The Cowboy's Rules (Cowboys After Dark) Read online

  “Thank the Lord,” he sighed, and willing his mind back to thoughts of shirts and fabrics and blouses, he gripped the wheel and gently pressed on the accelerator. McTavish lifted his head, and standing up, began to circle on the wide console, seeking a more comfortable position.

  “Hey, Mickey,” Chad called softly.

  The smart little dog looked up expectantly.

  “Go lay,” Chad grinned, pointing to her lap.

  McTavish turned, looked, and carefully stepping across, curled up in a ball on the welcoming, warm body.

  “Good boy,” Chad smiled, and briefly watched as the dog dropped his head and went back to sleep.

  Cassandra shifted slightly, then sighed. The sun was marvelously warm, and Chad had laid his head and shoulders across her lap, his cozy weight filling her with contentment. The tranquil meadow had soothed her soul, and the sexy, satisfying sting in her bottom had calmed her frazzled nerves, so much so she decided to let the bees and birds sing her to sleep.

  Almost two hours passed before she stirred, and waking from her deep nap, she yawned and stretched before noticing McTavish happily curled up on her thighs.

  “Hello there,” she grinned, running his hands over his head.

  The dog looked up, made a sound, shook his head, but having found his new bed eminently pleasing, stayed where was.

  “Ouch!” she exclaimed, shifting in her seat.

  “Cramp?”

  “No, sore butt,” she complained.

  “Sleep well,” he asked, ignoring the comment.

  “Really deep,” she replied, and was yawning languidly until a bolt of memory darted through her head.

  Shit. The dream…

  Reddening, she reached across McTavish and picked up her bag, but not before Chad’s peripheral vision allowed him to see the flash of recall cross her face.

  “How long did I sleep?” she asked, doing her best to rummage for her brush and phone over McTavish, who was planted and wasn’t going anywhere.

  “Couple of hours,” he answered.

  “Wow, I guess I really was tired,” she remarked, pulling out her brush and running it through her mussed hair. “I need to call my trainer and let him know I won’t have Max with me, and then my dad’s secretary so she can deal with the rental car. It’s booked for me to pick up at the airport.”

  “What hotel are you stayin’ at?”

  “The Pepper Tree Inn,” she replied, finding up her phone and touching the screen.

  “Hi Randy, it’s me. Max isn’t coming. I need to find another groom.”

  “Hi Cassandra. The baby came early I assume?”

  “Yep. I should have had a plan B,” she admitted.

  “Who’s driving the van?”

  “A friend of his, and I’m with him.”

  Randy Rutherford raised his eyebrows.

  Cassandra Davidson riding in the horse van, he mused. Who’d have thunk it?

  “I know what you’re thinking and it’s fine,” she declared defensively. “It just worked out that way.”

  “I didn’t say a word,” he replied, “but I definitely want to meet whoever got you to travel up here on the road.”

  “It’s no big deal, Randy,” she quipped. “Can you help me with a groom or not.”

  “Easy girl,” he chuckled. “I’ll figure something out. Don’t worry about it.”

  “Sorry,” she apologized, wishing she hadn’t snapped. “Thanks, I’ll see you soon.”

  She disconnected the line and sheepishly looked across at her driver.

  “I guess that was rude,” she remarked.

  “I guess it was,” he replied.

  “I don’t know why I get like that,” she confessed, shifting in her seat.

  “You apologized,” Chad offered. “We all have our moments.”

  “Yeah, I did, huh?”

  “Yep, you did,” he smiled.

  “I’d better call Dana, dad’s secretary.”

  “Cassie, before you do that, could you please grab me a bottle of water. It’s in my kit behind the seat.”

  Cassie? He called me Cassie!

  Her entire life she’d wanted to be called Cassie, but her mother wouldn’t hear of it.

  “Your name is Cassandra, and I won’t have people shortening it,” her mother had decreed, and if someone attempted to do so, the woman would fix them with a cold, hard stare before correcting them.

  “You just called me Cassie,” Cassandra exclaimed.

  “Is that a problem? It’s a lot easier than Cassandra, but more than that, you look like a Cassie. Sassy Cassie is what I think when I look at you,” he remarked with a warm smile.

  “No problem at all,” she declared, breaking out in a huge grin. “Sassy Cassie? Oh, my gosh, yes, that’s exactly who I am.”

  “Okay, Sassy Cassie, can you get me some water please?”

  “Uh, I’d be happy to, except I have about forty pounds of dog in my lap.”

  “Yes, you do,” Chad chuckled. “Mickey, up here,” Chad directed, tapping the console.

  The dog didn’t hesitate, immediately getting to its feet and settling on his old spot.

  “Your dog’s amazing,” she remarked, moving her cramped body to reach for Chad’s backpack.

  “He’s a good boy,” Chad replied. “Dogs are happy when they’re loved and well trained,” much like a special kind of woman.

  The remark set to life a fresh wave of butterflies in Cassie’s stomach, and doing her best to ignore both the fluttering and his comment, she concentrated on finding the bottles of water; pulling out two, she handed him one.

  “Thank you,” he smiled. “There’s also dish in there for Mickey.”

  “Can you spare this one for me?” she asked, holding up the extra bottle.

  “Of course.”

  She found Mickey’s dish, carefully poured in some water, and held it steady for him to lap it up.

  Staring at the road ahead, Chad couldn’t ignore the intense attraction ricocheting through his heart.

  Damn! Isn’t this turning into an interesting road trip?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  They spent the long drive talking about his business, and Cassie learned the shirt Chad was wearing was made of a silk-cotton blend, which gave it strength, breathability, and the soft, sensuous feel she’d loved so much as she’d leaned against him. They discussed his wish to expand into women’s wear, though he hadn’t told her just how successful his company was, and that his clothes were carried across the country in most of the major department stores.

  As their exit approached he slowed the van, and turning off the interstate, changed the topic of conversation.

  “I’ll be droppin’ off Bailey, and if you want you can let your horses stretch their legs a bit before headin’ off to the stables.”

  “He’s not staying at one of the stables in town?” she asked.

  “No, I don’t put my horses in cages,” he remarked.

  “I totally agree,” she replied quickly. “My horses are out all day. I just have them brought in at night.”

  “That’s good to hear,” he smiled.

  “At the shows though, they have to live in stalls.”

  “Well, if you want, you can keep ‘em at the ranch,” he offered. “Haul ‘em across when it’s time for your classes. They’d be a heap happier.”

  “Um, wow, that’s, uh, really nice of you, but would the owner mind? I mean, three extra horses…I’d pay of course.”

  “The owner won’t mind a bit,” he grinned.

  “Are you sure?” she pressed.

  “Yes, Cassie, I’m sure.”

  Staring out the window she marveled at the beautiful countryside, delighted to be back. The show was an up-market affair, and all the disciplines were represented, drawing some of the country’s top riders. The year before she’d marveled at the elegant dressage horses, and been thrilled by the barrel racing events.

  “You don’t have to decide now, offer’s open,” Chad commented
>
  “It’s a wonderful offer,” she replied quickly, “and I’m grateful. I’m just not sure what I’d do about Shelby.”

  “What do you mean?” Chad asked.

  “Shelby won’t load into a small trailer, so I’d have to use this big van if I wanted to move her. It’s one of the reasons I have it.”

  Chad let out a long, low whistle.

  “What?” Cassie frowned.

  “You’re tellin’ me, you bought this huge van, because one horse refused to load in a regular trailer?”

  “Well, yeah, but Shelby can jump anything, and I win like crazy with her, and-”

  “You can stop right there,” he interrupted. “Shelby will load in a small trailer just fine.”

  “You don’t understand,” Cassie quipped. “She won’t!”

  “I promise you, in ten minutes, maybe five, she’ll be walkin’ into the two-horse trailer like it was her best friend,” he promised.

  “No! I won’t let you do it. Shelby is special, she’s sensitive, she’s-”

  “She’s just spoiled, like someone else I know,” he interjected, “but hey, if you want her to continue sufferin’, that’s up to you.”

  “What do you mean, suffering? My horses do not suffer,” she exclaimed, her ire rising. “They get everything they need, and more!”

  “Okay, Princess,” he drawled. “Like I said. Up to you.”

  Cassie’s relaxed state had evaporated, and she hastily pulled up her bag and began rummaging around.

  “You need something?”

  “My cigarettes,” she growled. “They’re in here somewhere.”

  “Nope, afraid not sweetheart, you don’t get to smoke around me or my dog.”

  “I’ll blow the smoke out the window,” she protested.

  “Nope,” he said firmly.

  “Or what? You’ll spank me again?” she snapped.

  “Well, now, I just might.”

  Cassie stared at him, thoughts swirling through her head.

  Why are you being so nasty? He’s just offered to let you stay on this ranch, for heaven’s sake. Get it together/

  “I’m sorry, Chad. I just lose my temper sometimes, out of nowhere. Really, I’m sorry.”

  “That’s okay, Cassie, but you’d best learn to hold that tongue of yours while you’re around McTavish here.”

  “Why?” she asked, finding herself smiling at his comment.

  “He doesn’t like it when girls get upset, and if he’s not happy I’m not happy, and you don’t want me bein’ unhappy do you?”

  “No, that wouldn’t be good. Um, Chad, why aren’t you mad at me?” she asked, realizing he had cajoled her out of her mood.

  “I’ll answer that question later,” he remarked, maneuvering the big vehicle around a turn and through a wide gate. Looking up she saw a wrought iron archway boasting the name, Horse Haven Ranch.

  “Wow, this place is incredible,” she declared, her mood lightening even more as she viewed the landscape around her.

  Open green paddocks with white fencing, reminiscent of photographs she’d seen of Kentucky, graced either side of the long driveway, and a few scattered horses were serenely grazing, paying no attention to the large vehicle as it lumbered past them. The lane turned to the right, and a sprawling ranch house come into view, with smaller paddocks nearby, equally picturesque. The horses in the van whinnied, their noses at the windows, smelling the scent of their tribe.

  “Let’s get them out, poor things, standin’ for so long,” Chad declared, jumping from the cab.

  Cassie saw some men walking quickly towards the van, and donning a baseball cap she climbed down to help unload, but when her feet hit the ground, the men had vanished.

  Walking to the opposite side of the truck, where the door would open and the ramp would be lowered to walk the horses out, she saw the four men deep in quiet conversation with Chad. They nodded and smiled, then broke apart, one running off, while the other three remained.

  She started forward, but before she could reach him, Chad had the door open with the ramp lowered, and he and one of the cowboys were already walking inside. Seconds later Bailey and Dominic appeared, and she stood back, astounded by the speedy efficiency. The operation continued as each of the horses were held securely while the third man quickly unwrapped their legs. As soon as the wraps were off, Cassie moved forward to take Dominic.

  “Where are your gloves?” Chad asked.

  “I don’t need them,” she replied, “he’s really easy.”

  “I have a rule here, no gloves, no handlin’ a horse.”

  “But-”

  “No gloves, no horse,” he repeated.

  “Fine,” she replied, rolling her eyes, and hurrying to the front of the van, opened the door to the storage area, found her trunk and grabbed her gloves.

  “Got them,” she announced, running back.

  Chad handed her the rope and pointed to a nearby paddock.

  “Take him to that pasture there.”

  “Okay, thanks,” she replied.

  Dominic’s head lifted in the air, and she walked the sniffing, snorting, happy horse the short distance to the large, open paddock. Closing the gate behind her, she removed his halter and climbed out through the fence rails. Thrilled to be free, he pawed the ground for a moment, then bolted, galloping and bucking across the field.

  Turning around she saw Bailey was already in another corral with two other horses, and Rembrandt and Shelby were being led off the van, Chad handling the difficult mare, who, to Cassie’s surprise, was walking calmly down the ramp. The leg unwrapping happened exactly as before, and the usually fractious mare stood completely still, though Cassie could see she was itching to move.

  “I can take her,” she called, running towards them.

  “Are you sure? She feels like she’s about to blow,” Chad frowned.

  “I’ll be fine,” she argued. “I’ll take her.”

  “Here you go then,” he sighed, handing her the lead rope. “Marty, take Rembrandt to corral number six, and Cassie, Shelby can go to the pasture on the right there, next to Dominic.”

  “Okay,” she grinned, taking the thick rope, and as she started walking forward, Shelby began prancing along the ground.

  “Gosh, she’s really uppity,” Cassie declared. “I didn’t think she’d be this bad.”

  “Uh huh,” Chad frowned, you two are a match set.

  It was obvious to Chad’s trained eye that Cassie wasn’t as comfortable as she was pretending to be, and believing the horse might become too much for her, he casually positioned himself so the horse was between them. A moment later an unexpected gust of wind whistled past and his concerns were justified.

  The skittish Shelby unexpectedly leapt in the air, ripping the lead rope from Cassie’s hand. Letting out a squeal of pain and surprise she fell backwards, but anticipating such an event Chad was ready, and his gloved hand shot forward, grabbing the rope before the horse could escape.

  Scared and shaken, Cassie stayed sitting on the ground holding her injured hand, watching helplessly as Chad took control of the horse. He immediately began walking the mare in a circle, talking to her softly, moving her back and forth, until she let out a huge snort and stopped. Chad stood quietly for a moment, watching as the mare dropped her head, then leading her calmly forward, turned her loose in the pasture.

  “You okay?” he asked, moving quickly back to Cassie.

  “That was amazing, Chad. Thank you,” she breathed. “I can usually-”

  “What happened to your hand,” he frowned, interrupting her.

  “I think I broke my little finger,” she moaned. “It hurts like hell.”

  “Let me see it,” he said gently.

  Slowly and carefully Cassie pulled off the glove. Her finger was already swelling and changing color.

  “That looks painful,” he remarked.

  “It is,” she whimpered.

  “Let’s get you in the house. I don’t think it’s broken, just ba
dly sprained. It needs ice,” he declared, helping her to her feet.

  They strode up to the house, and looking back she saw Shelby happily grazing.

  “She’s none the worse for wear,” Cassie commented.

  “They rarely are,” he remarked.

  They were approaching the van, the house just beyond, and she noticed two of the men already shoveling out the manure and cleaning up scattered hay and shavings.

  “Should I be paying them?” she asked.

  “No, it’s not a problem,” he replied.

  “I think I’d like my bag. Would you mind getting it for me?”

  “It’s already in the house,” he said quickly.

  “Really? Wow, thanks.”

  As she entered through the leaded glass front door, she almost gasped as the living room came into view, surprised by the largess of the room, and the upmarket decor and furnishings.

  “This place is beautiful,” she declared. “It’s like a resort hunting lodge or something, but without those horrible animal heads. That fireplace, wow.”

  A floor to ceiling natural rock fireplace stood majestically against one wall, and the room was more than big enough to handle its size, though a grouping of furniture offered a cozy retreat in the expansive space.

  Taking her through a hewn oak door, he led her into the kitchen and sat her at a butcher block center island, opposite a large bay window overlooking the paddocks where her horses had been set loose.

  “What a great place this is,” she sighed.

  Chad grabbed his first aid kit from a nearby cabinet, sitting it on the table next to her, then finding a bowl, filled it with ice and water.

  “Thanks for not saying I told you so,” she winced, as he lifted her hand and placed it in the chilled water.

  “No point. I guess you have to learn things the hard way.”

  “You were right about the gloves as well,” she admitted. “Thank God I was wearing them. How did you know? It seemed like you were ready.”