California Romance (34 page)

A curious expression crossed Seth’s face. “If you get hurt, it’s your own fault. Splotches has no say in whether she stays whole—and alive. Let’s go home.”

They rode in silence for a good mile before Dori blurted out, “Are you going to tell Matt?”

“That depends on you,” Seth said with a look that boded no good for her. The twitch of a muscle in his cheek betrayed his wrath. “One more stunt like that, and I’m through. I agreed to ride herd on you to help Matt out, but if you’re going to continue being a blasted nuisance, the deal is off.”

Dori felt like she was bleeding inside from Seth’s condemnation. Today’s escapade had surely killed all hopes of her ever gaining Seth’s respect—respect she suddenly realized she had craved from the time she returned to the Diamond S. Now all was lost because of her stubborn determination to have her own way.

Z
ing
.

Dori’s lasso sang through the air from her position atop her pinto mare. It captured the target stump for the fifth time in a row.

“Good job.” Seth called from Copper’s back. Ever since he’d read the riot act to her about racing Splotches, Dori had settled down and worked hard to master the tasks he gave her. Seth frowned. Working hard didn’t hide the biding-my-time expression she sometimes still wore. Sure as the sun came up in the east, sooner or later Dori would rebel again.

Seth shook his head and watched Dori coil her lasso for another
throw
. He’d known taking charge of her would be tougher than chasing rustlers. What he hadn’t counted on, but was forced to admit, was his growing admiration for the plucky girl.

You also didn’t count on falling in love with her
.

Seth set his jaw. Ha! That’s just what he was
not
going to do. So what if his heart beat faster when she came running out to go riding? Or the softness in her manner at times indicated she might not be indifferent to him? No way would he consider anyone with her attitude as a possible life companion.

“You’re my Trailmate, God,” Seth mumbled for the dozenth time. “The woman I marry has to put You first in her life. Dori’s aim in life seems to be having good times and her own way. Once she sets her mind, she’s as immovable as El Capitan.” Seth grinned. Miss Dolores Sterling would not appreciate being likened to the thirty-six-hundred-foot granite mass reaching for the sky in the Yosemite Valley, but the comparison was accurate.

Her voice interrupted Seth’s soliloquy. “I’m tired of roping, Seth. Can we do something else? Practice jumping, maybe?”

“Only if you ride Copper. Splotches isn’t trained enough yet to be safe jumping.”

“Pooh.” Dori patted her pinto’s neck and looked rebellious. “Just because she balked and tossed me off doesn’t mean she isn’t ready. I simply wasn’t prepared for her to stop.” She grinned. “You didn’t mean it, did you Splotches?”

The mare whinnied as if in agreement but it didn’t change Seth’s mind. “Either ride Copper, or no jumping,” he ordered.

Dori’s deep sigh sounded like it came from her boots. “Well, all right. Copper is a good horse, too.”

Fighting words.
“A good horse?
Are you blind? Copper’s the best and most dependable horse on the Diamond S except for Matt’s buckskin, Chase.”

Dori bristled. Red flags waved in her cheeks. “He is not. I’ll show you.” She kicked Splotches with her boot heels and galloped away, straight for the narrow draw where she’d been thrown the day before.

“Stop.”
Seth leaped into Copper’s saddle and took off after her.

“Never!” the flying figure called. “Faster, Splotches.”

The mare responded with a burst of speed that sent chills through Seth. Had Dori regained enough of her riding skills to handle the mare? Seth shook out his coiled lariat. “Run, Copper.” The sorrel sprang forward. Heart in his throat, Seth swung his lariat in a wide circle over his head.

Splotches reached the narrow gap in the earth and faltered just enough to break her stride. But when Dori called, “Go,” the pinto sailed into the air and made it to the other side. She slid to a stop and Dori jumped from the saddle. “I told you she could do it.”

Copper cleared the draw. Seth didn’t miss a twirl of his lariat. The triumph in Dori’s eyes triggered anger so strong that he flung the lasso. The rope fell over Dori and tightened before Seth realized what he was doing. It was as natural as roping a stubborn little calf but not nearly as pleasurable. Copper came to a standstill, and Seth slid from the saddle. Three long strides brought him face-to-face with the impossible girl.

Dori struggled against the lasso. “Let me go,” she shouted, “or do you plan to hog-tie me on Splotches and take me back to the ranch?”

Seth saw fear in Dori’s eyes in spite of her reckless words. Good. He had tried reasoning with her. It hadn’t worked. Neither had threatening to stop the lessons and tell Matt why. Seth freed her, coiled his lariat, and hung it on the saddle horn. With one giant stride, he grabbed Dori by the shoulders, shook her until her hat sailed off, and said through gritted teeth, “For once in your life you’re going to get what’s coming to you, Dori Sterling.”

“Let me go!” she screamed.

“Not until you’ve learned your lesson.” Heedless of the consequences, Seth dropped to one knee, turned the struggling girl over the other, and whacked the back of her riding skirt—not hard enough to hurt her, but until dust flew.

“You—you…” Dori tore herself free and bounded to her feet. “I thought you were a Christian and a gentleman. You’re no better than Red Fallon.”

Seth’s temporary insanity fled. He felt sick. What had he done? “I reckon you’re right. I’ll pack my gear and be off the ranch before night falls.” He mounted Copper and looked down at her. “One thing, Miss Sterling. There’s no excuse for my smacking you, but folks are treated the way they deserve to be treated. You may want to take a look at yourself before condemning me. Let’s go, Copper.” The sorrel leaped forward, leaving Dori alone with Splotches.

Dori watched until horse and rider were out of sight, then sank to the ground. She buried her face in her hands, feeling again the humiliation of being spanked like a naughty child. Yet Seth’s words overshadowed all else.

“I’ll pack my gear and be off the ranch before night falls….Folks are treated the way they deserve to be treated. You may want to take a look at yourself before condemning me.”

“Dear God, what have I done? Worse, what is Matt going to say?”

The thought cut through Dori’s misery and brought her to her feet. Matt must never know. It would break his heart to learn that the cowboy he loved and trusted had laid hands on Dori, even though she deserved it.

“I’m the only one who can make sure Matt doesn’t find out,” Dori muttered. She ran to Splotches, mounted, and prodded the mare into a gallop in the direction Seth had taken. Wind burned her face, but she didn’t care. She must overtake Seth before he reached the Diamond S. It would be just like him to feel he must confess what had happened when he told Matt he was leaving—and his going would devastate Sarah.

What about you?
the wind mocked.

Dori shook off the thought and bent low over Splotches’s neck, urging her forward with every muscle in her body and praying that Seth wasn’t too far ahead to be caught. She rounded a bend. Relief nearly unseated her. Copper stood beneath a huge oak tree just ahead. Seth leaned against the mighty trunk, head bowed and shoulders slumped.

Dori raced toward them and reined in the pinto. Seth looked up. The suffering in his face went straight to Dori’s heart. She slid to the ground. “Don’t go.” She reached out and clutched his hands.

Seth’s mouth fell open. “You want me to stay? After what I did? Why?”

Not willing to confess what lay in her tumultuous heart, Dori stammered, “Because I…you…what difference does it make?” The shadow didn’t leave his eyes so she added, “It was as much my fault as yours. I’m sorry.”

Seth gripped her hands until they ached. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I hope Matt will forgive me.”

“He won’t ever know,” Dori flashed. “Didn’t you tell me when you started ‘riding herd’ on me that it would be without interference from anyone? That works two ways.”

The radiance in Seth’s face when he freed her hands set a candle glowing in Dori’s heart. It sparked an idea to convince Seth she was sincere. Could she do it? She must. Heart thundering, Dori gathered her nerve and said, “There’s one condition.”

A wary look crept back into Seth’s eyes. “Which is…?”

She took a deep breath. “Will you escort me to the barn raising?”

Dull red surged into Seth’s tanned cheeks. “I can’t.”

Dori fell back. Embarrassment flowed through her like a river when Seth added, “Any man would be proud to escort you, but I’ve already invited Abby.”

“I see. Have fun.” Fighting tears of disappointment and anger at herself for making the preposterous suggestion, Dori climbed back on Splotches. “We’d best go home. It looks like rain.”

“I’m sorry,” Seth said, while swinging into Copper’s saddle. “I had no idea you would ever consider going with me.”

Pride forced Dori to raise her chin. “I wouldn’t have if it had been any day but today.”
Oh yeah?
her conscience jabbed. She turned Splotches, praying to make it home without betraying her further humiliation.

They rode silently until they reached one of the streams that fed the Fresno River. The stream was swollen and churning from recent rains. “Now what?” Dori asked.

Seth cast a glance toward the darkening sky, then up and down the stream. “We’re a long way from home. If we go back the way we came, it will be pitch black before we get there. We should be all right crossing here. It’s the only really good place for miles. Change horses with me.”

Dori silently obeyed, and Seth adjusted both sets of stirrups.

“I’ll go first. Come on, Splotches, show your stuff.” Seth gave Dori a tight-lipped smile and nudged Splotches down the steep bank. Dori watched the pinto gingerly step forward, then begin to swim. Splotches appeared nervous, but Seth kept a firm hand on the reins. Dori could see he was talking to the horse, although the roar of the stream drowned out his words. They scrambled out of the water, up the opposite bank, and Seth beckoned to Dori.

“Our turn, Copper,” Dori told the sorrel. He snorted and stepped into the flooded stream. All went well until they were halfway across. A floating tree, several branches still intact, barreled down the stream and blocked their way. Copper swerved to avoid the obstacle. The current caught him broadside. He staggered and regained his balance but had already been swept past the bank where Seth and Splotches waited.

Terror filled Dori, but she hung on for dear life. “You can do it, Copper,” she encouraged, sticking in the saddle like a burr.

The sorrel tried again and again, but he could not outswim the tree. Tossed by the current, it stayed between horse, rider, and the opposite bank. Dori didn’t dare try to turn back. The bank was too steep to climb even if they could make it.

They rounded a sharp bend. A short distance ahead, another stream gushed white water into the one where she and Copper were trapped, changing it into a river. Unless they could get out before they reached that point, it meant certain death. Only God could save them now. “Please, God, help us,” Dori cried.

Copper stumbled, bringing a fresh spurt of fear, but Dori whispered, “God, I know Your promises are sure. ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.’ ” A mighty bellow from the opposite shore where Seth and Splotches were racing alongside the bank of the stream caught her attention.

“Let go of the reins. Raise your hands over your head. Take your feet out of the stirrups.” Horse and rider plunged into the water.

Dori’s throat dried. Following Seth’s orders meant she could be swept out of the saddle.

“Trust me, Dori!”

She obeyed and swayed in the saddle. Only the pressure of her thighs against Copper’s heaving sides kept her upright.

The next instant a rope dropped over her raised arms and tightened. A mighty yank threw Dori out of the saddle and into the river. She desperately tried to keep her head up—and prayed for Seth. Just when she felt she couldn’t make it, Seth and Splotches hauled her out of the flood. She lay on the bank, numb from cold and whispering, “Thank You, God.”

Seth’s voice roused her. “We have to find shelter.” He sounded so grim it roused Dori from her misery. She sat up. Splotches stood with head down. Seth looked as if he’d lost his best friend.

Dori glanced back at the flooded stream—and understood. “Copper?”

Seth’s expression and the slump of his shoulders cut into Dori’s heart like sharp knives. She’d never heard such agony in anyone’s voice than when Seth said, “He’s gone.”

Dori’s tears gushed, but Seth helped her up.

“We have to get going. Can you walk? Splotches is tuckered out.”

“Yes.” It was all Dori could get out past the boulder-sized lump in her throat. She silently trudged after Seth and the pinto, away from the river that had taken Copper. Water sloshed in her boots. A keen wind cut through her clothing. She didn’t complain. What was her discomfort compared with Seth’s loss of the horse he loved?