Always a Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller

walked up. “You boys seemed to like the food okay. I see you stole Mace’s woman. That didn’t take long. Ain’t you slick, cowboy.”
    â€œShe isn’t Mace’s woman.” Drake sounded emphatic. “Anyway, here’s Thelma’s tip. I didn’t want to leave it on the table. Tell her it’s from all of us.”
    Billy’s eyebrows rose as he took the thick wad of bills. “Let me guess. Seven hundred dollars—enough to take care of the car repairs. That’s real thoughtful of you.”
    Drake shrugged. “She brought us chicken-fried steak and beer. The least we could do is help her fix Frankie.”
    â€œDammit, son, don’t make me tear up in front of a pretty girl. It’d ruin my reputation. I’ll see that Thelma gets this.”
    Luce would give a lot to see Bad Billy all misty-eyed, but Drake was already leading her toward the door, his fingers firmly around her wrist. Outside, the night was clear and, according to the weather report she’d heard earlier, unseasonably warm. “Do you mind telling me what I need to see so badly that I rudely abandoned your brother?”
    He opened the passenger’s-side door of his truck for her. “Explaining would defeat the purpose. See is the operative word here. Hop in.”

CHAPTER SIX
    T HE MOON ROSE slowly above the mountains, right on cue, spreading its silvery light, and while he certainly knew she’d seen a full moon before, he was convinced she’d never seen one quite like this. Drake thought it was spectacular and he never tired of it.
    Since he was going to watch it, anyway, she might as well come along.
    Okay, the truth was he needed her to see it. If she wanted to have a true Wyoming experience, this was one of the best. He pointed. “This way.”
    He’d driven his truck as far as possible, but it was still a considerable walk, although he knew she wouldn’t mind that part. Luce gave him an inquiring look and he just shook his head. “Worth it. Trust me.”
    â€œI am, obviously,” she said drily.
    He led her over the rustic pass, since he was the one who knew where they were going, and because there might be snakes. Rattlers usually left the vicinity as fast as possible when human beings showed up, but if they were startled, it was a different story. He’d been raised to pay attention, and he did.
    The sound of rushing water told him they were getting close. When they got to the stream, he eyed her impractical open-toed shoes and without a word picked her up, ignoring her sudden gasp of protest, then waded across. Once he’d set her down on the other side, she straightened her skirt and glared at him. “I could’ve carried my shoes.”
    She did have the world’s prettiest eyes, even when they were staring at him indignantly.
    â€œThat was easier, wasn’t it? Look around. I think this might be the most beautiful place on earth.”
    In the twilight, a small waterfall that fed into the stream from a rocky outcrop glimmered. There was a natural bench in the form of a flat stone about six feet wide. He gestured toward it. They were in a small theater of aspens and ponderosa pine, and the air smelled like fresh water and meadow grass. “Have a seat and let the show begin. We’re right on time.”
    â€œOn time for what?”
    â€œWait for it. Watch the tree line.”
    The sunset was even more spectacular than usual—or at least he felt as if it was. The rows of trees were illuminated in a glow that intensified as the moon came up. With the mountains behind, and a starry sky above, the veil of the waterfall reflected the light.
    Luce’s eyes widened, and Drake heard her catch her breath as she took it all in.
    Oh, hell, he was falling for her. He’d always wondered how it would feel if that ever happened—he was thirty-two now and it hadn’t yet—but he knew this was