Free To Desire a Wilde by Kimberly Kaye Terry

him to know how badly it was beginning to ache.
    He must have seen her, because toward the end of the day, when they had two pens of cattle left to get through, he called for backup.
    No sooner had he called out for his men to round up more help, than Ellie was shaking her head, giving a counterorder.
    A young ranch hand glanced from Ellie’s set features to Shilah’s, the boy’s face bewildered, not sure who he should listen to.
    Ellie sighed and turned to Shilah, knowing the young man was waiting for his boss to give him the final verdict.
    â€œI thought we agreed…out here, I’m the boss,” she said, and held her breath, seeing indecision cross his face.
    He stared over at her, and despite the set expression, she saw the underlying look of concern reflected in his eyes as his glance slid over hers.
    â€œWe can pick this up tomorrow, El,” he said, his voice low, for her ears alone.
    â€œI’m fine,” she replied, yet was touched by his concern. Their horses were so close that they were almost touching noses. Impulsively, Ellie reached acrossthe short expanse between them to place a hand over his large forearm. As soon as her hand touched his, she felt the thick muscle bunch beneath her fingertips.
    He held her gaze, lifted her hand from his arm and brought it to his mouth, where he placed a soft kiss in the center of her palm. Ellie felt the light caress sear a path straight from her palm throughout her body.
    â€œShilah—” she choked out.
    â€œI know you’re in pain, Ellie,” he interrupted, quietly, for her ears alone.
    She felt none of the shame and anger she normally felt whenever she detected sympathy from those around her. It was somehow…different, the sympathy she felt from Shilah. A connectedness that went beyond the physical, one that left her shaken.
    As though everyone around them had disappeared, the noise from the cattle and ranchers yelling out orders all faded to nothingness and there was only her and Shilah, alone.
    â€œShilah…I’m fine,” she whispered and, after a long appraisal of her, he nodded his head shortly.
    â€œFine. But we’re calling it quits after this last bunch.” When she opened her mouth to argue he cut her a look.
    Ellie held up both hands in surrender. “Okay, okay…but tomorrow we’ll be on an even tighter schedule. Hope you can handle it,” she quipped, but was secretly glad that he’d taken the decision out of her hands.
    â€œOh, don’t worry about that,” he said, running a long, hot glance over her. “There’s not much I can’t handle, doc…. You’ll do well to remember that,” he said. Without waiting for her reply, he tugged on the horse’sreins and galloped away, leaving Ellie’s mouth open as she stared after him, wondering what the hell to make out of that.

Chapter 9
    E llie leaned back in her saddle, closed her eyes and allowed the cool air to blow across her hot skin, fighting back the disappointment she felt.
    The day had been long, hard and dirty. With a sigh, she removed her hat, running a hand through her sweat-dampened hair.
    They’d finished for the day, and the men had left, along with Shilah. After the day spent with him, working side by side, she expected…
    â€œWhat exactly were you expecting?” she asked herself, aloud, in the dark.
    She didn’t expect what had happened—for him to leave along with the men and barely say goodbye to her.
    After they’d left, she’d been torn. Although she was so tired she could barely move, she was also strangely restless. Not quite sure what to do with herself, Ellie had decided to go for a ride and had resaddled her horse.
    Since her arrival, she’d yet to take a ride, remembering how it used to calm her, the feel of the wind blowing against her face, the natural sounds of the night, birds cawing, crickets chirping, mixed in with the occasional