least, it was an opening she could refer to later.
He jumped down from the buggy and loosely secured the reins around a slender young pine tree so his horse could help himself to the abundance of grass at his feet. Laurie had already dismounted and found a branch to use for a fishing pole.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Rand called out to her.
“Sure am.” Laurie continued to work with her pole. “I just wanted to get a line out in the water to see what’s swimming by today.”
“Suit yourself.” Rand gave Marybeth a hand in stepping down from the buggy.
“What a lovely place.” She breathed in the fresh, cool air of the shady meadow. Closer to the river she spied some wildflowers but didn’t recognize what kind they were. Peace settled over her and she made up her mind to enjoy the day.
“Yep. It’s real nice here. ’Course we have fish in the streams near our ranch, but the best trout come from the Rio Grande. That’s why I like it.” He walked to the back of the rig, untied the picnic basket and pulled a blanket from beneath it. Then he searched for a good spot to lay it out.
Marybeth hurried to his side. “I’ll help you.”
“No, ma’am. You’re my guest today.” Finding a shady spot, he moved a few rocks and branches out of the way. “I’ll take care of everything.”
Nonetheless, Marybeth reached for the blanket and helped him spread it out. She started to follow him back to fetch the basket, but he stopped and gently gripped her upper arms. “You don’t mind very well, do you? Now go sit down and let me manage the rest.”
Despite his crooked grin and teasing tone, a shiver went through her. No. She would not feel this way. He was just being nice, just taking care of her, as any gentleman would. She tried to return a playful grin, but it felt too wobbly to be convincing. Turning from him, she did as he said and made herself comfortable on the old woolen blanket. Or as comfortable as one could be on the rough ground. She reached beneath the blanket and pulled out a few more rocks.
He returned with the basket just as she threw aside a large sharp stone. Instead of the charming grin she expected, his expression twisted into something she couldn’t even describe. Fear? Anger? Because she’d moved a rock instead of waiting for him?
He slowly set down the basket, slowly pulled his gun from his holster and slowly pointed it straight at her. “Don’t move, Marybeth. Don’t move an inch.”
* * *
The rattler was just pulling itself up into a coil not three feet from Marybeth’s hand. Yet the fear written across her pretty face wasn’t from the danger she hadn’t even noticed. She was afraid of him. In spite of his confession, she still didn’t trust him. But this was no time to sort it all out. She had minded his order and sat like a statue on the blanket, her widened eyes squarely focused on his gun.
Dear God, don’t let her move. Let me kill the rattler without hurting her.
Gunfire exploded several yards to his left. Snake parts flew in all directions. Rand’s knees threatened to buckle. He glanced at Laurie, whose rifle bore a telltale curl of smoke around its barrel.
Now he was just downright annoyed. Saving Marybeth’s life would have made him a real hero in her eyes. Yet honesty demanded that he hand the honors to a fourteen-year-old girl.
“Good aim, Laurie.” He needed to downplay the situation, make it sound like an everyday occurrence to calm Marybeth’s fears.
“Looked to me like Marybeth was in your way.” Laurie shrugged as she returned her rifle to the leather holster on her horse’s saddle. “I had a better shot from over here.”
Rand nodded his agreement. “Let’s see now. Shall we move the blanket to a nicer spot closer to the river?” Someplace far away from the dead snake. “I don’t know about you ladies, but I’m as hungry as a bear coming out of hibernation.”
He grinned at Marybeth about one second before she fell over on the blanket in a heap.
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