“What the hell, Cooper?”
Having been trained by Houston, who sold horses to the military, not to bolt at a gun’s report, Rawley’s stallion had done little more than give a slight sidestep. All the men had stilled. Faith merely stared at him questioningly, waiting to determine if he was in need of a scolding for terrifying a man she obviously thought well of. Rawley pointed the barrel off to the side a bit, before sliding the six-shooter back into the leather. “Rattler.”
In horror, Berringer stared at the mutilated reptile, then glared at Rawley. “I didn’t hear it rattling. You could have given some warning.”
“They don’t always buzz before they strike. I’ve run across enough of them that struck without making a sound not to take a chance on its mood. Besides, it was coiled and lunging your way by the time I saw it.”
“That’s true, boss,” a fellow with a shovel said as he approached. “I was trying to get over here to kill it without making any noise. Didn’t want to alarm it, cause it to attack—but then it shot toward you... I’d say it meant business.”
“Fine, Jones,” Berringer said impatiently. “Get back to work.” He removed his hat, slapped it against his leg, stirring up a cloud of dust.
Rawley took no pleasure from seeing the man’s hand trembling. Or at least he fought not to. He did experience a bit of satisfaction in unsettling Berringer. He was going to burn in hell for his unkind thoughts, but then he was headed there even with kind thoughts, so what did it matter?
“Reckon I owe you,” Berringer said grudgingly.
“Just making sure cowboys stay relevant.”
The man’s jaw tightened. “Will you be at the party tonight?”
They were celebrating Faith’s birthday. All the ranch hands and a good number of the townsfolk had been invited. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
“See you then.” With that, Berringer gave a nod toward Faith. “I have some things to show you over here.”
“I’ll join you in a minute.” After he walked off, she tipped back her Stetson, met Rawley’s gaze, and planted her hands on her hips. “I wouldn’t be surprised to learn you’d brought that rattler here in a burlap sack and then released it so you could show off.”
“I don’t mess with rattlers. Ever.” Not that her idea hadn’t crossed his mind a time or two, but he wasn’t going to risk a bite just to make a point.
“I don’t know why you two always seem at odds.”
Because of you.“I’ve got nothing against him personally.”
She patted his leg, gave him another one of her disarming smiles. “That’s good. Because I like him a lot.”
Watching as she strutted toward the group sharing her plans, hopes, and dreams, he wondered if it was time to move on and find his own dreams.
Faith watched as Rawley urged his horse into a gallop and made quick work of putting distance between them. She didn’t know anyone who sat a horse as well as he did—or was handier with a gun. She knew a lot of men used them as a decoration the same way a woman draped a necklace around her neck, but Rawley Cooper did not. He’d been working the range for too long to take any of it for granted, to think a danger might not suddenly appear.
She wore a gun as well, was almost as good a shot as Rawley, but Cole had never derided her for the addition to her wardrobe. It was just another example of the two men finding something about the other not to like.
“I think your brother was showing off with that little gunplay,” Cole said.
Turning, she faced him. “He saved your hide and he’s not my brother.”
“I thought your family took him in.”
“They did. But I just don’t view him that way.”
His eyes, a blue that reminded her of the sky first thing in the morning, narrowed. “How do you view him?”
“As a friend.” Someone she trusted with all her heart. Someone who, of late, she was noticing in ways she hadn’t before. When she’d turned to see him sitting astride his horse, it was as though her entire body had awoken from a long slumber. Her nerve endings felt more alive, her arms wanted to reach for him, and her legs wanted to wrap themselves around his narrow hips. But it was more than the physical awareness that wanted to shove itself to the foreground—all aspects of their relationship were deepening. Stretching out beneath the stars and talking late into the night with him brought more awe, riding over the range with him more pride. His smiles warmed more than they had before. His laughter lifted her heart higher.
“I’d like to be more than that,” Cole said quietly, his hand discreetly reaching out and squeezing her fingers.
He was handsome in a polished sort of way, not at all rugged-looking like Rawley. But there was strength in him, too. And ambition. He saw where the future was going and wasn’t going to be left behind. He filled her with excitement over the possibilities.
“It would take a brave man, Cole Berringer, to admit that to my father and face his scrutiny.”
“Courage is not something I lack, Faith.”
