someone needed to warn you to keep your distance from that one. He has a temper. No matter how good-looking he is, he’s nothing but trouble.”
The woman’s warning echoed in Alexis’s mind as she stopped briefly at the Hitchin’ Post on her way out of town. Was Mrs. Sanchez right? Somehow, the woman’s description of Cord didn’t fit with what she’d witnessed of him. She continued mulling it over as she maneuvered her rental vehicle along the two-lane highway. Soon, the telephone poles and the occasional gravel driveways were the only evidence of development. The farther she drove, the greater the distance between any signs of civilization and the closer she came to facing down the cowboy—the man who could make her life easy or hard. She got the distinct impression he never did things the easy way.
But could Cord spell trouble for her? She hadn’t witnessed any hint of a mean streak in him. Sure, he could be stubborn, but he could also be kind. She recalled the way his hand had wrapped around hers. His gentle touch had soothed her raw nerves as she got to know Midnight Star. A man with the ability to put both human and animal at ease was not a troublesome person—more like misunderstood. Obviously, Mrs. Sanchez had latched on to some bad information.
Cord was a good guy, but there was obviously a lot more to him than anyone knew. What was he holding back? And why did the town have the wrong idea about him?
♥♥♥
Cord led Blaze, a chestnut mare, to the barn. He’d spent the early part of the morning out on the range, inspecting the new stretch of fencing being installed on the eastern border. Now that he had an interested buyer, blocking off the designated sale property had become a priority.
After he’d tended to Blaze and set the horse free in the corral, he started for the house. His thoughts circled back around to the blonde who’d been dogging his thoughts all morning. He didn’t like that she’d befriended him without bothering to disclose the fact that she was a developer. He took the porch steps two at a time. Still, he should have handled the news better, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was trying to pull something over on him, just like his ex had.
He’d been young and naïve when he’d met Susan. Looking back now, he hardly recognized the person he used to be. He’d done a lot of growing up since then. He wouldn’t be deceived again. But he also couldn’t afford to run off the one person who was offering him an out with the bank. He promised himself that if Lexi kept her word and returned, he’d hear her out.
At the doorway, he paused. He stared up the lane that led to the main road, willing her to turn into his drive. Yet there were no swirls of dust. No crunch of gravel. Absolutely no sign of her.
Maybe he should make his way into town. The thought made his body tense. He envisioned the puzzled stares and the hand-over-mouth whispers. No. He wasn’t going. He moseyed into Whistle Stop only when he absolutely had to for business. Ever since Hurricane Susan, it was easier to keep to himself. Besides, if Lexi was serious about purchasing the land, she’d be back.
His lips pressed together in a firm line as his jaw tightened, and he subdued his lingering urge to see her. Maybe in this one instance he should make an exception and drive into town. After all, his entire future was on the line. What were a few more people gawking at him, trying to figure out if Susan’s lies were true or not? He expelled a frustrated sigh and stomped inside, yanking off his T-shirt in the entryway. Nothing about this situation was going to be easy.
Some twenty-odd minutes later, he exited the house in a fresh pair of jeans and a clean shirt. He ran a hand over his damp hair before settling his hat snugly on his head. With his decision made, his boots thumped against each wooden porch step. His chest tightened. What in the world was he going to say to Lexi?
The hum of an engine and
The woman’s warning echoed in Alexis’s mind as she stopped briefly at the Hitchin’ Post on her way out of town. Was Mrs. Sanchez right? Somehow, the woman’s description of Cord didn’t fit with what she’d witnessed of him. She continued mulling it over as she maneuvered her rental vehicle along the two-lane highway. Soon, the telephone poles and the occasional gravel driveways were the only evidence of development. The farther she drove, the greater the distance between any signs of civilization and the closer she came to facing down the cowboy—the man who could make her life easy or hard. She got the distinct impression he never did things the easy way.
But could Cord spell trouble for her? She hadn’t witnessed any hint of a mean streak in him. Sure, he could be stubborn, but he could also be kind. She recalled the way his hand had wrapped around hers. His gentle touch had soothed her raw nerves as she got to know Midnight Star. A man with the ability to put both human and animal at ease was not a troublesome person—more like misunderstood. Obviously, Mrs. Sanchez had latched on to some bad information.
Cord was a good guy, but there was obviously a lot more to him than anyone knew. What was he holding back? And why did the town have the wrong idea about him?
♥♥♥
Cord led Blaze, a chestnut mare, to the barn. He’d spent the early part of the morning out on the range, inspecting the new stretch of fencing being installed on the eastern border. Now that he had an interested buyer, blocking off the designated sale property had become a priority.
After he’d tended to Blaze and set the horse free in the corral, he started for the house. His thoughts circled back around to the blonde who’d been dogging his thoughts all morning. He didn’t like that she’d befriended him without bothering to disclose the fact that she was a developer. He took the porch steps two at a time. Still, he should have handled the news better, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was trying to pull something over on him, just like his ex had.
He’d been young and naïve when he’d met Susan. Looking back now, he hardly recognized the person he used to be. He’d done a lot of growing up since then. He wouldn’t be deceived again. But he also couldn’t afford to run off the one person who was offering him an out with the bank. He promised himself that if Lexi kept her word and returned, he’d hear her out.
At the doorway, he paused. He stared up the lane that led to the main road, willing her to turn into his drive. Yet there were no swirls of dust. No crunch of gravel. Absolutely no sign of her.
Maybe he should make his way into town. The thought made his body tense. He envisioned the puzzled stares and the hand-over-mouth whispers. No. He wasn’t going. He moseyed into Whistle Stop only when he absolutely had to for business. Ever since Hurricane Susan, it was easier to keep to himself. Besides, if Lexi was serious about purchasing the land, she’d be back.
His lips pressed together in a firm line as his jaw tightened, and he subdued his lingering urge to see her. Maybe in this one instance he should make an exception and drive into town. After all, his entire future was on the line. What were a few more people gawking at him, trying to figure out if Susan’s lies were true or not? He expelled a frustrated sigh and stomped inside, yanking off his T-shirt in the entryway. Nothing about this situation was going to be easy.
Some twenty-odd minutes later, he exited the house in a fresh pair of jeans and a clean shirt. He ran a hand over his damp hair before settling his hat snugly on his head. With his decision made, his boots thumped against each wooden porch step. His chest tightened. What in the world was he going to say to Lexi?
The hum of an engine and
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