Espino, Stacey - Corralling the City Girl [Ride 'em Hard 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (6 page)

“Don’t forget the gag,” Dawson added.

They were all so nonchalant, laid-back, everything she supposed a cowboy should be. It infuriated her, but also ignited something inside her she wasn’t willing to explore. She concluded that it was only natural for her to be attracted to them. They were ruggedly handsome, domineering, and everything she normally didn’t go for in a man. She only dated men she could control, the ones who doted over her and kissed her ass. They did little for her libido, which was probably why none of her relationships lasted long enough to develop into anything meaningful, and why she’d never had an orgasm during sex. Jane couldn’t handle a take-charge man, even though she secretly drooled over these three ruffians.

“Fine. I’ll do the work myself.” Nothing she said back would stop their teasing, only encourage them. She was yet to even meet one of these cows and it was already growing late in the day. Saddling up once the sun was down would likely be much more unpleasant than in the light of day.

She stormed off, shoved past Dawson and Chase, and snatched a saddlebag from Brad. Jane grit her teeth from the pain of her sprained ankle so she wouldn’t appear weak in their eyes. She scooped up as much as she could and dropped it near one of the horses. Looking into the horse’s deep, dark eyes somehow calmed the rage inside her. They were such majestic animals, bringing back fond memories from her youth. Riding was another story, but she stifled her fears and focused on loading up.

Jane flung a leather saddlebag over the horse’s back, trying not to frighten him. She truly decided to do the work herself and ignore her crew. They’d be ready to go faster with at least one of them putting in an effort.

She jumped when a muscled arm stretched out to her left, patting the horse’s rump. “You plan to ride bareback?” Dawson tilted her chin up, but her jerked away. “We’re not joking about tying you up. There’s plenty of good, strong rope in my truck.”

“Cute.”
Jane rolled her eyes. She hoped he didn’t notice her drinking in the sight of his hard forearm, rough hand, and distracting proximity.

“You’re in our world now, little lady. The city’s far from here. You need to play by our rules.” His tone was confident and all male. As much as she wanted to refute him, he was right, and why the fuck was her pussy pulsing?

“I’m still the boss.” She flipped her hair and returned to the shelter, not giving him another glance.

“We’ll see,” he called after her.

Chapter Six

Once they decided to load up, they were done packing the six horses in less than an hour. The sun was lowering on the horizon, streaks of pink and orange coloring the sky, and Chase knew they’d be smart to at least find the herd before darkness blanketed the land. By his estimate, they were grazing about five miles to the south-east of their location.

“You’re doing it all wrong,” Dawson complained.

“I said I can take care of my own horse. Leave me be!” Their boss lady may be cute, but she was becoming a huge pain in the ass. He had been tempted to shut her up with a mind-numbing kiss on more than one occasion. Now she refused to accept help in securing her saddle. If anyone slowed them down, it was her.

Chase clapped the cowboy on the shoulder as he walked away from the little firecracker. Personally, he’d had enough of Ms. Williams and her attitude. Ten thousand dollars was looking less and less appealing the longer he spent with her. “If you don’t saddle him proper, the straps will loosen in the fields and you’ll end up on the ground, hurt, or worse.” He caged her to the horse with an arm to each side of her body, not allowing her much wiggle room. With her back to his chest, she wasn’t able to turn around.

“I think I can tie a knot.”

He stole the tether and cinch straps from her hands, despite her protest, and made short work of looping the proper knot. As he pulled the tether taut, he inadvertently pressed her against the horse. He was able to smell the sweet floral scent of her shampoo, and feel the softness of her ass shifting against his Wranglers. Chase would love a chance to get the wild filly into bed, but even the chance to break her wasn’t enough of a lure if he had to deal with her attitude. He expected a string of expletives after getting too close and personal, but she shocked him and remained silent.

He flipped down the holster and spun her around by the shoulders, still keeping her in place with his frame. “There. Now it’s done proper, and you’ll be safe when you’re riding.”

She swallowed, but said nothing. When she looked up at him the remnants of sunlight highlighted her eyes. Gorgeous green eyes. When she wasn’t full of piss and vinegar, a scowl marring her features, she was a beauty. “Thank you,” she whispered.

It was the first time he heard her say the words. Even for barely knowing her, he had the feeling she rarely said them. “It’s no problem, sweet thing. Next time ask for help. That’s what we’re here for.” He tweaked her nose and stepped away before she ruined the moment with some godforsaken complaint.

He helped Brad tie the two spare horses behind theirs. They checked the gear, grabbing the supplies and tugging to ensure they were secure for a long, rough trip across the prairies.

“We’ll have to make shelter in a couple hours. It’s a new moon, too, so it’ll be a bitch when the sun sets.” Dawson donned his Stetson and then adjusted his chaps before throwing his weight over the side of his horse.

“I think our little princess expects a five-star hotel tonight.” Chase laughed, but also internally cringed. Jane Williams would likely drive them all to insanity tonight when she realized she’d be sleeping out in the open elements.

“I’ve already said she needs a good spanking. I wasn’t kidding.” Dawson tested out his new ride, shifting the reins and commanding the horse to do a few circles around them.

“I can hear you,” snapped Jane, squeezing between the horses with her pink suitcase clutched to her chest.

“And where do you think you’re going with that, darlin’?” Chase eyed her skeptically. “We’re already loaded. Ain’t no room for your bag of goodies.”

“It’s just my clothes, smart-ass.” She placed the case on top the saddle of one of the pack horses. “Strap it on.”

“Didn’t you hear the man? You’ll have to leave your bag behind. Now mount your horse and we’ll be on our way. God willing, we’ll find your herd before we lose all traces of daylight.” At least the other men had his back in dealing with the crazy woman.

“I’m not leaving all my clothes behind!”

“Why on God’s green earth didn’t you give us your stuff when you saw us loading the damned horses, woman?” Dawson leaned down from his horse, snatched the bag and tossed it back toward the shed. Then he spurred the horse and began the journey on his own, one of the pack horses in tow.

“The nerve!” Jane went to retrieve her bag. Maybe Dawson had the right idea. If they started without her, she’d have no choice but to saddle up and follow.

He mounted his horse, welcoming the familiar feel of his working saddle beneath him. Chase took one last look at the painted skyline, took a deep breath of sweet country air, and then prodded his horse to follow Dawson.

“Hey! Where do you think you’re going?” He turned back to see Jane stomping, her bag in hand. The twilight already shadowed her form. He chuckled just thinking about everything ahead of her during the next two weeks. Maybe this trip would do her a world of good.

* * * *

“Let me help you.” Brad took her suitcase from her. “It may be hot now, but I guarantee it’ll be bone-chillin’ in the dead of night. You’ll need your clothes.”

She watched as he rearranged the supplies on her horse. He used some thin yellow rope and tied her bag to the rear of her saddle. It looked ridiculous, but she was glad he humored her and helped, unlike the other two heartless cowboys.

“Will you be able to find them?” They had already disappeared in the dark shroud of night where the fields blurred into nothingness. A shiver of fear and apprehension raced up her spine. She was thankful she wasn’t alone and had Brad. There were no comforting city lights, traffic, or sirens. Just silence, and the snorting and pawing of the horses.

He adjusted her horse’s bridle and arranged the reins near the saddle horn. Brad gave a confident wink. “Don’t you worry. Now hop on up.” She took a deep breath and looked up, up, up. The horse had to be a good six hands, and her phobia kept her frozen in place. “Come on now, darlin’. I may be a good tracker, but no sense making it more difficult for me.”

“Right.” She bit her lower lip and reached up for the horn. Jane placed her right foot in the stirrup and counted down in her head, trying to work up the courage. Before she could lift her left leg over the saddle, Brad’s strong hand was on her inner thigh, heaving her up onto the horse.

“Just keep up the pace and your horse should follow mine.” He leaned in close enough to touch, and she wanted to grab the collar of his shirt and hold him close. She wanted to scream out that she was afraid and didn’t want to be alone in the dead of night. What if she lost him?

Instead she did what she always did and buried her true feelings, keeping her stoic exterior intact. “I’ll be right behind you.” Her horse took a step forward and she squealed, feeling as if she was weightless and about to fall into a dark abyss. The dog barked.

“What happened?” Brad was up on his horse faster than her eyes could track. He sidled up next to her.

“Nothing. Just a bug.”

He laughed as he tugged his reins to the left and took off into the darkness. “You ain’t seen nothing yet. You’ll meet lots of creepy crawlies where we’re heading.”

She watched in horror as he disappeared from her sight, while her stupid horse stayed rooted in place.
“Move it you, idiot!”
Her heart rate increased as she scanned the land around her. Crickets deafened, drowning out the faint beat of Brad’s horse’s hooves on the ground. Where had the sun gone? She’d never felt so vulnerable in all her life. “Walk you stupid horse!” Jane thrust her pelvis back and forth, but the horse wouldn’t respond to her.

When she was close to tears, she heard Brad’s horse closing in even though she couldn’t see a thing. “I told you to follow.”

“He won’t listen to me,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.

“Haven’t you ever ridden a horse?”

There was no sense in hiding the truth now. If she continued to play her game to maintain her air of superiority, it would only continue to backlash. “No. Not exactly.”

He ran a hand through his hair and studied her. “There’s no time to be teaching you now. Again, this is something you should have told me beforehand. Do you want to ride with me?”

She didn’t even think of the consequences before barking out a “yes.” Her heart-stopping fear of heights stole her logic. He slipped off his horse, the ground crunching beneath his boots as he came around to the side of her horse and beckoned for the reins. She stayed in place as he secured her horse behind his. He worked quietly.

“Okay, darlin’. Jump down.” He stood to the side with his arms upstretched. At that moment, in the pitch darkness of night, she saw Brad as her savior, her knight in shining armor—or Wranglers and a Stetson.

She held onto the saddle horn in a death grip as she swung one leg around. With a slight twist she dropped down into his waiting arms, secured in a hard embrace before her feet hit the ground.

“Gotcha.” Jane looked up at him, only finding his handsome face blurred into shadows. He smelled like musky cologne and the great outdoors, not like dirty animals and body odor as she’d expect from a working man.

“You’re trembling. Don’t tell me you’re afraid of horses, too.” He still had his arms draped around her, and she hadn’t made a move to disentangle herself.

“Heights.”

“Didn’t you say you lived in a building?”

“It’s the best,” she said matter-of-factly.

Brad chuckled. “I’ll never understand people like you. You care more about what others think than your own happiness.”

“That’s not true. I have a great life.” She had her own money, her own condo rental, she did as she pleased, and had no one to answer to. Jane had it all—or did she? Sure she came home to an empty place every night, but it was better than hooking up with some deadbeat who’d only disappoint her. She wouldn’t make the same mistakes her mother made.

“Whatever you say, darlin’.” He twisted her around to face his horse and helped boost her up. Her breath caught as she was once again up high in the air, now unable to even see the details of the ground below her. “This may not be too comfortable. My saddle was made for me, not two riders.”