His for the Taking - By Ann Major Page 0,19

other, more lucrative businesses.

“We got lucky with this new oil and gas play,” he said. “I’ve hired geologists and drillers, and am constantly expanding. There’s so much exploration going on in Texas, I can’t get the men or the parts I need. Or even the frac water to drill…”

Her gaze skimming the drawers, she listened absently while he told her about a greedy water-well driller. All but the bottom one were open.

“But I’ve been rambling, and you’re studying my messiness instead of listening,” he said, reaching for her and then dropping her hand when she jumped, startled at his touch.

“Sorry—I keep forgetting about the no-touching rule!”

Caught off guard and feeling slightly ashamed because she imagined he still saw her as an easy woman, Maddie jammed her hands into her pockets. “It’s all very interesting,” she murmured.

That was when she saw his arrowheads, which were framed and mounted above his desk. Much to her surprise, the ones she’d found near their secret pool and had given him were in the center of a collection he’d arranged in the shape of the state of Texas.

“Your arrowheads. You even framed the ones I gave you.”

“Yes. You were always so patient and observant when we searched those old Indian mounds. I was too easily distracted.”

He was staring so intently at her lips that she blushed.

“So, what do you feel like doing?” he said too abruptly, glancing outside. “Are you hungry?”

“Not yet,” she whispered, suddenly feeling ill at ease and shy around him.

“Do you want to ride now? Take a picnic along for later?”

Riding was a rare treat since she couldn’t afford her own horse. Thrilled at the thought of riding anywhere again, much less with him, she nodded. She’d worry about the future and what was best later. Later she’d find an opportunity to search for her letters.

She helped Cole pack ham sandwiches, chips, fruit, cookies and canned drinks before they headed out to his barn. As they approached the tall, red building, an Australian shepherd bounded out of it, wheeling between them, greeting them with exuberant barks. The dog jumped, licking her hands, sniffing her jeans. Laughing, Maddie knelt and let it lick her cheek, too.

“Why does Bendi get all the kisses?” Cole asked when she remained at the dog’s level.

“Bendi, is that your name, fella? Bendi may be my only friend in Yella…besides Miss Jennie,” she said, stroking the dog.

“What about me?”

“We weren’t really friends, now were we?”

“I always liked you,” he whispered.

“You never brought me here…the way you brought all the rest of your real friends.”

“My mother and dad lived here then.”

“See what I mean. I was always Jesse Ray Gray’s daughter, so you were ashamed of me.”

His face darkened. “With my mother, it was difficult. She was always so critical, and she had about a hundred rules she lived by. Maybe I wasn’t ready to tell her about you. About us. Maybe I was too afraid she’d spoil it, or drive you away. Maybe I didn’t realize how you’d see it and feel about it.” He paused. “I never meant to hurt you.”

“Look, I don’t want to quarrel about the past. We have our own lives now, don’t we? Let’s just ride and enjoy what’s left of the afternoon.”

She rose from the ground and headed toward the barn in silence with the dog racing circles around her.

“If coming here was so important to you, you could have asked me to show you the house,” he said defensively behind her.

Since she didn’t want to argue, she just kept silent.

Except for Bendi’s toenails scraping the concrete inside the barn as he trotted happily beside her and the sounds of horses munching grain and corn in their stalls, the shadowy barn was silent. In the tack room, saddles, bridles and halters hung from whitewashed walls. Everything—the sink, the desk that held a telephone, the floor—was immaculate.

The two horses that Cole had ordered to be saddled nickered as he opened the first stall door. Horseshoes rang on the concrete as he took the reins of a lovely palomino mare with brown eyes and led her out.

“Meet Lily. She’s gentle and likes everybody.”

“She’s lovely.”

At the compliments, Lily lowered her golden head and let Maddie stroke her.

“Good girl.” Maddie held out the apple she’d brought and enjoyed the feel of the mare’s lips and nose as she eagerly took a bite.

Horses—they’d been her salvation as a girl. If it hadn’t been for horses and Miss Jennie, where would she be now? Maybe in some shabby trailer