My Desperado (21 page)

Katherine bit her lip. "Not that I know of."

She watched his scowl deepen.

"Who could have taken that money?"

Katherine shook her head, wondering what Travis would do if she walked around the fire and sat next to him, snuggling against his side. "Why would anyone stab the mayor after he was already dead?"

"How the hell should I know?" Travis snapped irritably, rising jerkily to his feet. "I gotta get you a horse."

It was Katherine's turn to scowl. "I've got a horse," she reminded him. Not for the first time, she wondered how he could be so tender at times, so gentle that the mere brush of his fingertips stopped her heart, and then act like this at others.

"Yeah? You got a horse?" Ryland's gaze met hers for a moment. "Well, you got some time before supper. Why don't you take that little mare of yours for a nice lope around the camp fire?"

His tone was gruff, his expression cold, causing Katherine's temper to rise slowly.

"Maybe I will."

He snorted. "And maybe there won't be enough left of you to stick in my saddlebags and take home to your mama."

Katherine lifted her chin. She'd been watching Travis with Soldier and decided riding didn't seem so difficult. If you wanted to go left, you pulled to the left. If you wanted to stop, you pulled back on the reins, and if you wanted to go faster, you squeezed your legs. At least that was how it was done on a horse that accepted a rider. On Moondancer, as she'd named the black mare, she wasn't sure what the proper procedure might be. Close your eyes and pray fervently perhaps.

"Well?" Travis said, sounding belligerent and looking the same.

"Well, what?"

"What're you waiting for?"

Katherine curled her toes in her oversized boots and frowned. "You think I can't do it?"

He snorted again. "Damn right."

"Fine." She thumped her cup on the ground. Coffee lapped over the rim and onto her fingers. "Then I guess I'll have to prove my mettle." She stood quickly and paused for a moment, calling up her courage. "May I use your lariat?"

Travis raised his brows, amused, and nodded.

Katherine's hands were shaking slightly when she unbuckled the saddlebags. Inside were the chocolates, carefully wrapped in Ryland's spare shirt. She drew out the box and bit her lip. Since Moondancer had shown a weakness for candy in the past, it seemed a good way to soften her now.

Katherine approached the mare that grazed not far from Soldier, having found some security by the big stallion's side.

"Here, girl," Katherine crooned, reaching out a hand with a candy at its center. "I could most surely use your help."

The mare nickered low in her throat, seeming intrigued by the smell of the sweets, and stepped forward.

It was a simple enough task to get the lariat over the black's neck as she ate the chocolate. And when the rope was pulled, the mare followed, seeming unconcerned.

"Good girl," Katherine said, feeling braver with her budding success. "Smart girl. Now I'm going to tie you right here." She did so, looping the end of the lariat around a tree like Travis had shown her and tying it in a slip knot. "And now..." She bit her lip, backing away a step and wondering how such a lamb of a horse could turn into a deadly cyclone in a matter of a few breathtaking seconds. "Now I'm going to get the saddle. You stay put."

She knew Ryland was watching as she strode past him toward his gear.

The saddle was heavier than it looked, and though Katherine managed to lift it, the stirrups bumped her shins as she went along, causing her pain at every step. Nevertheless, she kept her eyes straight ahead, ignoring the snort that issued from the direction of the camp fire.

Dumping the saddle on the ground, Katherine returned for the woolen saddle blanket and bridle, and then she stood, her knees trembling a bit. She kept her hands clasped tightly together to keep them from doing the same.

"Now, girl." Katherine approached the mare empty-handed to discuss the situation in what she hoped were simple equine terms. "I'm going to take the blanket and put it on you. It won't hurt."

Moondancer turned her soft, dark muzzle to gently nudge Katherine's arm.

"All right." She stroked the horse between her ears, accepting the mare's action as agreement, and placed the blanket on her back.

The saddle was next. Katherine took a deep, steadying breath as she wrenched the thing from the ground and with one quick prayer hoisted it aboard the mare's back.

Moondancer jolted forward, and the saddle slid sideways, falling to the ground with a thud.

"Now, girl. Please." Katherine glanced at Travis by the fire. He was watching her with a smirk on his face. She took another deep breath and straightened her shoulders.

Rounding the mare's rear, Katherine hefted the saddle again. This time the mare lurched forward, but Katherine was ready, and caught hold of the saddle horn before it could fall.

"There now," Katherine crooned, and stroked the velvet neck with her trembling free hand. "See. It's not so bad. I won't hurt you."

The mare blew through her flared nostrils. They were wide, showing pink inside and making her look wild.

"Relax, sweetling," Katherine whispered shakily. "I'm just going to pull the girth up tight now." She smoothed her hand down Moondancer's shoulder and wondered for the hundredth time how she would manage this. "R-ready?" she stammered, then reached.

Katherine's buttocks hit the ground before she knew the horse had moved. The saddle was propped at an interesting angle beside her, and Moondancer waltzed a few steps to the side, her eyes outlined in white.

From the campsite Katherine could hear Ryland's chuckle.

She gritted her teeth and tightened her fists. If she had been a swearing type of woman, she would find some choice words for him now.

Drawing herself slowly to her feet, Katherine dusted off her pants and tried to think. But no new ideas came to her, and so she retrieved the saddle and tried again.

The scenario went the same as the first time—hefting the saddle, crooning, petting, that fateful reach for the girth, and then the mare reared again, knocking her would-be rider on her rump before dancing sideways.

Katherine remained as she was for a moment longer, trying to gain her confidence as she listened to the chuckles from the cookfire again.

With renewed determination Katherine rose and crooned to the mare. "All right, girl." She tried to recall how Travis had gotten the animal saddled. Had he done something with her ear? But even if she could get the beast geared up, then what?

The image of her flying through the air was not a soothing one, although the memory of Ryland doing the same gave her peace of mind.

"Come and eat." Travis interrupted her thoughts. He had come up behind her, causing Katherine to jump.

She steadied her nerves and lifted her chin defiantly. "I'm busy."

Travis chuckled low in his throat. "Busy getting yourself killed. Now come and eat." He reached for her arm, but she jerked from his grasp.

"I am busy here," she said angrily.

"Well, I tell you what." He placed his fists on his hips and grinned at her. "You come and get something to eat. Build up your strength. Then tomorrow morning, first thing, you can try again. I'll even help."

Katherine realized she had been defeated, at least for the moment, and nodded once in silent agreement, both to her own thoughts and his offer of food.

They were silent through supper, but Ryland glanced at her now and then, his mood seeming irritatingly lighter, with his chuckles sounding at regular intervals.

Katherine had not laughed at him when he was thrown by the mare, and his laughter made her angry. Never again would she entertain him with her feeble attempts at saddling Moondancer.

No, sir! Katherine stared into the fire, munching silently on her biscuit and contemplating the night ahead. No, she would not humiliate herself by trying to saddle the mare again.

But she would ride Dancer just the same.

The night was blessedly bright, the moon nearly full, and the stars were like candles in the sky when Katherine left her blankets to find Moondancer. The mare was tied, and turned her head to watch her mistress's approach.

Katherine raised a finger to her lips for silence. The knot came loose easily enough, and they moved quietly away in the darkness.

Soldier lifted his big head and finally followed along.

Not far from camp, but well hidden by fir trees, Katherine stopped her little caravan. Once again her hands were shaking, but Ryland's obvious humor at her failure had built up her determination.

"Now, girl," began Katherine, taking a firm grip on the lariat. "I don't know who it was that started this whole trend of people riding horses. But it's a time-honored tradition, dating as far back as the Romans." This was what her school kids had referred to as her preachy tone—something to be dreaded and avoided at all costs. "So I'm telling you this once, and once only. I am going to ride you. Now... I've taken your... abhorrence for saddles into consideration and I'm willing to be flexible, since they are indeed quite cumbersome and ungainly." Katherine scowled nervously as she stroked the glossy neck. But—you must concede to the bridle."

Ten minutes later it was Katherine who conceded. She felt exhausted and foolish and near tears.

"All right." She placed her hands on her hips and glared at the mare that stood looking sheepish at the end of her lariat. "You win. No bridle. But I'll be darned if you're going to win this entire war." Stepping closer, Katherine fashioned a loop around Moondancer's nose.

Finding a tree near a large smooth boulder, Katherine tied Dancer before drawing one precious chocolate from the box. She had brought them as treats for the mare, but since the black had done nothing right thus far, it hardly seemed proper to offer her the entire candy, and so Katherine bit off half herself.

It was wonderful, soothing and sweet. She closed her eyes, enjoying every moment until Moondancer nudged her arm, begging with her huge, luminous eyes.

"Not until you deserve it," Katherine said firmly, and setting the treat on a rock just out of reach, added, "This is it then. Don't panic."

Moondancer blinked at her, looking anything but panicked.

"All right. I'm going to climb onto this rock." Katherine patted the gray boulder. "Then I'm going to ease—very slowly and carefully—onto your back. Hear me?"

The mare tossed her head, trying to reach the candy.

"Well, here I go."

The boulder felt smooth and cool, and Katherine paused there, rethinking her entire idea.

So what if Ryland had laughed at her? So what if she couldn't ride a horse? So what if she'd chosen the wrong horse?

She wasn't an outlaw. She wasn't a cowboy. She wasn't even a boy. She was a woman, for heaven's sake. From Boston! Where she'd had a very...satisfying life.

Well, perhaps satisfying wasn't quite the word. Quiet, then. But "quiet" didn't sum it up, either. Staid? Tranquil?

Boring! She'd had a boring life! And by gosh, she was going to ride this horse.

Katherine was aboard before she knew it—clasping the long black mane with a death grip and squeezing her eyes shut.

Nothing happened. Moondancer shifted once, tossed her head, pawed.

Katherine eased one eye open and drew in a soft careful breath. "Aren't you going to buck?"

The dark head shook as the mare pawed again.

"No bucking?" Katherine whispered. "That's splendid. That's wonderful. Thank you." With aching trepidation, she eased her fingers from the mane they were wrapped in, to tentatively pat the glossy neck. "I did it. I did it." She was off the horse in record time, sliding to the ground in trembling euphoria. "All right. It wasn't for very long, and we're not ready for stunts yet." She retrieved the chocolate from the rock to offer it to Moondancer. "But for the two of us, it's nothing short of miraculous."

Chapter 21

Travis and Katherine rode hard every day, heading northeast toward the ranch, making their own trails and stopping only long enough to procure and eat their meals. Around them boulder-strewn mountainsides rose up to enormous and glorious heights. Mule deer abounded here. Rabbits and squirrels frequently scurried across their path, while coyotes and bears were seldom seen, but often enough to lessen Katherine's fear of them.

Sometimes she sat behind Travis, but often he would order her to sit in front of him, teaching her the subtleties of controlling a horse.

She had learned her lessons well. Much better than he knew, she thought, feeling fatigue seep into her limbs again as she held onto the cantle of his saddle and tried to stay awake.

Katherine had taken to sleeping as far as possible from Travis at night. After all, she had her own blanket, and he seemed to have no desire to be near her, anyway.

Instead, she spent most of her nights with Moondancer, determined to master the horse. It had not taken her long, however, to realize that the mare did not need mastering. She needed mothering. It was true that she was flighty and silly at times, but besides her dislike for conventional tack, she was easy to ride, smooth gaited and gentle. A kind horse.

It had taken Katherine several hours to learn to mount without the aid of a rock or other object, but now she was quiet adept, being able to grab a hank of mane and swing aboard with a fair amount of grace and speed.

Moondancer didn't accept a bit either, but was quite manageable with the looped lariat. Quite manageable until she spooked, bolted, or skidded to a halt, tossing Katherine over her ears. Still, the horse always seemed sorry for her behavior, and would place her forehead against Katherine's chest as if asking for forgiveness.

Chocolate consolation for both generally followed. Though Katherine was careful with the allowances, her stock was getting rather low.

Her eyes fell closed, thinking of the time when she would prove her equestrian prowess to Ryland. Never again would he laugh at her, she thought with sleepy satisfaction. But suddenly she felt herself slipping.

"Damn it woman!" Ryland snapped, grabbing her arm and pulling her upright. "All you gotta do is sit back there. I'd think you could manage that much."