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This time he must have heard Wade for his head turned in his direction. He knew the second before it happened, that wasn’t a good thing. The boy lost his momentum and was launched unmercifully into the air. The only thing he could be grateful for, was that Wade was in the position to break his fall. He hit him with a force powered by the throw and knocked Wade to the ground. When the dust finally settled Wade found the boy lying spread eagle across his upper torso.
It took a moment for them to catch their breath, but eventually the boy moved. His small frame brushed against Wade’s much larger form and created an unexpected reaction in the lower vicinity of Wade’s body. An akin reaction had occurred outside the bullpen when they had landed in a similar position. He swore and the boy looked up startled, bringing his soft facial features within inches of Wade. His heart gave an unexpected lurch.
Thrusting the kid off, Wade leaped to his feet. The boy was still stunned from the throw and took longer getting to his feet. Joe had come over by then and helped the boy up. “That was one hell of a ride, kid.”
Wade could feel the boy looking at him, but he refused to return eye contact. He was having trouble controlling the male urge pounding in his groin. Suddenly feeling disgusted with himself, he needed desperately to get away before someone noticed.
“How old are you kid?” Joe was dusting the dirt from the boy’s hat and putting it back on his head.
Naturally, there was no reply. Wade glanced at the boy and found his eyes still strained on him. Wade cursed, figuring the kid must have felt his carnal reaction and was puzzled by it. Perhaps even alarmed.
“Fifteen? Sixteen?” Joe was still talking to the boy, obviously not realizing the affect their collision had caused.
Wade was at least glad the rest of the ranch hands had disbursed returning to their duties which they had earlier abandoned. He placed his hands on his hips and concentrated on breathing in and out, waiting patiently for his body to return to its natural state. He didn’t want to think about why his body had reacted the way it had. He couldn’t allow his mind to wander into foreign territory. Never before had he reacted that way with any of his ranch hands. Hell, for that matter, any male.
“I think we can return to roping now, kid.” Joe gave the boy’s shoulder a slap before gathering up the rawhide rope.
Dutifully, the boy followed Joe but not before shooting a glance in Wade’s direction. Wade noticed, before angrily t
urning aside to head for the wrangler’s outhouse.
* * *
It was very apparent Wade was mad at her, Anna thought with her spirits at the lowest they had been all day. She had wanted to make him proud but instead he had been furious and she feared, disappointed. He barely made eye contact with her since she had been thrown from the horse. She felt hurt and hated herself for feeling that way.
Running her hands over the front of her body in a movement to look as if she was rubbing the dust from her clothing, she instead recalled the feel of him against her body. He was solid and large yet warm and protective. What she wouldn’t have given to have those broad arms come around and embrace her. In his arms she would feel the safety from the nightmares constantly shadowing her every move.
The night before, she had seen him naked. At least, chest naked. Today she felt that breathtaking form against her own. The joy that ignited throughout her body, surprised her and admittedly alarmed her. She couldn’t afford to be attracted to Wade Haddock no matter how safe he made her feel. Her life depended on it.
Even if she hadn’t achieved getting Wade’s approval, she had accomplished getting Joe’s respect. She wasn’t entirely sure how since she hadn’t been able to stay on the horse, but from the moment she was thrown his attitude toward her had taken an abrupt change. She was thankful for that. Having Joe’s respect ensured her acceptance in the bunkhouse with the rest of the ranch hands.
They spent the major part of the morning in the paddock roping the poor calf which Anna had resigned herself to do since she really had no alternative. Later, when she was alone, she would go and visit the creature and bring him a special treat. In all honesty, however, the roping of the animal proved harmless and the fear itself was in the little calf’s mind.
Still the same, Anna felt a connection. She had felt that same fear from the moment she arrived at the Circle H. But, like the calf, she was discovering the men were harmless and there was nothing to fear from them. However knew that was as long as she remained a boy. If they discovered there was a woman sleeping in their barracks, she just wasn’t sure to what extent her safety would last. And she didn’t want to take the chance.
It also provided another protection against an evil she couldn’t recall. She didn’t want to think about the mountain and what had happened up there, but it was there all day at the back of her mind. No one had come right out and described the scene they came upon on the mountain, but Anna knew it must have been bad. She had seen men who had encountered many horrible sights, but she had never seen any whose soul had been so clearly sucked dry from their face. But it was there in the eyes of Wade’s men. And Anna had known, even before Prescott had implied the incident on the mountain had been barbaric.
The remainder of the day was spent mucking the stalls and changing the beds. As there were three barns, she had her work cut out for her. She worked late into the evening and even had to eat her meal alone. It wasn’t until later that she finally had a moment to herself.
As promised, she made a visit to the little calf when most of the men were enjoying a game of cards. She brought him extra grains of corn stolen from her dinner plate and watched as he devoured them with pleasure. Running a hand over the head of the calf she proceeded to make her exit into the night. The ranch was quiet except for the echo of men's laughter coming from the bunkhouse. In the distance, a coyote could be heard. She stopped to take a deep breath, closing her eyes and allowing the pleasure of her surroundings to wash over her.
She had always loved the mountains and the vast wilderness she called home. She had heard of the big cities being built along the coast and was grateful to at least be in familiar territory. Anna felt a flutter of joy touch her heart. It was her first since arriving at the ranch. Just as swiftly it was gone and replaced with guilt.
Without her memory, she had no idea what she had left behind and with that realization came the thought of her family. A pain so severe ripped across her heart and immediately Anna’s mind blocked out any more memory or thought. To appease her conscience, she walked over to the paddock where the horse Lucy was still penned. The moon was high enough to see the horse clearly in the dark. Anna stared at the animal and felt a sympathy for the anger she had felt that day. Opening the gate, she slipped inside the pen.
The horse gave a short snicker, her warning telling Anna of her distrust of the human, before shuffling a few paces away. Knowing something about the inability to trust, Anna moved at a nonthreatening pace closer. Lucy lifted her head and pinned her ears, but refrained from moving. Reaching out, Anna laid a gentle hand on her neck. The horse shifted her eyes, but allowed the woman’s hand to remain. Anna stared up into the creature’s large wary eyes. Lucy looked back.
“You’re not planning on riding her again, are you?” Wade’s voice out of the darkness startled her.
She spun around and found him leaning over the fence into the paddock, silently watching the duo. Anna blinked and tried to make out his face in the darkness. He was too far away. As if reading her mind, he climbed the fence and leaped over to join her in the paddock.
Lifting a hand, he petted the animal as well. Though she lifted her head in protest, Lucy allowed him to touch her. “I think you might have won her over this afternoon.”
Anna gazed up into his face. He was looking at the horse rather than her, permitting Anna full rein to stare openly at him for the first time.
“It’s hard to believe you’ve never broke a horse before,” he said. “Not many of my hands could stay on a bucking animal as long as you did.”
She felt a jolt of shock. He actually sounded proud of her rather than disappointed as she earlier thought.
