showered, set aside his plate and dropped an arm around Penny.

  They were seated at a table that ran the length of the cabin’s porch. Some of the wranglers sat with their backs to the wall, balancing their plates on their laps, while others had taken their plates inside, to eat in front of the fireplace.

  Penny turned to Sam. “You ate so fast you barely had time to taste anything.”

  “Doesn’t matter, I know you’re an amazing cook.” He drew her close to press a kiss to her cheek. “My stomach’s full, my clothes are dry, and I’m with the prettiest girl in Montana. Life doesn’t get much better.”

  Finn shared a grin with Jessie. “See what happens when Mr. Tough Guy gets walloped by Cupid’s club?”

  She arched a brow. “Don’t you mean arrow?”

  “The way Sam’s talking, I’d say Cupid’s arrow would have to pack a hell of a punch.”

  That had the others laughing.

  Some of the wranglers were already pulling on their parkas and heading back to their horses to take the first watch of the night. The rest of the wranglers were eager to head inside the range shack to sip a longneck by the fire before crawling into their bunks.

  Jessie looked across the table at Penny. “I guess we’d better start cleaning up and heading back to the ranch.”

  “Not tonight.” Mac, who had ridden up early in the morning to lend a hand to the wranglers, gave a firm shake of his head. “There’s no sense taking a risk on those trails. Morning’s soon enough to head back.”

  Finn closed a hand over Jessie’s. “I know it’s not the most comfortable situation, but Dad’s right. It’s dangerous out there in this rain.”

  Jessie nodded. “I’m fine with it. Don’t forget. This isn’t my first rodeo, cowboy.”

  Finn chuckled. “I’m glad you grew up on a ranch. But I know you’ve been away from this kind of thing for years now.”

  She smiled. “I guess it’s like riding a horse. You never forget.”

  “Good.” He squeezed her hand, but didn’t lift his away. “I’ll give you a hand with the cleanup.”

  Her smile deepened. “Penny and I will take all the help we can get.”

  Clouds swept past a thin quarter moon in the night sky. The rain had finally blown over, leaving the stars to give off their dazzling display. The familiar lowing of cattle drifted on the still air.

  Penny and Sam joined Jessie and Finn, seated on the steps of the porch, their backs against the rail, sipping the last of the coffee.

  Jessie had a blanket draped around her shoulders to ward off the chill left by the storm.

  Mac opened the cabin door and stepped out. “All clear, ladies. The last of the wranglers is sleeping.” He glanced at Sam and Penny. “I’m sorry to say there are only three empty bunks left. That means you two will have to double up.”

  Sam huffed out a dry laugh. “Gee. What a shame.”

  The others shared his laughter as he gave his wife a mock lecherous stare.

  That had Penny touching a hand to his rough stubble of beard. “After the day you’ve put in, cowboy, I’ll bet you ten dollars you’re asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow.”

&
nbsp; “You’re on.” Sam grinned to the others. “Remember when Penny was so afraid of gambling, she figured I was doomed to hell? Now she’s betting me.”

  Finn helped Jessie to her feet before clapping a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “She’s not gambling, bro. It’s a sure thing. You’re practically dead on your feet.”

  Sam shrugged. “There’s always tomorrow.”

  “And the day after that,” Penny said with a kiss to his cheek.

  They all trooped inside and removed their boots before climbing fully dressed into their bunks.

  Finn turned to Jessie. “Top or bottom bunk?”

  “I’ll take the top. That way, if it collapses in the night, I’ll land on you.”

  He was grinning. “Now there’s an image that might keep me awake all night.”

  He waited until she’d climbed the rough ladder before settling into the lower bunk. As he lay in the darkness he listened to the sounds of Jessie moving from side to side, as she found her comfort zone.

  Comfort zone.

  He wished he knew of such a place. Right now, he was as far from comfortable as a man could be.

  In the glow of firelight he glanced over at his brother, his arm draped possessively around Penny’s waist, one leg thrown over hers, his breathing already slow and steady, attesting to the fact that he was sound asleep.

  Growing up without an anchor of family, Finn had never understood how a man could make a commitment to one woman for the rest of his life. Had never really wanted that for himself. But right now, this minute, he envied Sam’s contentment. He would gladly trade it for this aching, hungry yearning that twisted inside. There was a fierce need to toss aside all the good, decent rules he’d set for himself, and just take what he wanted.

  And just what was it he wanted?

  He wanted to take, to possess, to satisfy the need rising in him. To devour, to feast until he was sated. He wanted to make love with Jessie in every way he could imagine. And right now, his imagination was on fire.

  Still, that wasn’t love, he reminded himself. It was lust, pure and simple. But right now, with the fire burning inside him, it would be enough.