Part 11 (1/2)
But he knew that a cowhand could disappear down a gully chasing cows and the others could lose track of time while doing their own work. Any one of them could have sneaked back here and that's what scared him. Reggie had been here alone. Until she decided to take a walk.
Had her walk been a blessing in disguise?
He glanced at his watch, wanting to hear the whine of a truck engine coming up the mountain. Worry settled like a heavy dark blanket over him as he tried to imagine what kind of trouble Buck might have run into.
Reggie came out on the porch as he approached. Her step seemed a little lighter. No doubt due to just the thought of a bath. He was glad to see that the bear didn't appear to have come back.
”Here, let me help you,” he said, taking the bag with who knew what in it from her and slipping her arm around his waist to take the weight off her sprained ankle.
They moved slowly through the thick green canopy of pines in companionable silence, the sound of the creek growing louder and louder.
WATER. Regina could hear the rush of it, smell it in the air. She practically ran when, through the trees, she spotted the stream pooling in the rocks.
She heard McCall chuckle next to her. Her excitement at even the prospect of a bath must show. She hadn't even tried to talk to him about the commercial on their walk through the woods. True, she was almost too tired to argue about it.
”There's a nice pool the right depth through there,” he said when they reached the river. ”I'll wait for you over here. Do you know how to sing?”
The question took her by surprise. ”What?”
”Sing. If you sing, I promise not to look. That way I'll know you're all right.”
He actually looked serious.
She nodded, more intent on the bath than anything else. If she had to sing, she'd sing. She limped toward the spot where he'd indicated and began to sing, ”My home's in Montana, I wear a bandana, my spurs are of silver, my pony is gray.” Those were the only words she knew. She hummed loudly, turning to see what he was doing.
He had sat down under a large pine, arms folded, his back against the trunk, his hat over his eyes.
She stripped down, the retreating sun warm on her back. She knew the water would be cold.
She kept humming, wavering only a little when she stuck her foot in the water and felt how cold it was. Wading out into the water to where a circle of rocks formed a deep pool in the stream, she lowered herself in slowly.
It wasn't bad once you were all in. She breathed in the damp, pine-scented air and dunked below the surface to wet her hair.
J.T. PUSHED BACK his hat at the sound of the sudden silence. He sat up and looked toward the pool.
She surfaced just then, coming up in a shower of water, her hair a dark wave, her back slim and pale.
”Hum,” he called to her and leaned back, pulling the hat down over his eyes.
This had been a terrible idea, he thought, listening to her hum, sounding happy. After that one glimpse he could imagine her sudsing her hair, chest deep in the creek.
The ache he felt surprised him. It was pure s.e.xual. h.e.l.l, he was a normal, red-blooded male. But the desire to protect her was even stronger.
”Stopping humming to rinse hair,” she called.
He counted to ten and was getting nervous, when he heard a splash. He waited for her to hum. Hum, dammit, woman.
”My home's in Montana,” she sang and he realized she was closer than she'd been. She was no longer in the creek, but standing on the rocks directly in front of him.
He didn't dare move, listening as she sang softly, her voice growing nearer and nearer until he could smell her clean scent. Her damp hair brushed across his hand resting on his knee.
Still he didn't move, didn't breathe.
He felt her fingers on the brim of his hat, felt her shove back the brim.
He opened his eyes.
She had knelt down, and was leaning toward him so her hair hung down on each side of her face.
Her gaze was on his, bluer than his own eyes.
He let out the breath he'd been holding slowly, still not moving.
”Thank you,” she whispered.
He let himself smile. ”You're welcome,” he whispered, afraid she would kiss him, afraid she wouldn't.
He sat up, determined not to let her distract him again. He had to have answers. Especially after the noose he'd found in the woods today.
”Reggie, I need you to be honest with me.”
She leaned back, looking disappointed that he hadn't kissed her again.
”I have been honest-”
”Listen to me. We're a long way from the ranch, even farther from town, we don't have a way to get out of here except on horseback because the truck won't run.” He paused, his gaze holding hers. ”This is very dangerous, Regina.”
Regina? She could hear the fear in his voice. It echoed in her chest and she had the feeling that something else had happened. ”I thought Buck was bringing a truck back?”
His gaze bored into hers. ”I'm afraid something has happened to him.”
She swallowed, tears stinging her eyes at the thought. She liked Buck. He'd been kind to her. If something really had happened to him, it was her fault. He would never have left the mountain alone except for her. She felt sick.
”Regina, if you know what's going on here, I need you to tell me now,” he said quietly.
She realized she liked it better when he called her Reggie. ”You think I had something to do with Buck's disappearance, too?” She shook her head. ”How is that possible?”
”You tell me. Is this really about a TV commercial?”
”Yes. What else?”
”That's what I was hoping you would tell me.” Clearly he didn't believe a word she said. ”Who did you meet in the woods last night?”
She blinked. ”What?”
”I saw you meet someone in the trees outside the cabin last night,” he said, sounding angry. ”I heard you talking to him.”