The Cowboy Claims His Lady by Meagan McKinney

Author:Meagan McKinney
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Silhouette
Published: 2003-03-13T05:00:00+00:00

Six

She hated him. The humiliation of Bruce’s parting words was enough for Lyndie to decide that she really and truly hated him.

To make matters worse, she was trapped with him in the lodge during a day of continuous downpour.

While the others played cribbage and drank tea by the big fieldstone hearth, Lyndie sat off to one corner, playing solitaire on her laptop.

She really should pack it in, she told herself. Toying with a cowboy was a waste of time and energy. A road to nowhere—or worse.

And she didn’t need the emotional torrents, either. There seemed no middle ground where Bruce was concerned. She either surrendered gladly, or fought with all her might. He seemed to inspire passion in her that knew no blandness, only fire and consummation.

But it wasn’t love.

Love was comfort and security, not this terrible raw emotion that lay naked within her, as naked as she had felt when those fluorescent lights came on.

“Whatcha doing?” Susan asked, peering over the screen of Lyndie’s laptop.

Embarrassed, Lyndie logged off and put the computer aside. “Nothing. Just work. Trying to catch up.” As if she could do that, with all the turmoil within her.

Susan smiled. She was a tiny woman with straight mousy-brown hair and a preference for black clothing; very L.A. “I guess it’s hard to keep up with work when you’re busy chasing cowboys.”

Lyndie stopped short. “Why would I be doing that?”

“You and Bruce Everett are the talk of the ranch.” Susan gave her another gamine grin. “I have to admit, I’m wicked jealous.”

“Well, surely— I mean, I don’t— I mean, you don’t have to be,” Lyndie stammered. “Jealous, that is. There’s nothing between Bruce and me. I only had to ride with him because my horse Girlie is afraid of lightning.”

“My horse is as steady as this rain coming down.” Susan sighed. “You know, I’ve got a fab fiancé back in L.A. But I take one look at Bruce Everett, and I’m rethinking the whole thing.”

“That would be a mistake. He’s certainly handsome, I admit—”

“Handsome?” Susan exclaimed. “He’s a Greek god in chaps.”

For some strange reason, Lyndie nearly choked on her words. “Hey, if you’re interested in him, then, go for it. I don’t have any special hold on him.”

“Really?” This time it was Susan’s turn to seem dumbfounded.

“Really,” Lyndie answered succinctly.

After all, what did she care what a woman from L.A. did with the big bad cowboy, she told herself, hoping the rationale would chase away the conflicted feeling inside her.

The feeling that, if she didn’t know better, smacked of jealousy.

Lyndie looked up. Bruce had just entered the lodge. She gave him a dismissive glance, then added, “He’s all yours.” She rose from her seat and made to go.

Susan stared at her. “Gee, thanks,” she said.

“No problem.” Lyndie left without looking back.

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