his ribs and encountered Laurel’s long slender fingers resting over his chest.
His head ached as he shifted just enough to see her sleeping beside him. She was so beautiful in the firelight, an angel dropped down to watch over him. He remembered how she’d said she prayed for him. He’d thought no one cared and she’d been kneeling in a chapel somewhere saying his name. The image warmed a heart he’d thought long dead.
As if she felt him watching her, she opened sleepy eyes.
“How are you?” she asked, worry wrinkling her brow.
“A little sore, but healing,” he answered. “Did you sleep here next to me all night?”
“Yes.” She smiled and sat up so she could check each of his wounds. Only the break in skin at his forehead looked like it had bled a little during the night. “I didn’t want to leave you alone.”
“You were right here next to me and I slept through it. What a shame.”
Giggling, she said, “You were in no shape to do anything about it.”
“I’d have died trying.” He winked and then winced at his cracked lip.
“Shut up and take a deep breath. I want to listen to your lungs.”
When she leaned her head against his chest, he took a deep breath and tangled his fingers in her hair. “I’m all right, Laurel. I swear.”
She looked up, firelight sparkling in her tears. “I was so worried about you. I don’t care if we win. I’ll find another way to get free of my father. It doesn’t matter. I just didn’t want to lose you.”
He tugged her against him and held her for a while. “We’ll find a way,” he finally whispered. “I plan on winning, but if I don’t, we’ll find a way. I’ll stand with you win or lose.”
“But you can’t ride. You might fall.”
“I don’t think about how I’m going to fall when I ride. I just think about staying on.” He laughed, then groaned. “I don’t have to make the best showing tonight, all I have to do is stay on and draw third place. None of the bareback rides have been that good.”
He knew she wanted to argue with him. He swore he could almost hear her mind working. But she didn’t say a word. They just lay close, listening to the fire and waiting for sunrise. This was the last day. Tonight it would all be over. She’d stay at the hotel and by dawn tomorrow she’d be on the first train. She’d be off to start her new life in some big town and he’d have money in his pocket until the place sold.
By first light, Rowdy had fallen back asleep. She slipped from his side and put on a pot of coffee to boil, then dug in the bag for bread she’d brought the day before.
When she took Dan a cup of hot coffee, he was hooking up the wagon. “I’m sorry I have no breakfast to offer you but bread. I was in too much of a hurry to think about what we’d eat with it.”
“No problem. How’s Rowdy?”
“Much better. He’s asleep now, but earlier he said he plans to ride.”
Dan nodded. “Tell him to sleep as much as he can today. I’ll be around when he comes into town and make sure nothing happens to him before the rodeo.”
“Thanks.” She glanced up at the sun. “I’ll try to stay until he wakes, then I have to get back before my family wakes and realizes I’ve been out all night. You headed home?”
Dan shook his head. “I’m thinking of riding into town and having breakfast at the hotel.”
Laurel smiled. “I hear it’s good, especially when served by Bonnie Lynn.”
He grinned. “I have no understanding of women, but I think she likes me. She told me last night that I make her laugh and I figure that’s a start.”
“I think she likes you, Dan, even if you don’t understand why.”
He climbed into the wagon. “And as smart as everyone knows you are, miss, you still like that busted-up cowboy in there, don’t you?”
“I do, but we’re just friends. Have been since we were kids.”
“Sure you are,” he said without looking at her.
He waved as he drove away. Laurel sat on the porch and drank the coffee she’d meant for Dan. When she went back inside, Rowdy was awake and sitting up.
She knelt beside him. “How are you feeling?”
“Better.” He rubbed his slightly swollen lip with his first knuckle. “I think I could take a little of that