“You kicked ass that needed kicking tonight, and you topped that off with the best hot and crazy floor sex in my personal experience.”
“Mine, too.”
“That’s about as manly a night as it gets, in my estimation. But you’re hurt more than you might think. It’ll be worse if we don’t see to it.”
Gently, almost tenderly, her hand stroked over his back. “Do that for me, Callen.”
She never asked, not really, and never in that way, that soft way. So he had no choice.
And when he moved, the gasp and groan escaped before he could stop them.
“Your ribs took the worst. Left side.”
“I know it.” But for the first time he looked down, saw the spread of black-and-blue, hits of angry red. “Well, shit.”
“It’ll look and feel worse tomorrow, so let’s get ahead of it.” She yanked off the single boot he still wore, and the jeans that had been caught on it. Rising, she offered him a hand. “Come on, cowboy, hit the shower.”
He gripped her arm, got slowly, painfully to his feet. Then just stood looking at her. “You’ve got to know what’s coming.”
Her heart stuttered a little. “Maybe, but I don’t think it should come when you can barely stand and the standing we’re doing is naked.”
“You’re probably right. It’ll wait.”
She pulled on her jeans again while he limped off to the shower. It would wait, she thought. She didn’t need a lot of fuss, but if and when the man she now realized she’d been walking toward all her life told her he loved her, she’d at least like him to say so when he wasn’t bleeding.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
He didn’t mind the black eye or the bruised jaw, the nicks and cuts or swollen knuckles. The ribs gave him some trouble, but after a day or two they didn’t scream every time he moved wrong.
Since it struck close to the truth, he spun a tale for guests, especially the kids, of getting into a saloon fight with a bushwhacker.
And he talked Alice into taking a ride with him.
She lavished affection and attention on Rosie, and the young mare responded to it with utter devotion.
With Maureen, Alice planted the sister garden. In the kitchen, she cooked simple dishes with Clementine. With the weather warming, she often sat with the grannies on one of the porches crocheting.
The big day came when she agreed to drive with the grannies to Bodine House, to look it over, to consider if she’d be happy living there.
They stopped by the BAC—he learned later, at Alice’s request. Even from a distance, he could spot her nerves, so he detoured and led the two horses he’d chosen for an upcoming trail ride toward the women.
“Ladies, and here I thought this was as pretty as a day could get. You proved me wrong.”
“I do like a flirting man.” Miss Fancy winked at him.
“We went to the house, the Bodine House. Ma and Grammy live there when they don’t live at the ranch. I could live there. I could live there. I don’t know.”
“You don’t have to decide now,” Cora soothed. “We just wanted you to see it.”
“There’s a barn, it’s just a little one. Rosie could stay there. Wouldn’t she get lonely? It’s hard to be alone.”
“She’d have fine boys like these two to visit with all day long.”
Alice studied the two horses, moved in to stroke them. “Lots of horses in the paddock. Lots. Who’s that?”
He glanced back. “That’s Carol. She works with me.”
“With the horses. She has long hair, and she works with the horses. It doesn’t look like it did.” She looked all around, hugged her elbows. “I can hardly remember how it looked, but not like this. She works here. You work here. It’s close to Bodine House.”
“I like to sneak over and mooch lunch sometimes when your ma and Miss Fancy are around. Maybe if you decide to try living there, you’d come over here sometimes and help me out.”
She stopped looking everywhere with those nervous eyes. “Come here, help out? With you? With the horses? Like I do for Sam and Chase at the ranch?”
“Yeah, like that. I can always use somebody who knows their way around horses like you do.”
“I’m good with them. They’re good with me. Who’s that?”
“That’s Easy. He works here, too.”
“Is that a name? I don’t know that name.”
“It’s Easy’s name,” Callen said and signaled him over. Alice immediately stepped back, grabbed Cora’s hand. “I just want him to take these boys into the paddock over there. We’ve got people coming to ride them.”
“Because he works here,” Alice whispered, and clung to Cora’s hand.
“Ladies.” Easy tapped the brim of his hat.
“Easy, how about taking these two in, getting them saddled?”
“Sure thing, boss.”
“Because you work here,” Alice murmured, staring at him.
“I sure do, ma’am. Best job there is. Cal, Carol said she’ll take Harmony on this ride. Wanted to ask if I should load Sundown up to trailer down to the center for the lesson you’ve got coming up.”
“I’ll ride him down. We can both use it.”
“Sundown’s here.” Alice gestured. “I see him.”
“That’s one fine horse. Big boss coming,” Easy added, and Alice tore her eyes from his face to look around.
“It’s Bodine!” Alice’s hand relaxed in Cora’s. “Bodine works here, too. It’s close to the Bodine House.”
“I’ll get these fellas saddled. Ladies.” Easy tapped his brim again, led the horses away as Bodine strode up.
“Bodine. I went to see Bodine House. Nothing looks the same. Everything’s different. It’s big.”
“It is big.” Casually, she draped an arm around Alice’s shoulders. “We like to think we have something for everybody who’s looking for a Western experience. Maybe one day you’ll take a ride around with me, see more of it. To my mind there’s no better way to see Bodine Resort than on horseback.”
“We can ride around?”
“That’s right.”
“Now?”
“I—”
“I’d like to ride now. I can take a ride with you.”
“Um.”
Callen grinned at her, knowing she’d be ticking off a half dozen things she’d planned to do. And none of them would be giving Alice a tour on horseback.
“Bodine must be so busy,” Cora began.
“She’s the big boss.”
“You know, you’re right. And the big boss can take an hour to show you around. Skinner, you pick out a good mount for my aunt.”
“I can do that.”
“You’ll have Leo. I saw him over in the paddock. I’ll have a new horse. I’m not afraid to ride a new one.”
“You ought to come over with me, pick out one who looks good to you.”
Obviously pleased, Alice took Callen’s hand.
“I know you’re busy, Bo,” Cora said, watching Alice walk away with Callen.
“I like being busy. Why don’t you and Grammy go on up, have some lunch, and I’ll text you when we’re back.”