High-Riding Heroes by Joey Light Page A

took it as a personal failure. He helped me pack my things, stood on the sidewalk, kissed me, and waved goodbye.”
    “Fool,” Wes muttered and meant it. Swinging the gate wide, he led his horse through.
    Her head snapped up and she squared off with him, forcing him to stop.
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    He cupped her chin with his hand and tilted it so he could see better the tears that threatened to fall. “Not you. Any man would be a fool to let you out of his life.”
    It took her breath away. The quiet fierceness in his voice, the thunder in his eyes. Oh, she was a fool all right, she thought. To be standing here with this man 68
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    High-Riding Heroes
    on what seemed a romantic night. She met his kiss full this time. But still he kept it light and left her wondering what more would be like.
    Walking with him as he stabled his horse, she silently assessed what it was his light kiss was forcing her to feel. She hung the bridle on the peg. He hoisted the saddle on the rack. Flipping the light off, Victoria strolled beside him back toward the saloon.
    The light, casual touch of his mouth had her heart pounding. She felt her resentment for him surface again. He was too smooth. So sure of himself. And practiced.
    “Buck mentioned my folks’ ranch when he introduced us. They are having a barbecue tomorrow. Why don’t you come up with me?” Tipping his head, he moved in front of her to gauge her expression in the shadows.
    “I’d love to see a real working ranch.” And she would. But she didn’t know if she wanted to spend time with this man. She sensed she could learna lot more about him and like him. But did she want to like him evenmore? She shrugged.
    She had found herself doing it again. Analyzing everything and making a problem out of it. A simple barbecue on a real working quarter horse ranch. It sounded like fun and it would be an education. Only she was making it a big deal. He had asked her so matter-of-factly that he couldn’t be considering it a date.
    “Then we’ll leave at three.” They walked into the hotel, through the quiet dining room, and, still shoulder to shoulder, up the stairs. At her door he paused.
    “Bathroom’s free for the rest of the night. You can indulge in one of your frothy baths without worry of being interrupted.”
    “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day,” she told him and pushed the door open to her room, not at all sure she wasn’t willing to take the chance of being interrupted. She caught a look at her flushed cheeks in the mirror.

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    69

    Joey Light
    Inside his room, Wes leaned against the window frame and looked out over the town. Every time he began to feel really good about himself and Victoria, a certain fact made him feel guilty. He remembered Buck coming to him, the talk they had, and what he’d agreed to. And now, despite his resolve to remain seriously uninvolved with any woman for the rest of his life, he was sinking fast.
    And enjoying it. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled his boots off. Shaking his head, he assured himself it would turn out all right. It had to.

    After spending the morning with Buck, arguing and cajoling and trying to be patient and understanding, they had come to a pretty good agreement about which repairs would be started first. At times Victoria felt that Buck was afraid of her. Afraid of the changes she was attempting to make. She tried her very best to allay his fears without coming right out and saying so.
    A trip to the costume trailer had Victoria happy about her outfit for the barbecue.
    Sally, graying hair tied back in a no-nonsense do, clucked and smiled and fitted the new mistress of Glory Town with one of her finest outfits.
    In front of the mirror, Victoria whirled, the full skirt flowing in a wide circle and then swishing to a whisper around her white boots. At the ankle of each boot was a narrow leather band adorned with silver conchoes. The outfit