Cowboys & Starlight by Jacqueline Winters

Author:Jacqueline Winters
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick

RONNIE

“How do you skip a rock?” Ronnie asked, pushing off Colten’s chest, taking a step back. She’d almost kissed him. What had she been thinking, coming out here in the moonlight with a handsome cowboy when her emotions were all over the place?

“You have to find one with a good flat surface.”

If they kissed, would it even mean anything? With all the tears she’d shed in his presence, Colten might’ve kissed her merely out of pity. Then regret would overcome him, and she’d probably not see him for days. Colten had made it clear, more than once, that his looking after her only had to do with her being Hudson’s sister.

“Maybe we should head back.” After Ronnie’s pitiful attempt to find a flat rock, she added, “It’s getting late.”

“Yeah, maybe you’re right.”

A pang of disappointment surprised her. Had she expected him to try changing her mind? If she did, she was hopeless. She waited for Colten to take the lead and was a little touched when he reached out his hand. “For your protection. It’s dark in those woods.”

“Bears.”

“Exactly.”

She’d be lying if she told herself she didn’t enjoy holding his strong, calloused hand. It offered a feeling of warmth and protection. She only wished it promised the same of her heart.

“Lou, c’mon,” Colten called. The pup lingered on the edge of the creek, either taking a drink or eyeing a fish.

“How’d you come up with her name?” Ronnie asked, hopeful to keep the conversation cleared of her pathetic life. If she kept him talking until they made it back, she might keep from embarrassing herself further.

“Named her after Louis L’Amour.”

“Before you knew she was a her?”

“Something like that.” Colten paused, holding back a low-hanging branch so she didn’t have to duck. “Lou was meant to be a cattle dog, but she mixed up with a mean bull when she was three months old. Broke several ribs and punctured a lung.”

Ronnie’s heart ached for what Lou must have endured. “That’s awful.”

“Lou was a lost cause far as my uncle or anyone on his ranch was concerned. Even my mom told me she was too far gone, and she’s got a softer spot for animals than I do. But there was something in Lou’s eyes that told me not to give up on her.”

Dang it. Ronnie really thought she was done crying tonight. She tightened her grip, lacing her fingers in his. They stopped again. “You took her in?”

“Took three separate surgeries. One of the vets even told me recovery was grim at best. Said she’d never be normal.”

Ronnie’s eyes found the flash of multi-colored fur whisking by them. “She seems pretty normal now.” They were closer, but Ronnie had no clue which of them had taken a step. “You saved her.”

“Really, I think Lou saved me. It all happened just a couple weeks after Danica left. Lou gave me purpose again.”

“And you gave her a chance.” Ronnie knew she should put some distance between them. But with their fingers interlocked, the sparks from their contact awakened all her senses.

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