The Diva Diaries Read online

  “Tooter,” Sam said, his voice full of authority. “It’s just a morning ride. I’ll be back and we can get to some of those chores after lunch. You’ll have my undivided attention.”

  Tooter snatched off his beaten-up Stetson and slapped it against his leg. “Shoot, boy. I haven’t had your undivided attention since that female hit this outfit and you know it.”

  “Tooter, I’m not arguing with you. Get Silver Shadow and Black Spot out of their stalls and have them saddled and bridled for me.”

  “What? Shadow and Black Spot? They’re your mounts.”

  “That’s right.”

  “You goin’ to let that city slicker gal ride one of your string?”

  “Tooter, I don’t think I’m stuttering and I know you’re hearing’s just fine.”

  “It plumb amazes me that you’d let some woman ride one of your personal horses. Tiffany never got close.”

  “We’re not debating this, Tooter.” The stubborn old man was bent on saving him from himself and Sam found it touching but thoroughly irritating. “Tiffany didn’t understand horses.”

  “And this one does?”

  “I don’t know how to say this, but Jenna’s more open to new experiences. Tiffany didn’t want to understand horses. She only cared about the image of a cowboy.”

  “That gal has you knotted up inside if you think she cares about you and this ranch. She isn’t going to stay here and be your perfect little ranch gal. She’s got better things to do.”

  Sam spun around to Tooter, but the little man wouldn’t back down. Sam knew he was right, but it hurt anyway. Jenna wouldn’t stay. Not that he thought she would. Shoot, he wasn’t thinking along those terms. He wasn’t even trying to convince himself. He and Jenna had sex and exploration going on. That was all. She was curious about him and who he was because he was so different from the men in New York. He was aware that she was as caught up in the image of a cowboy as Tiffany was, but with Jenna, she looked beneath the surface and saw the things that were important to him. That interlude in the office had shaken him. She’d been very close to him then and he’d liked that intimacy, hungered for more of it. But he would have to tamp down that hankering, because Tooter was too damned right.

  “Don’t you think I know that? I’m not a fool.”

  “Then stop actin’ like one,” Tooter said as he turned away, but not before Sam saw the contrite glint in his eye.

  JENNA KNEW they were fighting over her. She stood on the front porch as bits and pieces of their conversation floated up to her. When Sam went into the back door of the house, Jenna skirted him and went around the front and followed Tooter into the barn.

  The guilt and shame had burned in her as she’d stood in the office and had lied to Sam. But the problem was it wasn’t entirely a lie. She was fascinated with him. With everything about him. It was disturbing how she needed to feel his skin against her now when she slept and how first thing in the morning all she cared about were those sleepy, sexy eyes and his strong hands. When she’d woken up this morning, she’d been upset that he’d left, but she thought he had dressed and gone to do his chores. After all, it was a Monday and a workday for him. He’d indulged her all day yesterday. She couldn’t expect him to do that every day.

  That’s why she’d headed to the office early, before anyone else would be around. But he’d been sitting in the shadows with his Wild West look and his laptop. The thought of the diary had been secondary to the beauty of him. The suspicious look in his eyes had alarmed her for reasons she just couldn’t seem to name. Reasons she didn’t want to explore because it would be too dangerous. To her, but more importantly, to him.

  She could hear Tooter cussing and fussing about their fight and it hurt to know she was a bone of contention between them.

  Tooter was moving around a big gray horse, slipping a bridle over the animal’s nose when she cleared her throat.

  He looked over at her, his eyes narrowing.

  Jenna was never one to beat around the bush when she had something to say. “All you said about me isn’t quite true.”

  “But some of it is.”

  “Yes. I’m not staying here. My life is somewhere else. It’s only temporary, Tooter. You’ll have Sam back soon.”

  He stepped away from the horse. “You think so? You think Sam is thinking temporary? I know that boy and you’re dangerous to him.” He pointed his finger at her.

  She set her hands on her hips. “I’ll be gone soon. Please stop sniping at him. If you have to take your anger out on someone, take it out on me. He’s been nothing but a gracious host and kind man.”

  Tooter eyed her slowly. “Maybe you do care a mite, but not enough.”

  “Don’t judge me.”

  Tooter turned away and picked up a saddle. “Make sure he understands.”

  “I promise you that I won’t hurt him.”

  She pretended not to hear him as he mumbled, “Yeah, I bet you will, but Sam is a stubborn feller.”

  She walked right into Sam as she exited the barn. “I was looking for you,” she said before Sam could speculate why she was there.

  He looked down at her and smiled. “I was looking for you, too.”

  The clop of horses’ hooves could be heard in the deep recesses of the barn. “It sounds like Tooter’s got those horses saddled.”

  Jenna looked up at him and couldn’t help the tender feelings she had for him. She had to haul back on them, because she’d promised Tooter that she was here only as a guest. And she always kept her promises. She wouldn’t hurt Sam. She couldn’t bear that. Being like her mother was not an option. Making it clear to him at every turn that she was only here on a day pass would ensure that they would part on amicable terms. There wasn’t any reason for Sam to discover why she was really here. She’d get the diary and jewelry and leave without him being the wiser.

  “I guess you’d better teach me to ride. Time is growing short and I’ll be gone by the end of the week.”

  Sam’s mouth tightened. He forced a smile and nodded. He let her go as Tooter emerged from the barn.

  Sam took the reins from the sullen old man and Tooter stomped away.

  Sam watched him go and it hurt her to see the pain in his eyes. It was obvious to her that Sam was very fond of the cantankerous foreman. Jenna hoped that Tooter would cool off and he and Sam could be best friends again.

  Sam turned to her and dropped the reins of the big gray horse. “Stand,” he said softly, and the animal’s ears tipped up to catch the command.

  He rubbed at the forehead of the next animal, whose coat was black until about the stomach area where there was a smattering of white gradually spreading to the horse’s hindquarters that were dotted with black. “This is Black Spot. He’s an Appaloosa and one of the smartest, gentlest animals on this ranch.”

  She could see the pride in Sam. He reached down and snagged her wrist, bringing it toward the horse’s nose. “Let him get to know you.”

  The curious animal stretched out his neck and sniffed at her.

  “Rub his forehead gently. He loves that.”

  She did and he closed his eyes in pleasure. She moved down to his nose and exclaimed a little too loudly, “His nose is so soft.” Black Spot sidestepped nervously and eyed her.

  “I’m sorry, pretty boy,” she crooned, and he settled down, snuffling at the hand she offered. She was thoroughly charmed. “I could get to really like this.”

  “Wait until you ride him. First you need to tighten the cinch before you mount him.”

  He moved around to the left of the animal and pointed at the belt that was snug around the horse’s stomach. “Unbuckle it and pull it tighter.” Jenna did as she was told. Sam came over and said, “Take it up another notch.”

  When he was satisfied, she buckled the cinch and stepped back.

  “Place your left foot into the stirrup, bend that other leg a little and hoist yourself up.”

  Jenna bent her leg, placing her foot into the stirrup. She turn
ed her foot forward, so that the inside of her foot ran alongside the horse.

  “Push off that leg and swing into the saddle,” Sam urged.

  Jenna didn’t realize how many muscles and how much coordination it took to get on a horse. Although she was in good shape, her leg felt the strain. She balanced on her right foot and tried to spring on the ball to heft herself up. The operative word was tried.

  She made it just about as far as Black Spot’s ribs.

  “I am so glad that I can be a source of amusement for you,” she stated when she heard the choking sounds coming from the front of the horse.

  Not to be daunted, Jenna tried again to swing into the saddle, but she couldn’t get enough leverage. Suddenly, a set of strong, familiar hands gripped her around the waist and lifted her so that she could swing her leg around.

  “I could have done it eventually.”

  “Yeah, but I couldn’t handle staring at your exquisitely tight butt in those jeans anymore or mine would be too tight to ride.”

  Jenna saw frank appraisal in those eyes. Sam didn’t even bother to hide the desire he was feeling. It shone in his intense blue eyes and made her squirm in the saddle. “Is Black Spot a boy or a girl?”

  The corner of Sam’s mouth crooked just a little. “He’s a gelding.

  The little smile made her insides turn to weak jelly. “What does that mean?” she asked, trying to gather her composure.

  Sam looked off into the distance, as if figuring the most civilized way to answer her question. He used his index finger to push his hat back, so he could look up at her. “Technically he’s a male, without his working parts.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Makes them docile and really good riding horses.”

  Jenna snorted. “I can see why. He’s probably afraid of what you’ll do to him next.”

  Sam chuckled, walked to the left side of Silver Shadow and smoothly mounted the horse.

  “Show-off,” she said, and he laughed.

  He gave her a few quick tips on controlling a horse and then they were off riding. Jenna immediately loved it. The slow walk was exactly right for her first time out. It was freeing in a way she couldn’t seem to name.

  They rode in silence for a few miles because they simply didn’t need to talk. But then she saw Sam’s back go rigid and he sat up in his saddle. He kicked his horse into a trot and took off down the field.

  Black Spot started to trot, too. Jenna’s butt bounced in the saddle. She had to admit it wasn’t as pleasant as walking had been. When Jenna caught up, Sam was down on the ground next to a prone longhorn. She looked in pain and he had heavy concern on his face. Without any words, she knew the cow was in trouble.

  “What can I do to help?”

  “Dismount and bring me the rope around my saddle horn. Sam was already stripping off his blue chambray shirt. Jenna dismounted, although a little awkwardly. She grabbed the rope and ran over to Sam. Sam’s arm was already deep into the cow’s birth canal. “The calf is breech. Damn, Texas Rose is one of my best breeders.”

  “Why don’t you keep her in the barn?”

  “Longhorns aren’t kept in the barn. They’re free-range cattle and usually don’t have a problem giving birth because they have such wide birth canals.”

  Jenna bit her lip and pushed fine hairs out of her eyes. She rolled up her sleeves against the heat of the day. She bent down to the cow and touched her head. The cow’s eyes rolled to her, but closed as Jenna stroked the place between her horns. “Poor thing. Sam will help you.”

  She patted the cow, gently smoothing her hand over the glossy coat.

  Sam looked up with a half smile for her nonsense chatter to the cow and his throat constricted at the tender look on her face. He’d give his left arm if she would look at him like that, just once. But with a greedy possessiveness, he knew he could easily become addicted to that look. His gaze fell on her hands stroking the cow, and he couldn’t stop his wayward thoughts on how it had felt to have those delicate hands on his body, stroking him in his most sensitive areas. “In my saddlebag are a cell phone and some clean towels. Could you bring them to me?”

  Jenna went to the smooth leather and opened one of the bags. She pulled out the items he requested.

  She gave a towel to Sam, who made quick work of cleaning himself up. He took the cell phone from her and dialed. “Tooter, it’s Sam. Texas Rose is trying to throw a breeched calf. Call the vet. I’m in the back forty, east of the big red barn. Bring him when he gets here.”

  “You’re very fond of Tooter, aren’t you?” Jenna asked when he disconnected.

  He glanced at her and down at the cow. “Yeah,” he agreed reluctantly as if he was too embarrassed to admit it.

  “You take good care of him.” It wasn’t a question.

  “He’s an old man,” Sam said defensively. “He should be taken care of. The work isn’t too hard here and he will never go hungry or lack a roof over his head as long as I’m alive.” The last sentence was said with firm conviction and Jenna smiled at him.

  “I’m not accusing you of beating him, Sam.”

  Sam remained stubbornly silent, giving his full attention to the cow. Jenna noticed his grim look of determination. She shivered at his icy stare, but couldn’t help eyeing his bronzed, taut skin, broad shoulders—smooth and muscular—and all of it flexing and rippling every time he moved. Black hair sprinkled his chest, running down his torso to disappear into the tight jeans hiding the rest of his anatomy.

  “Was it Tooter or your father who taught you about cows and horses?” She tried again.

  “My father was busy with the running of the ranch. Tooter was more patient in teaching me the more intricate ways of ranching. I learned everything I know about critters from him.” Again, that reluctant tone, as if Jenna were interrogating him instead of making conversation.

  She also heard the admiration and the bitterness in his voice. What was it about the memory of his father that caused these mixed emotions? She had to know.

  She picked up a clean towel and mopped his brow. He smelled good—honest, clean sweat blending with a tangy soap scent. She leaned closer to him, one of her breasts connecting with his side. Her nipples immediately hardened and a burning need unfurled deep inside her like a flower unfurls to the warming rays of the sun.

  The clear sky gave them no relief from the sun. Having seen it earlier, Jenna retrieved sunscreen from Sam’s saddlebag.

  Her clothes seemed suddenly stifling, the air too thick to breathe. Sam’s skin was warm and covered with a thin film of sweat. While he was preoccupied with the cow, Jenna began to slather the lotion on his back.

  He stilled and shot her a glance over his shoulder. “If you’re trying to seduce me, I’m a little busy right now.”

  It took her a moment to realize that he was joking and it brought a smile to her face. “No. Just trying to look after you.”

  “I’ve got to help this calf. It’s breech, so we’ll have to pull it out once I get hold of its hind feet,” he said.

  She wiped her hands on one of the towels and put the lotion aside.

  “Jenna, take this rope and hold it for a minute.” Sam felt around and Texas Rose lowed softly in pain, jerking against Sam’s intrusion. Jenna soothed her.

  “Got him. Give me the rope.” He attached the rope and tied it. “Okay, help me, Jenna. Pull as hard as you can, but steady. Don’t jerk.”

  She grasped the rope and helped Sam pull the newborn calf out of his mother’s womb. She looked down at the wet, still calf and asked with wonderment, “Is he all right?”

  Sam used one of the towels to wipe the animal down. “He’s fine.” He looked over at Texas Rose and frowned. “She should have stopped writhing and gotten to her feet to nurse and clean the calf.”

  “Sam, what’s wrong?” she asked when she saw the concerned look on his face.

  “She should be up now, unless—oh shoot!” He went back down to the cow’s abdomen and felt around. “Twins. She’s havin
g another one.”

  Jenna was delighted as she divided her attention between the floundering calf and the cow’s lower body.

  “This one’s not breeched. He’s coming out just fine.” Texas Rose gave one tightened jerk and the second, smaller calf slipped out. Unlike his brother, this one didn’t move.

  “Damn.” Sam leaned down and touched the little calf, his face turning bleak.

  Jenna bit her lip, feeling tears gather at the back of her throat as she watched Sam’s face turn to despair.

  “Oh, Sam, no,” she whispered. And like the fighter she likened him to, he refused to let the little calf die. He opened her mouth, cleaned out the mucus and pushed on her chest, rubbing her vigorously. Compelled, Jenna began to help.

  Time ticked by and, with each second, Jenna felt her heart sink. Just when she was about to admit defeat, the little animal sucked in a huffing breath.

  The mother rose and began cleaning the newborn calves. Sam checked the second calf. “Yehaw. She gave me a couple of fine bulls.” When she had finished cleaning the two small animals, he led first one, then the other to her to nurse.

  They were quiet as Sam shrugged back into his shirt and helped Jenna mount. When they got back to the barn, Sam called the vet and told him that tomorrow would be fine to check out the cow and calves. Jenna could hear the pride in his voice. Wondering if she could see the animals from the loft, she climbed the ladder and unlatched the door, pushing it open. A soft breeze wafted in and Jenna craned her neck, trying to spot the new mother and her offspring.

  Her boot slipped and, with a cry, she grasped the side of the door. Steel hands grabbed her around the waist and hauled her back against a hard, hot chest.

  “What in tarnation do you think you’re doing?”

  She turned to find herself in Sam’s tight embrace. He had a dangerous gunslinger look she’d never seen before. As if he would fight anything to keep her safe. “Is that a Texas Ranger thing?”

  He frowned, not happy with her answer. “What?”

  “Keeping me from getting hurt?”