Picking Up Cowboys (13 page)

“How bad is it?”  Cat hopped down from the sleigh and crossed to the back.

She clucked her tongue and shook her head.  “Oh, my.”

“Do me a favor, Cat.” 

“What?”

“Just be quiet.”

Cat gasped in outrage, her cheeks heating to a fiery red.  Even through his frustration and anger, Gage thought she was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.  He turned back to the sleigh. 

“Can you get it out?”

Gage gritted his teeth.

“Maybe the horse could pull it.”

Anger simmered through him.  It was half her fault they were in this mess.  If he hadn’t been so distracted over her, he may have paid closer attention. 

“Maybe--”

Gage interrupted her.  “Maybe we should unharness the horse and ride back.”

“But--”

“This isn’t going anywhere.”

Cat shrugged.  “I’ll help.”

Gage and Cat worked quickly and freed the gelding.  The horse blew an agitated breath through his nostrils. 

“Easy, boy.”  Gage patted the animal’s neck.  The horse skittered around.

“This should be fun.” 

That was it.  Gage turned to Cat, cold fury filling his veins.  He took a menacing step toward her, she paled and backed away.  If she couldn’t keep quiet, he’d find other uses for that luscious mouth of hers.  He took another step and another.

The horse whinnied, pawed the ground and took off at a fast canter.  Gage put his hands on his hips and stared after the horse in amazement.

“He got away.”  Cat’s eyes were wide with fear again.

“No kidding.”

“Now what do we do?”

“Walk.”  Gage didn’t wait to see if she would follow, he struck out after the horse.  The snow was coming down swiftly and the landscape could be deceptive with all this blinding whiteness, but horses instinctively could find their way home.  He was betting that’s where the gelding had headed.  He hoped to God he was right, because the temperature was dropping and he wasn’t sure how long they could survive if he was mistaken.

Chapter seventeen

An hour later, Gage was ready to admit that following the horse may have been a mistake.  He was fairly certain they were walking in circles.  He glanced back at Cat.  She hadn’t said a word since they’d started their hike.  Her lips were tinged blue from the cold but she was still behind him.  Unwanted admiration for her courage wound around his heart.  A lot of women would have at least been whining by this point. Not his Catherine.

His Catherine.
  He needed to get a grip.  She wasn’t his and had already declared she never would be.  The thought caused the gnawing burn to start in his midriff again, so he picked up his pace, determined to make it back to Manning’s ranch.

After a few minutes, he glanced back.  No Cat.  His heart stopped.  He turned around fully and shielded his eyes with his hand.  She was back there but several feet behind him.  Her pace was slow, laborious.  Gage paused, waiting for her to catch up.  She was going to have to walk faster or they would be out here all night.  The temperatures seemed to be dropping again.  The cold seeped into his bones and Gage wondered if he’d ever feel warm again.

Cat took another step, stumbled and fell down.  Gage tried to run to her, but the snow and cold slowed him down.  By the time he reached her side, she was pulling herself to her feet.

“Okay?”  He brushed some snow from her cheek.

Cat nodded and gave him a weak smile.  “Just tripped.”

Gage swallowed.  When he’d seen her go down, he wasn’t sure what had happened.  Adrenaline was still pumping through his veins like fire water.

“I’m fine.”  She gave a body-wracking shiver.

“We’ll come across something soon.”  Gage wasn’t so sure about that, but she looked so forlorn, he wanted to give her some hope.

She nodded.

Gage smiled and started back through the snow, slowing his pace considerably.  Why did he still feel this raw ache over her rejection?  He frowned, almost like he would be empty without her in his life.  He groaned.  He couldn’t be falling in love with her, that would be the height of stupidity.  But even as the thought presented itself, Gage knew it made perfect sense, explained his hurt and desire for her.  His only hope was to be on guard against any deepening feelings.  He would get Catherine Claiborne out of his system and he would move on.  Right now, his first concern had to be finding them shelter.

              Gage heard the crisp crunch of snow and glanced back.  Catherine was lying in the snow, her eyes closed.  His world spun to a standstill and he knew without a doubt that he’d never stood a chance of not falling in love with her.

*              * *

              Sleep beckoned.  The cold comfort of drifting away and not feeling the pain in her tired, frozen feet or the bone-sluggish tiredness that drained her.

              “Cat.  Open your eyes.”  Gage’s voice was fuzzy, almost as though he were talking from a great distance.

              Catherine, felt him lift her and shake her a little.  She grumbled.  Why didn’t he just leave her alone?  Couldn’t he see how very tired she was?             

              “Open your eyes right now.” 

              Cat’s eyes fluttered open and confronted his worried green gaze.  She tried to reach up and pat him on the cheek but her arm was too heavy; it seemed to weigh more than her whole body.

              “I just want to take a little nap.”  Her words were slurred even to her own nearly frozen ears.

              Gage gave her another little shake and pulled her to her feet.  “No. We have to keep moving.”

              “Mean.”

              “So, I’m mean.  Get mad, get furious with me, but get up.” 

Catherine thought his voice sounded a little desperate and wondered if he was having trouble thinking of a new way to steal her ranch.  But she didn’t really have enough energy to care and her eyes started to drift shut again.

“Wake up, Catherine Claiborne.  You don’t want to give me the ranch that easily do you?”

Catherine’s eyes snapped back open.  No she didn’t want to give up the ranch.  No matter how much her traitorous heart might love him, she refused to surrender.

“That’s it, sweetheart, just a little further.”

Gage coaxed and prodded her, half-holding her up.  Catherine made it another mile before her legs gave out.  She just couldn’t go any further.  She tried to push to her feet, determined not to let the sleepiness overtake her again, but her body refused to cooperate.

She felt herself cradled against a warm chest. Catherine snuggled against Gage.  Then she was lifted in strong arms.  She tried to protest that he couldn’t carry her, but even her voice was too exhausted to function. 

“You’re going to be okay, sweetheart.  I see a cabin.”

Catherine nodded her head, or thought she did.  She meant to anyway. 

“Catherine, I’m going to set you down.”  She felt the gentle stroke of his gloved fingers against her cheek.  She supposed that was good, at least if she could feel something, she must not be frostbitten.

“Do you have to?”  She sounded thick, as though she had cotton in her mouth.

He chuckled.  “Yes.  I have to kick in the door.”

That got Catherine’s attention.  She opened her eyes as he slid her to her feet, holding her for a minute while she regained her balance.  Her gaze landed on the rickety wooden door.  Gage shouldn’t have any problems kicking it in.

Oddly, the thing that impressed her the most was the white sign with the red and black letters. 

Penalty for damaging these premises is jail and a fine.  $10,000 reward for reports leading to a conviction. 

Gage took a step back and landed his boot square in the middle of the door.

$10,000 reward.

The wood splintered.  He aimed another well-placed kick, knocking the door open and cracking it more.  Catherine toyed with the idea of turning Gage in to the authorities, and collecting the $10,000 reward.  He would be in jail, so the ranch would be hers alone and she’d have the money to do repairs.

She grinned despite her frozen lips, not that she would ever actually do that, this was a matter of survival, but the daydream of it was quite amusing.

Gage swung her back into his arms and crossed over the threshold.  Catherine wondered if her icy cheeks were showing the color she felt blooming inside of her.  Was this what their wedding night might be like if she said yes to his proposal?  Longing burst through her.  She wanted to be married to Gage more than she wanted the ranch or adventure, but not without love.

Gage pushed the door closed behind them, it sat crookedly on its hinges.  “At least it’s dry in here.”

Catherine shivered.  She was so cold, she didn’t think setting fire to herself would warm her up.

“Let’s see what we have.”  Gage surveyed the one-room cabin. 

A narrow cot was pushed against one wall, a wood-burning stove took center stage in the middle of the room and a tiny alcove housed the kitchen with two chairs and a rickety looking wooden table.

Pulling open a drawer in the kitchen, Gage found a book of matches.  A thorough search revealed no logs or coal to start a fire.

“The table,” Catherine said.

Gage nodded.  He flipped the table over, kicked at the rickety legs until they broke off and quickly started a fire in the stove.

“It’ll warm up in here a little.”  He grabbed a huge pile of blankets and nodded toward the cot.  “Why don’t you lay down under these blankets and try to get warm?”             

Catherine felt fear bloom in her.  All she’d wanted before was to lay down and sleep.  Now that her brain had thawed a bit, she realized it would have meant sure death to her.  What if she went to sleep and never woke up?

“It’s okay, Cat.  You won’t freeze to death in here,”  Gage said.

“How did you know what I was thinking?”  Catherine whispered through still chattering teeth.

“You have a very expressive face.”

Catherine frowned.  If her face was so expressive, did he know that she loved him?  If there was any mercy in this world, he would never guess.  Catherine wasn’t sure she’d live through the embarrassment.  She’d almost rather go back outside and face the cold.

Shivers wracked her body, her teeth chattered loudly.  Gage strode to her side. 

“Get in the bed, now.”  He unwrapped her coat from her and ushered her under the mound of blankets. 

Pulling the covers up to her chin, he stared at her for a moment.  Catherine had the fleeting impression that he might kiss her on the forehead.  It was a nice feeling, never had anyone looked after her or tucked her into bed.  Usually, it had been her seeing her father didn’t wind up sleeping on the floor in the hall, rather than any consideration being given to her.

Catherine decided she liked being coddled.

* * *

Gage watched as tremors swept over Cat’s body.  His own skin felt icy and he fought back a shiver of his own.  The wood-burning stove might just keep them from freezing to death, but only barely.  If either of them were going to get through this night comfortably, there was no choice for it but to share body heat.

What torture was it going to be to actually have her pressed against him in that narrow cot?  Gage gritted his teeth, determined to exert some self-control.

He stripped off his coat and climbed into bed next to Cat.  She sat up so fast it was a wonder she didn’t send them both sprawling on the floor.  Gage hid a grin.

“W-what are you doing?” she stuttered.

“Getting warm.”

“But...I...you...”  Her blue eyes were wide and frightened.

Gage reached up and pulled her back down.  She tumbled into his arms.  “Relax, Cat.  I won’t do anything you don’t want me to.”

Cat held herself stiffly for a few moments before relaxing against him.  Gage wondered if she realized what the feel of her molded so firmly against his side was doing to him.  He bit back a groan of need.

“Gage?”

Great!  Now she was going to start talking.  He’d hoped she’d go to sleep and he would be able to hide his body’s reaction from her.

“What if we get snowed in here?”

“The forecast didn’t call for snow at all.”

“What if it was wrong?”

“Then we stay.”

“But, what will we use for wood?”

“Cat, you talk too much sometimes.”

Cat, frowned at him.  “I do not.”

“Go to sleep.”

Her dusky lashes fell onto her pale cheeks and she used his arm as a pillow.  Relaxing so fully against him, she could have slept by his side for years.  Gage stared up at the ceiling, preparing himself for a long night.  No way would he be getting any rest wanting her the way he did.  He wouldn’t trust himself not to attack her in his sleep.

Wouldn’t that shock Miss Catherine Claiborne?  He grinned.  Then again, it might not. She often surprised him.

* * *

Catherine feigned sleep for a moment.  It was impossible to sleep with the feel of Gage’s rock hard body pillowed against her.  And she would have had to be a nun to miss the hard evidence of his desire when he’d slid into bed with her.  Curiosity curled through her.

Did he really want her that much?  A tiny thrill of feminine satisfaction sparked an imp in her.  Maybe she should reach over and stroke his chest and see just how much he wanted her.  A part of her wanted to make love with him.  The other part, the old Catherine that was still left, was terrified.

She didn’t know what to expect and felt totally unprepared for loving Gage.  What should she do?  What if she displeased him?  But this might be the last chance she ever had, and could she live the rest of her life knowing she hadn’t made love with the one man she’d felt this heart wrenching love for?

The new Catherine had almost taken hold in her heart and soul, but there were still snatches of the old Catherine left.  And those parts of her old self were what held her back.

“Carpe Diem,” she whispered.

“What?” 

She opened her eyes and found Gage staring at her.

“It means seize the day.”

“I know what it means.  I was wondering why you were saying it, when you’re supposed to be sleeping.”  His voice was a low, sexy drawl.

Catherine wondered if he knew how seductive that husky timbre was.  Just the sound of his words made her want to reach up and pull his head down to hers.

“I wasn’t sleeping.  I was thinking.”

Gage grinned, showing off his dimple.  Catherine’s heart expanded a little more with love for this man and his gentle nature he hid so well.

“Apparently. Care to share?”

Catherine shook her head.  “I’d rather show you what I was thinking.”

Swallowing her fear and shoving the old Catherine in a locked room, she reached up and traced his lips with her fingers.