Cowboy for Keeps. Cathy McDavid
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sure?”
“I need you to stay calm.” He reached up and rested a hand on her shin. “The only reason these horses would run off is to get away from your squealing.”
“I’m not squealing,” she insisted, doing precisely that.
“Right.” Conner hid a grin as he squatted beside the wagon to examine the damaged wheel.
“How bad is it?”
“The tire came off.”
“I thought wagons had wheels.”
He touched the dangling band of metal. “This is called a flat iron tire. It protects the wood.”
She scooted to the edge of the seat and angled her head for a better look. “Can you just take it off?”
“I could try, but we wouldn’t get far before damaging the wheel beyond repair. Then we’d really be stuck, and Gavin would have to come after us with a truck and trailer.”
“What are we going to do?”
“Call for backup.” He removed his phone from his belt and checked the reception, which could be hit-or-miss in the mountains. “Have Gavin bring us a drill and spare bolts so we can repair the tire enough to make it home.”
When he powered up his phone, the screen flashed No Service. “Dammit,” he muttered. Served him right for changing to a cheaper carrier. “Where’s your phone?”
Dallas looked stricken. “In my purse. Locked in my car. I didn’t think it would work up here, so I didn’t bother bringing it.”
He scanned the area, debated his options. “I’ll walk up the hill. Should have better reception up there. But first...”
Seeing what he needed, he set out on foot.
“Where are you going?” Dallas stared over her shoulder at him, her grip on the reins viselike.
“Not far.” Collecting two large rocks, he wedged them tightly behind the rear wagon wheels. He quickly located two more rocks and did the same with the front wheels. The extra precaution should prevent the wagon from rolling backward until they were rescued.
Next, he began unhitching the horses.
“Should I get down now?”
“Sit still. Keep hold of the reins until I tell you it’s okay.”
She grimaced nervously but complied.
Conner hurried.
“Good job, girls,” he said, unhooking the last chain and giving Molly’s rump a pat. He returned to Dallas, who was more than happy to relinquish the reins.
He watched her every move as she climbed down, ready to grab her if she slipped.
It turned out Dallas was nimble as a monkey. On the ground, she swiped her hands together with a job-well-done flourish. “Need any help?”
“I’m good.”
“Too bad we didn’t bring along a spare saddle and bridle. We could have ridden out.”
“I’d have rather brought a toolbox. I won’t make that mistake again.”
Conner led the horses to a tree, the largest in the vicinity, and tied them securely. “Be right back,” he said, and headed in the direction of the hilltop.
“Can I come with you?” Dallas chased after him.
“Better stay. Someone has to watch the wagon and horses.”
“If that wagon rolls backward, I won’t be much help.”
“You can holler. I’ll come running.”
“By then it will be too late.”
“Would you rather call Gavin? He’ll need directions on where to find us. And a list of what tools to bring.”
“I won’t be much help with that, either.” She shrugged. “I have no clue where we are.”
He brushed a tousled lock of hair from her face. Her skin was cool to the touch and incredibly soft. “It’s going to be fine. The worse that will happen is we’re late for dinner.”
Possibly really late if he didn’t get through to Gavin.
He’d be stuck with Dallas. For hours. Maybe all night. They’d have to cuddle in the wagon under the tarp to stay warm.
“I, um—” he cleared his suddenly dry throat “—I’d better get going.”
Her fingers clutched his jacket sleeve, delaying him. “I’m sorry to be such a wimp.”
“It’s okay to be scared.”
“I’m not scared.” She lifted her face to his. “Not with you.”
He was sure she could read his every thought, sense his every emotion.
Warning bells went off inside Conner’s head, creating an enormous din. He moved quickly away before temptation won out and he crossed the line into dangerous territory.
* * *
HALFWAY TO THE TOP, Conner glanced back at Dallas. She’d perched on a large boulder not far from the wagon, hugging her knees. Was she thinking of him? Of those moments that kept occurring between them?
He was.
Impatient, he dug out his phone. One bar appeared in the corner. Enough to try.
The signal took forever to connect, the icon blinking endlessly. Frustrated, Conner hit the end-call button and tried again. Finally, Gavin answered.
“Conner, what’s up?”
“We have a problem.”
“You there? I can barely hear you, buddy.”
Sharp static cut off every third word. Conner strode farther up the hill. “Is this better?”
“Some.”
Speaking loudly, he quickly summarized their predicament.
“We’ll take the ATVs,” Gavin told him. “It’ll be quicker than riding. I doubt the Forest Service will give us grief for using them, since it’s an emergency.”
Before Conner finished with the details of their location, he lost the connection. Moving to a new spot made no difference. He blamed the clouds, which had drifted to gather overhead. Not rain clouds, fortunately. Tomorrow, however, would be a different story, according to the weather report.
He could only hope he’d relayed enough information to Gavin for him to find them. In their favor, no one else in these parts knew the McDowell Mountains better than his friend.
Dallas hopped to her feet at Conner’s approach, relief written all over her face. “I heard you talking to someone.”
“Gavin’s on his way.” Conner decided not to worry her about the incomplete directions. “My guess is he’ll bring one or two guys with him.”
“How soon till they get here?” She rubbed her arms through the material of her thin jacket.
“An hour. Two at the most. Are you cold?”
“Not yet.” She peered anxiously at the clouds.
“I brought the rain ponchos. They’re also good for conserving body heat.”
“That may come in handy if Gavin’s late.” She reached over the side of the wagon for the ice chest and opened the lid. “Right now, I’m thirsty.” She removed two bottles of water. “Want one?”
“How comfortable is that boulder?” Conner downed half his bottle.
“Not very.”
“There’s a