Cameron, Paige - Commando Cowboys Seduce Their Woman [Wyoming Warriors 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) (6 page)

“What does your father do at the ranch? Or do you have two fathers?”

“No. He and mother preferred a monogamous relationship. As you probably know, some of the community have made that choice.”

“But not you and Jack?”

“No, we’ve always planned to find the one woman for us. But you asked what my father does. He’s one of the men in charge of the herds of cattle and other animals we raise. He loves the ranch and the outdoors.”

“He doesn’t go on trips like you, Jack, and Morgan’s and Sara’s husbands?”

“No. He chose to stay home. Not everyone goes on the missions. I usually go on ones that are out of the country. Occasionally, I’m assigned one stateside. Jack alternates with another doctor on his trips.”

“Am I asking too many questions? I know there is only so much you can tell me.”

“No. If I can’t tell you, I’ll say so. I’d like you to meet my parents and especially my grandmother after we get back.”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you fear, that you’ll get closer to me?”

“Perhaps.”

“Accept it. Jack and I aren’t going to give up until you admit honestly how you feel about us.”

“I don’t know you!”

He turned onto the lane leading to his house. The road was narrow, running between the mountain to his left and the edge of the bluff to his right. When he came to the wide area on his right, he turned into his drive. He stopped and faced her. His hand touched over her heart. “Listen to this. You know us here.”

She opened the door and swung out. “Let’s get this over with. What do you want to know?”

Sahale took his time getting out, taking her case and leading her to the door. He watched her expression as she entered. The large room had a wall of windows straight ahead. Mesmerized, she walked toward them. There was almost no backyard. The house sat on the edge, overlooking the canyon and the horses running wild below.

He smiled. The canyon had the same stunning effect on him when he first found it fifteen years ago. He’d gone right to Mitch’s father and asked to have that land for his home. He’d granted him permission. He still remembered his words.

“I don’t know of anyone who would take better care of that treasured land.”

“How do you ever leave here?”

Ellen’s words brought him back to the present. “It’s difficult at times, but I also enjoy my work and occasionally socializing. When I retire, this is where I will stay a lot of my time.”

“I can’t imagine a more beautiful spot.” The anger and frustration had gone from her voice. He hated to remind her of why they were here. He’d wait. He had one more place to show her. He glanced at her feet. “Put on your walking shoes. I’m taking you on a hike.”

“Boots won’t do?”

“You’re not used to wearing them except when you visited your friends. And I’m going to change, too, into my moccasins.”

“All right. If the view is as beautiful as this, I can’t wait to see it.”

“Here’s your case.”

* * * *

Ellen sat on the long sofa facing the windows and pulled off her boots. Once she had the other shoes on she stood. “I’m ready. Let’s go.” She looked around and saw him coming out of the kitchen that adjoined the great room. He had changed from his boots and carried a backpack.

“We’ll be hungry and thirsty. Follow me.”

They started out the door. “You want me to close the door and lock it,” she asked.

He laughed. “Who are you locking it against? Come on.”

She followed him as he turned to the right and headed into the brush. The road ended at his house. The slope went upward. As the sun rose it got hotter. Soon Ellen took off her flannel shirt and tied the sleeves around her waist. Underneath she wore a short-sleeve, cotton shirt.

The mountain got closer on the left and the edge between it and the valley below much narrower. Sahale stayed close.

“We’re almost there. Be careful. Rub against the mountain if you need to.”

She was breathing hard, so she nodded in answer. In a few minutes, he stopped. “I’ll go first and send the ladder down for you.”

“Ladder?” She looked up the side of the mountain and saw a hole about twelve feet above her. “You are going to climb up to that hole?”

“Yes. Watch me.”

He agilely moved along, and found handholds and footholds that she didn’t see until he used them. In no time he disappeared inside the opening.

“Here, watch out for the rope.” He flung down a rope ladder.

“I don’t know if I can do this. I don’t like heights much, especially hanging off the side of a mountain.”

“I’ll come down and help you.” He swung out and was down beside her in seconds. “Do you trust me to get you up there safe?”

Ellen looked down into the canyon and up at the opening. She bit the edge of her lip. She was startled when she looked into Sahale’s eyes. The intensity in them had her heart beating faster and desire curling in her stomach.

“Do you?” he asked again.

“Yes.”

He fastened a rope between her wrist and his. “I’ll lead the way. Take hold of the rope ladder and pull yourself up one step at a time. If you fall, I promise to catch you.”

“No. I’d pull you down with me. I’m too heavy.”

“It’s called trust. I won’t let you fall.”

Swallowing around the lump of fear in her throat, Ellen watched as he went up two steps and waited. She put her foot in the first rung of the ladder and started climbing.

Chapter Five

Ellen concentrated on going upward. She didn’t look down, but kept her eye on Sahale. He moved slowly. His soft, encouraging words kept her going.

“It better be worth this,” she mumbled, and heard Sahale’s laugh above her.

He pulled her into the opening. She straightened and gazed around her. The walls sparkled with color, a mosaic of black and silver with a thread of red running through.

“Different minerals create the colors.”

She walked to the wall and ran her hand over the rough edges. Sunlight beaming inside the cave created an illusion that the rocks under her hand pulsed with energy.

“I never expected to see anything like this.” She turned to find Sahale watching her closely.

“There’s more.” He took her hand and led her around a curve and into another good-sized area. Against the far wall, water splashed down from a crevice into a small, shallow pond at the bottom.

“Why doesn’t it overflow this area?” Ellen asked.

“There are small cracks and the water seeps out that way. Nature created our own shower. After you eat maybe you’d like to try it out.”

Ellen walked to the edge of the waterfall and put her hand out. “It’s a little warm.”

“During the day, as the rock heats, it warms the water. At night, it’s quite cool.

“Come.” He directed her back to the first room. “I have coffee and rolls for breakfast. You must be hungry.”

“I am.” She sat just inside the opening where she could see the horses in the canyon below. Sahale handed her a cup of coffee. She took a swallow. “Just what I needed.”

He handed her a roll, and then sat beside her as they finished the coffee and tore the rolls apart to eat. Sahale offered her a set of binoculars.

“I keep these here. You can get a closer view of the horses and surrounding area.”

A pleasant breeze blew through the opening. Sunlight sparkled all around them.

“For some reason I’ve never hiked or camped out. I know little about actually being outside and sitting to soak up the wonders of our world. Mine has been enclosed in a laboratory, taking step-by-step calculations to work on whatever project was current.”

She smiled at him. “Being here is like suddenly having my eyes opened to a world I’ve never taken the time to notice. Thank you.”

“My pleasure. I’m enjoying seeing your reactions. You’re like a child seeing a rainbow for the first time.”

“What was your childhood like growing up at the ranch? And how did you and Jack become such close friends?” she asked. A soft smile crossed his face and her heart warmed.

“Ah, two questions that are intertwined.” He got a distant look in his eyes as he started to speak. “My childhood was a happy time. Jack and I met in the first grade, and by the time we were ten, we were inseparable and incorrigible.

“Nanna, my mother’s mother, was always cautioning us to be careful. We climbed bluffs and ran in the forest. There are areas around the ranch quite thick with trees. There was one area that Nanna warned us to stay away from until we were older and more aware of the dangers.” He grinned. “She said it was filled with snakes, wild boar, and bears.”

“And of course you two couldn’t resist,” Ellen said.

“We did for a while, but when we turned twelve we decided we knew all we needed to know. One day we went to that part of the forest. We walked deep into the bushes and trees.” He chuckled. “We jumped at every noise, expecting a wild boar or a bear to attack us. Neither of us wanted to admit to being scared, and so we continued walking further.”

“You got into trouble?”

“I never saw the rattlesnake. I’d leaned over to pick up a shiny rock. Jack saw it and pushed me aside. I stumbled, and the snake missed me and Jack. Jack jumped to my side, took my arm, and we put distance between us and the snake.”

“What happened when you got home?”

“We weren’t going to tell anyone, but Nanna was visiting my mother. She took one look at us and knew something had happened.”

“You were caught.” Ellen smiled, enjoying watching the expressions on Sahale’s face as he told his story.

“Yes. She got us to tell her what happened, and then insisted on checking our bodies for a snake bite. It was humiliating at our age, but no one said no to Nanna. To top it off we were grounded for two weeks. We had to study and answer questions about all the different types of snakes in Wyoming. Once Nanna was satisfied we had the knowledge to protect ourselves, she let us outside again.”

“Did your mother and father let her discipline you?

“Nanna disciplines us all.”

“I think I’d like her.”

“You’ll meet her soon. Are you through with your breakfast?”

“Yes. I finished while you talked.”

Sahale dug into his large backpack. “Here’s a towel and soap.”

Ellen took the items from him and went back to the other room. She put the towel on a ledge and turned to see Sahale standing just inside the area. “You have to stay out front.”

“I want to shower with you.” His voice sounded husky and rippled across her skin like a caress.

As she watched, he pulled his shirt over his head, baring a golden chest hard with firm muscles. Every nerve in her body urged her forward, but she held her ground.

“Come here.” When she hesitated, he whispered, “Are you afraid?”

“Of course not.”

His sexy smile made her toes curl. She tried to dig them into the packed earth to keep herself from moving.