The Cowboy's Prize

Chapter 8

I bit my lower lip between my teeth, and Scott rolled his eyes, then inhaled sharply. I looked at him with a puzzled expression and he smiled and told me just what that did to him.

"You should know that I absolutely love that Princess." He said, his intense gaze focused on my white teeth. "I want to kiss you so badly when you do that."

"Yeah?" I asked with a smirk that became a rather large smile.

"Oh yeah." He said, his voice deepening and then he proved it, dragging me back into his arms and taking my breath away again.

"I'll remember that." I said when I could speak again.

He chuckled with that annoying manly laugh that some guys have when they know you want them bad.

You know the one.

I wanted to punch him in the arm, but I knew better, where that could lead, where it had led in the past. So I shook it off and said, "So are you going to feed me or what?"

His eyebrows raised and his smile grew as he laughed again and saying, "Definitely!" He stepped back to the horses, made sure they were comfortable and then took the saddlebags from his mount and mine.

"Um, I didn't really know what you liked other than cheese, so I improvised." He said with a grin as he spread out the blanket and motioned for me to be seated. I moved in and sat down as he began to pull things from the bags. A veritable feast appeared before my eyes as he pulled containers and bottles from the bags. Fruit, three different types of cheese, hearty looking bread, pickles, mustard, ham, boiled eggs, Heirloom tomatoes, potato salad, crisp lettuce cups with coleslaw contained within and finally fetta stuffed chillies.

I looked at him with amazement. "Wow!" I exclaimed. "Are we supposed to get through all of this?" I asked as his face reddened.

"Well, I'm hungry." He said with a grin.

That cracked me up and we both laughed heartily before he passed me a napkin and opened the other saddle bag that had the drinks inside it. "Wine? Beer?" He asked and as I selected my choice, he handed me the glass before cracking a beer and drinking half quickly. Wiping his mouth, he grinned and then got stuck in to the food.

We sat there in companionable silence while we ate, satisfying the hunger we could appease before I moved in closer and we began discovering about each other's lives.

Later, the sun became warmer and I realised we'd been sitting there for hours. I'd long since stripped out of my long sleeved shirt, my arms showing past my tank, with all their colour and art. Scott's initial expression had been surprise, then intrigue as he asked me what they meant to me and listened intently as I told him about them.

He ran his finger over the Patrick Star on my arm, understanding how friendship was immensely important to me. And it was as if he decided that no matter how fast he wanted to take things, he would have to let me direct the pace. So he sat back a bit before he took his own shirt off, staying just out of reach but still close.

"Mine are for my family." He said as I saw the half sleeve he proudly wore. It was beautiful, a cohesive match of flowers that were for each member of his family. And I loved it.

But the things that drew my attention more were the two deep scars that were on his shoulder and stomach. "And these." I asked pointing at his opposite shoulder.

His eyes closed for a moment as his own memories flooded back, before he opened his eyes again and told me about the bull that had put him in hospital for a month.

"It was Long John." He said with a shrug. "He was cranky that day." He said, deflecting my attention and down playing the horror that had been that day. Instead he described rehab, the long boring days waiting to be let out of hospital and then the rehab to get his arm working properly again. "The stomach wound was more concerning to the Doctors, but I needed to be able to ride again." He said as he looked at me earnestly. "I want to make No. 1, and I have a real chance this year."

I swallowed, realising that he might have lost his life with that injury. I didn't know much about the sport, but you could be sure I was going to do some research once I got home.

He scooted back in close and placed a finger under my chin to make me look at him. "Don't worry Princess, I'm fine." He assured me and smiled until I returned it.

Then he said, "Want to cool off?"

I frowned slightly glancing at the pond, knowing I hadn't brought my suit.

But he jumped up, pulling a couple of towels from the other side of the saddlebags that had been on my horse and raised his eyes suggestively.

At my hesitation, he laughed and assured me, "You can wear your briefs if you like. It's so hot, when we get out they won't take long to dry."

I bit my lip again, but I nodded and then took my boots off. It took mere moments to get out of my clothes and follow him to the water where it widened into the pond before continuing on its way. "It's deeper here." He said with a smile, I almost stopped him from entering the water then, he made such a beautiful picture wearing only those tight black briefs. They left nothing to the imagination at all and I knew he knew I was checking him out before he jumped in, splashing me and I squealed from the cold water.

He reappeared laughing and shook the water out of his eyes saying, "You get used to it. Come on in!"

I shook my head before he shouted, "Chicken!"

Never one to ignore a challenge, I took a deep breath and jumped in.

"Holy sh.........." My teeth began to chatter as Scott swam up to me and pushed my bangs out of my eyes. He wrapped one arm around my shoulders, the warmth of his skin seeping into my chilled flesh.

"Better?" He asked with a cheeky grin.

I couldn't help but giggle at him, even while shaking my head. He scrunched his nose adorably and then encouraged me to swim around at bit and get used to the water. And before I knew it he was right. And then all I could concentrate on was trying to swim away from him. Then it was my turn to give chase.

"Got you!" I said when I finally caught up with him in the water. He wasn't even breathing heavily and I knew he'd let me catch him.

"You're right." He said with a smile and asked, "What do you want for your reward?"

I raised one eyebrow at that question and then smiled. "Next date it's my turn to choose."

He smiled and agreed. "Deal." He said and then wrapped one long arm around my waist and began to swim us back to the side of the pond.

It was so easy being in his arms. He held me up as easily as if we were floating in saltwater and his eyes sparkled in the lowering sunlight. It was a pretty picture. The blonde Adonis, his water spiked hair standing up away from his face, his white teeth glinting in the setting sun. My heart must have jumped in that moment. In recognition if nothing else.

I'd just fallen for a perfect stranger.