Cowboy Outcasts (5 page)

When he still hadn’t heard or noticed her, she
moved ahead so he’d spot her in his line of vision. It worked because he
quickly cut the engine, the motor winding down as silence once again returned
to the morning.

He leapt down, adjusting his Stetson as he
strode towards her. “That’s a dangerous thing to do. You could have become
another statistic if I hadn’t spotted you.”

“I brought you something,” she said, changing
the subject. Irritating him again hadn’t been her objective. She held out the
brown paper bag.

“What’s this?” he asked. Callum’s brow creased
as he peeked into the bag. “Food?”

“I thought you might be hungry. You’ve been at
it since before I woke up.”

“My day starts with the sun, sometimes before.”
He held the bag at his side, waiting for something more.

“I was going to start my research. I need to
know what areas on your property the hogs are destroying.”

“It’s a bit out of my way right now, and I have
to get this field clear before it gets too hot. Come sit for a bit.”

He returned to the combine and sat on the metal
running board. She noticed the small scabs forming on his face, reminding her
of the night before. Hailey was tempted to run her hand over the stubble on his
jaw, to use his injuries as an excuse to touch him.

“I’ll have to head into town today to pick up my
clothes.” And everything else she owned. It would all fit in the back of her
pickup. There was no sense leaving it at the boarding house another few days when
she’d be forced to leave before she finished her assignment on the O’Shea
Ranch. All she owned were some clothes, tons of books, and a few personal
items. She chose not to put value in material items. As a child, Hailey learned
that expensive toys couldn’t buy love. She’d have traded everything for some
quality time with her parents.

He took a bite of the apple she’d packed him,
looking off into the fields he had left to clear. “I’ll come with you if you
can wait a couple hours. I need to pick up a few things at the market.”

“Okay.”

Callum finished the fruit and tossed the core.
He continually cleared his throat even though they were in the middle of summer
and he didn’t appear sick. He was dealing with more than she could imagine. “Want
to take a quick ride?” he asked, nodding to the massive machine behind him.

“I don’t know…”

“Come on now. Don’t be a yellow belly. After
last night, I think you can handle a ride on a combine.”

She reluctantly agreed, allowing him to assist
her up into the mouth of the beast. There was seating for two, everything
covered in a thick layer of dust. Just before she sat down, he passed a rag
over the metal bench. The random kind gestures were a stark contrast to his
frequent black mood swings.

Once he fired up the engine, her entire body
shook. Hailey didn’t know how he could stand clearing fields for hours. The
machine was so noisy it was deafening, the dust and sun a constant irritant.

“Wanna drive?” he shouted.

She shook her head.

He scowled. “Don’t be shy. Come here.”
 
Callum grabbed her arm and directed her to
where he sat. He lowered her onto his lap, something she wasn’t expecting. A
rush of heat and tingles erupted once his strong arm came around her. “Hold
here,” he said. “Keep it straight.”

“I can’t.”

“You’re doing fine. I’m right here if you need
me.”

She felt like a child sitting on a grown man’s
lap, but the ideas swirling in her head were anything but wholesome. He leaned
forward against her back, monitoring her actions. Both his arms were around her
waist, one securing her to his body. Her traitorous pussy began to pulse in deep,
distracting waves. This was so unlike her. Her entire life was based on her
research, of finding a place to belong beyond her controlling family. She
supposed she’d been trying so hard to make it on her own that she stopped
caring about the woman on the inside. If she failed, proving her parents right,
it would destroy not only her self-esteem but also something deeper—the sense
of independence she valued.

Now, being in this cowboy’s arms, feeling
carefree and alive, she never wanted to return to her old way of life. It felt
so good just to talk to someone about anything other than research—to be held,
touched, and coddled.

She squealed when a dark cloud of black birds
suddenly descended in their path. Callum only laughed, reassuring her with a
kiss to the side of her neck. Her breath hitched. Had he really just kissed
her? Was it a friendly peck or something more? It felt like more—like the
energy of the entire world trapped into that one moment. She tried to play it
off, as if it never happened. It would save her from misreading his intention.

“We’ll stop when
we get to the end of the row,” he said, pointing ahead. When he shut down the
engine once again, her unease increased. She shifted over to her own seat, not
knowing what to say or do.

He leaned over and
set one of his big, rough hands on her thigh. She had to stifle a gasp. “How’re
your knees healing?” He assessed her knees and came to his own conclusion that
they needed more tending. “Not so good. I’ll soak them in Epsom salt when we
get back from town.”

She didn’t refuse
him even though she knew it was unnecessary. Hailey loved the way he looked out
for her, going that extra mile when he didn’t have to. The vulnerable girl
inside yearned for his acceptance, while the woman knew not to rush into things.

They walked the
rest of the way to the house, their hands occassionally brushing. The heat was
already growing in intensity. His checkered shirt was unbuttoned, and he used
the corner to wipe his brow. She discreetly admired his ripped abs, surprised
how just a simple look could make her body so needy.

“So, how do you
plan to rid me of my hog problem, darlin’? Any ideas?”

“I–I’m not sure
yet. There’re a lot of variables.”

“Well they’ve plum near destroyed all my wire
fencing, and made a mess of my winter wheat crop. I hope you have some ideas.”

She hoped to God she made a success of her stay.
There was no way she could tell him she was clueless, only used to livestock
and textbooks. These feral hogs were something new and dangerous. If she
admitted that she may not even succeed, she’d never get a grant and would be
homeless to boot. She had to make it work.

When they arrived at the house, Callum wanted to
take a quick shower before heading into town. She fixed her hair in the dresser
mirror as she waited, using
Arden
’s
comb to smooth out the knots. Hailey rarely gave much thought to her
appearance. Now she cared. She wanted Callum to look at her with hunger in his
eyes.

She set the comb down and stared at her
reflection.
What are you doing, Hailey?
She
was setting herself up for more disappointment, looking for love in the wrong
places. Callum lived on his own for a reason. If he’d wanted a woman, he would
have had one by now. He was wrong for her on so many levels but her attraction
was undeniable.

As she made her way down the second floor
hallway, Callum came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his hips.
His dark hair was slicked back, thin rivulets of water running down his chest.
They both froze as if caught in the headlights.

“How’s your back?” she asked, trying to appear
unfazed by his near nudity.

“Feels fine.” He hadn’t moved, his voice
monotone.

She took the first step, circling him until
completely behind him. He ass was hard and toned under the towel, his back all
defined muscle. She briefly noted the healing wound. It was minor, already
scabbing over. What she really wanted was to lick the drips of water off his
tanned skin. His shoulders were so broad, she craved to smooth her hands along
them. Could he feel her desire? It felt like a living force all around her,
tempting her to act. Hailey was a virgin, not that she’d advertise the fact.
She’d rather consider herself a twenty-six year old woman at her sexual peak
than inexperienced.
Touch him, just run
your fingers along his back,
her inner voice demanded. But one wrong move
could spell disaster if it wasn’t reciprocated. Her insecurities held her back.
She bit the inside of her lip hard enough to draw blood.

“Well? Am I on the mend?” he asked.

She shifted back into reality, her chance to act
slipping away. “It looks good.” She gently touched the marred skin. The
intimate human contact was something she’d lacked and never knew it. She wanted
to touch and be touched, but it had to be for the right reasons. There was no
way she’d end up the town trollop being gossiped about by Cassie in the diner.
Hailey wanted a relationship based on real love, not convenience or financial
gain like her parents. Although most of her reading was research related, she
did indulge in romance novels from time to time. If only there was a stitch of
truth in the pages of those fiction books—like true, irrevocable love.

He turned his head. “I’ll just be two minutes.”
Then he entered his room and closed the door tight. She exhaled, nearly dizzy
from holding her breath. The man was so delicious, so well-built, how could she
not be tempted?

****

Callum insisted they take his truck for the
drive into town. It was bad enough he brought attention to himself with his
Tourette’s. A truck lacking a muffler was just asking for trouble. He usually
liked to get what he needed and leave just as fast.

“It’s the next left. The second house,” she
said. He knew the boarding house.

“How long have you stayed there?”

“Two years—since I finished my Masters and had
to get off campus.”

A boarding house wasn’t a home. It didn’t seem
natural for a young woman to be surviving all on her own without family or a
man.

“It’s not much of a home,” he said, pulling into
the driveway.

“It’s all I can afford. Just because I’ve spent
most of my adult years in university doesn’t equate a six-figure income. I’m
lucky if I can buy food week to week.”

“Then why bother?”

She looked at him, the sunlight reflecting off
her blue eyes. “Because I love it. I love learning about people and animals, creating
solutions to problems…and being independent of my family.”

“Ahh, there’s the heart of it, no?”

She shook her head. “Just a piece.”

Hailey left the
truck, trotting up the path. He lowered his window and called out. “How much
you gettin’?”

“I’m taking
everything,” she said simply and disappeared inside the Victorian-style house.
Everything?
Did she plan to stay at his
ranch that long? Permanently? He followed her into the house, needing answers.
If she was clearing out, she’d also need help.

The interior was
dim, forcing his eyes to adjust from the bright sunlight. He wasn’t a small
man, and always felt awkward around such dainty things—little antique tables
with doilies, miniatures displayed on tiny shelves. If he moved the wrong way,
it could be disastrous. It certainly wasn’t comfortable, not a place he’d want
to live in.

“Hailey?” he
called out.

Old Mrs.
Chambers came around the corner. “Can I help you?”

“I’m helping Ms.
Watson collect her things.”

“So you’re the
reason she’s moving out? I didn’t hear of a marriage proposal.”

“No, ma’am. I’m
just lending a hand. We ain’t together in the way you’re thinking.” His eyes
began to twitch, one worse than the other, not uncommon when he was put on the
spot. It was one of the reasons he preferred his solitary lifestyle.

She huffed,
lifting her chin. When Hailey peeked down from the stairs, she was his saving
grace.
 
He passed the landlady and took
the stairs two at a time. Once he entered Hailey’s room, she closed the door
tight.

“I’m sorry. She’s
terrible.”

“Maybe a
little,” he said with a smile. After a minute he realized he was standing in
the middle of Hailey’s room, her private domain. It was like taking a look
inside the mind of the woman he knew so little about. She was neat, her bedspread
made and dresser top organized. He sat heavily on the bed, enjoying the lush
mattress compared to his firm one. Callum picked up one of several teddy bears
and observed it. The brown bear in his hand was thread-bare from lovin’.

She tried to
snatch it from him but he kept it out of her reach with an outstretched arm.
“Callum!”

“What’s this?
Your little teddy? You best bring him along to keep you company at night.”

She climbed over
him until he dropped to his back, determined to retrieve her stuffed toy. “Stop
it,” she said, waving her arm around. He held her around the waist so she
couldn’t get higher. Their bodies were pressed together. It felt good having
her soft curved flush to his hard muscle. She hadn’t yet noticed the intimacy
of their position—but she would. Was this where he wanted things to lead? Could
he handle having a woman in his life full-time? It would only be a matter of
time before she tired of his constant noises and physical tics—a perpetual
irritation. He could scarcely stand himself some days. Since there was nothing
he could do to control his body’s random actions, he thought it best to avoid
disappointment and stay single.