feet from the colt, ready to fire if needed.
The north wind was the only sound she heard besides the pounding of her own heart. She’d been an idiot to leave her rifle and run to the colt. Her papa would be furious at her for risking her life. How many times had he told her in the past to take precautions? She’d be no good to the stock if she managed to get herself killed.
A rustling came from the edge of the pines. A moment later Lewt appeared, his rifle pointing down as if at rest. “I got him,” he said simply. “He’s dead.”
Em gulped down air. She hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath. “If we’d been a few minutes later, he would have finished the colt off.”
Lewt reached her side and took the rifle from her hand.
“If you hadn’t been here”—she met his gaze—“the lion might have finished me off too.”
Lewt set the rifles on the cold grass as he knelt beside the horse. “Get your saddlebags and the canteen, Em; don’t panic. You can thank me later; we’ve got to see to this horse first.”
She followed orders, but as soon as she began to work on the wound, she snapped, “I wasn’t panicking. I never panic. I was just so worried about the horse I forgot to take proper precautions.”
He helped her doctor the wound, which didn’t seem so bad once they got the blood cleared away. Over the days they’d learned to work well together, almost reading each other’s thoughts. When the wound was treated, they watched the colt stand. He was too big to carry, so they watched him walk away.
“Shouldn’t we do something, like take him back with us or build a pen to hold him for the night?”
“He’ll be all right. He’d only hurt himself more fighting his way out of a pen. He knows where his mother went. I’ll come out tomorrow and check on him.” She shoved her rifle back in place and put her hat on the saddle horn so the cold air could cool her cheeks and calm her nerves.
They walked their horses, following the colt until he spotted the rest of the herd.
“I thought you didn’t know how to shoot,” she said, breaking the silence.
“I said I didn’t like guns, not that I didn’t know how to use them.”
Em nodded. “You’re a mystery, Mr. Lewton Paterson.”
“Not really. Half the time when people ask me what I’m thinking, I’m not.”
Em laughed. “All right. What are you thinking now?”
He turned toward her. “I’m thinking I’m glad the lion didn’t get you because I sure as hell would like to kiss you again. Same rules as before. No strings.”
Before she could think of an answer or react, he circled one arm around her and pulled her close. His mouth covered hers. The kiss was raw with a need that surprised her, and she didn’t fight the feeling shooting through her body as the kiss deepened.
She’d wanted it too. One more taste. One more time to confirm just how good it had felt. One more time to remember forever what a kiss could be.
His arm was around her, holding her, but not imprisoning her. She could have jerked away if she’d wanted to, but the feel of his mouth against hers made her want more. Lifting her hands, she tugged his hat off and let her arms rest on his shoulders as her body leaned into his. There were a thousand reasons she shouldn’t be kissing him, but she’d think of them all later. Right now, all she wanted was to feel alive. One hundred percent alive for the first time in her life.
Lewt felt her surrender and gentled his hold around her. The kiss deepened as his hands moved over her, gently stroking her back from her shoulder to just below her belt.
When he finally broke the kiss, he brushed her cheek with his lips and moved across her face with light kisses until he reached her ear. “I’ve been wanting to do that all day,” he whispered. “And it was every bit as good as I thought it would be.”
She let out a sigh, agreeing with him. No matter how many times she’d told herself she never planned to kiss him again, she couldn’t keep from thinking that she was glad they’d had this one last time.
His hands gripped her sides just above her waist and tugged her against him as he whispered, “Don’t say a word, Em. Just let