Judy Christenberry - Never Let You Go

Though she wasn’t effusive, Beulah made them feel welcome. She fed them, clothed them, and made sure they attended school. And most important of all, she made it possible for them to stay together.

So Beth gave no response to Jed’s comment, other than to give him a sunny smile that seemed to surprise him. And that surprise alone was enough to keep her cheerful for a while.

They’d been riding for an hour. Not in companionable silence, but at least they hadn’t had an argument. Finally Jed decided he should make use of their time together.

“Tell me why you want to barrel race.”

She seemed startled by his question.

He waited, giving her a few minutes to pull herself together.

“It’s the main event open to women.”

“Others are opening up. There’s a small circuit only for cowgirls here in Texas.”

She nodded. “When I first thought of it, I wanted to ride because of the money. It seemed we never had enough. Melissa was dreaming of a dishwasher. Abby talked about wanting to increase our irrigation system. Aunt Beulah didn’t ever indulge herself. I wanted—I wanted a lot of things.” With a sigh, she sent him another smile. “I saw myself in the role of triumphant savior.”

“And now?”

“Now, Aunt Beulah is dead, and, much to our surprise, the three of us have a lot of money. Aunt Beulah had put away oil money from earlier years that we didn’t know about. But I want to prove myself, to be the best at something. Melissa, well, you’ve eaten her cooking. She’s a natural-born nester, willing to mother the world. And Abby, she’s an expert on ranching. After working hard all day, she spends her evening reading the ranching magazines, even textbooks on grazing, breeding.”

He didn’t want to hear this. He’d be a lot better off if he could keep believing she was weak, lazy, selfish, vain. All those things he’d assumed before he’d met her.

All those things she’d disproved every minute he spent with her. She was beautiful, but seemed unaware of it. A hard worker, but took it for granted. Concerned for her sisters, but seemed not to worry about herself.

“So you decided to take up barrel racing?”

She sent him an impish grin that had his heart beating faster. Didn’t she know how much he was affected by her lips? Or her tight body, moving with the rhythm of her horse?

“Well, I happen to like riding fast.”

“And winning?”

“That, too,” she added, her smile widening.

“And satin shirts?”

“If I admit to that, are you going to condemn me?” she asked, her expression now wary.

He looked away as he shook his head no.

“You see, Beulah didn’t think clothes were very important. And I was the youngest, so I never got anything new. Abby and Melissa wore them first.” Then she shook her head. “That’s not true. Occasionally, they were too hard on the clothes and they’d be worn out by the time Melissa had finished with them. I’ll never forget the one time I got a new pair of jeans.” This time she beamed at him, and he groaned under his breath. He had to stop hearing these confidences before he swept her into his arms and promised her anything her heart desired.

A peal of laughter surprised him. He looked at her again.

“I was so proud of my new jeans, I insisted on wearing them while we were riding fence line. And I ripped one leg into shreds on a barbed wire fence.”

“Why was that so funny?”

She chuckled again. “Oh, it’s hard to explain. I was afraid to face Aunt Beulah, but she just told me to take them off, and she spent the rest of the evening sewing them up again.”

“She sounds like a fine lady,” he said, still not understanding her laughter.

“Sometimes you remind me of her.”

Her quiet words startled him more than her laughter. “What do you mean? I can’t sew a lick.”

She laughed again. “I didn’t figure you could.”

He glared at her, his only defense, and kicked Buster in the sides to speed up. They’d only found one break so far. No sense in wasting time talking.

They finished the south fence line in a little over three hours. Jed was nothing if not efficient. He’d started out trying to keep Beth from helping.

She ignored his tactics and pitched in.

By the third break, he still barked orders, but he included her in the work. When she’d said he reminded her of Aunt Beulah, she’d meant his gruff exterior, but she already suspected underneath was a man with a heart of gold.

When they reached the corral, he took care of his own horse, leaving her to deal with Snowdrop. Just the way she wanted it.

“What horse are you planning to train?” he asked, his back to her.

“I don’t know.”

He turned to frown at her. “You don’t know?”

“I thought it would be best to wait until I found a trainer and got his opinion about a horse. I love Snowdrop, but she doesn’t have the speed I’ll need.”

He just stared at her.

“Any suggestions? Do you know of a good horse? Price isn’t a problem.”

“Damn, woman, you’re giving me carte blanche to rip you off. Don’t do that.” He turned his back to her again.

She grinned. Did he think she was no judge of men? She might not know how to handle a man romantically, but she’d learned from Aunt Beulah how to judge a man’s character. And even if he didn’t like her, Jed Davis was a man to be trusted.

“So you want me to pick a horse on my own?”

He’d just reached up to lift the saddle off Buster, but instead, he rested his hands on the saddle and bowed his head until his Stetson was almost resting on the leather. Then he gave a gusty sigh, as if she was too much to bear.

“There’s this pretty little sorrel on the next ranch. We’d look good together, but I don’t think she has the cutting ability we’d need. Or Bill Garland has several horses he’s been trying to sell me,” she continued, wondering how long he’d maintain his silence. “Of course, Aunt Beulah wouldn’t ever buy a horse from him. She called him a shyster.”

“I know a horse.” His terse words stopped her.

“You do?”

“About an hour’s drive from here, just into the Oklahoma panhandle. It’ll cost you a pretty penny.”

“Okay.”

He dragged his saddle and blanket off Buster and stalked into the stable. She took her saddle and followed him.

“So, when can we go see him?”

“I’ll go pick him up. I can get a better price without you there.” He never looked at her.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No. I won’t agree to the purchase unless I get to see the animal first.”

“The minute Joe knows the horse is for you, the price will be over the moon. You’ll just have to trust me on this. I’m going alone.”

“No.”

Jed dumped his saddle on the stable wall where one of his horses was penned. Then he turned around to stare at her, his hands riding his hips and a fierce look on his face. “Lady, when I train someone, I’m in charge. I make the decisions.”

“Mister, when I’m buying a horse, I get to take a look before I put down my money.” She put her hands on her hips and glared back.

“I knew this wasn’t going to work,” he muttered. “I’ll pack up and be out of here in an hour.”

He turned his back again and Beth felt her heartbeat racing. She didn’t want him to go. Because he would be a good teacher, she assured herself. That was the reason.

“Boy, you sure give up easy. It’s a wonder you were successful at all on the rodeo circuit.”

When he spun around and began advancing on her, Beth didn’t hesitate to beat a retreat. Until her back hit the stable door across the aisle and she had nowhere to go.

That didn’t stop Jed Davis from coming after her.

Jed couldn’t believe the woman. She was driving him crazy, with her big eyes, sweet lips and sassy mouth. But starting now, he was going to let her know who was boss. He wouldn’t be taking her with him to Oklahoma.

Putting his hands on each side of her, trapping her against the stable door, he said firmly, “Don’t you ever dare call me a quitter again.”

“I don’t guess I’ll need to if you don’t quit.” She sounded real sure of herself, but Jed knew he was making her nervous, because she stuck her trembling fingers into her jean pockets.

“I ought to quit,” he muttered, staring into her eyes, fighting the urge to kiss her until she agreed to whatever he wanted.

“But you’re not going to?” Her hopeful look reminded him of a puppy that had followed him home a long time ago.

“I guess not. But I’m going to buy this horse without you.” At least he could stand his ground there.

“That’s not fair, Jed. If I’m going to work with the horse, I have to see him first. We might not get along.”

“I wouldn’t choose a horse you couldn’t work with.” He might not know a lot of things, but he knew horses.

“I don’t see why I can’t go,” she continued to argue.

“I’m telling you, Joe will triple the price once he knows who wants it.”

“How will he know?”

Jed frowned at her. “What do you mean?”

“Well, are you going to introduce me as Beth Kennedy, wealthy woman, looking to be parted from her money?” She gave him a winsome smile, as if she’d made a joke.

“Hell, no. Why would I do that?”

“Then how will he know who I am?”

Figuring he was losing his mind, hanging this close to Beth, smelling her, wanting to touch her, he suddenly backed away, releasing her from his improvised jail. “He’ll know you’re the one I’m buying the horse for.”

“So? I don’t go around in jewels and a tiara. He won’t know I have money.”

“He’ll know when he sees your check.” Word always got around when there was a chicken to be plucked.

“You write a check and then I’ll write you a check later. We could do that, couldn’t we? Oh!” She beamed at him and he held his breath. “I know. We’ll tell him I’m your girlfriend!”

Jed thought he was going to choke to death. He coughed several times to regain his breath, and Beth beat him on the back.

“Are you all right? What’s wrong?” she asked, her eyes wide with concern.

“Damn, woman! That’s the craziest idea I’ve ever heard.” He backed up a couple of more steps. This time she came after him.

“Why?”

“Joe would never believe it.”

“You think I’m not pretty enough?”

Jed slumped against the opposite stable door, defeat filling him. He couldn’t lie to her. “You’re too pretty. Joe wouldn’t believe anyone like you would be interested in someone like me.”

Her eyelids lowered and she stepped to his side, one hand sliding up his chest. “Sure he would, sugar. I’m a good actress.” She was using the drawl that had fooled him this morning when she’d mentioned that blasted manicure.

He had to do something to get her away from him before he wrapped his arms around her and looked for the nearest pile of hay. “Okay, you can go. Ask Miss Abby if she needs us after lunch.”

Excitement filled her. But before she raced to the house to do as he said, she stretched herself against him and kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Jed.”

Then she was gone.

“Lord have mercy, what have I gotten myself into?” he asked the horses in the barn.

None of them answered.

Already realizing Jed preferred silence to conversation, Beth tried to contain herself on the ride into Oklahoma and not ask any questions. That resolve lasted for almost half an hour. Then her excitement took over.