Free One Stubborn Cowboy by Barbara McMahon Page B

through him. But he didn't even look at her. It was safer not to.
    "I'll be by in the morning," he said.
    She hesitated a moment then jerked her hand free. Opening her door, she slid across the seat and out into the hot afternoon sun.
    "Do you like anything special for lunch?" she asked, slamming the door and looking in through the window, anger simmering in her tone.
    He looked at her then. It was safe; he couldn't reach her. But why the spurt of temper? Her eyes were icy as they glared back at him. For a moment he wondered if she had wanted him to kiss her. It hit him hard in the gut.
    "Anything you fix: will be fine." Anything you do will be fine, he thought, unable to look away from the icy disdain in her blue eyes.
    "All I can say is you don't seem like a wild hellion to me. I think you're nothing but a...but a... but a pussycat!" Turning, Kelly marched up her driveway and around to the back of her house, head held high, back rigid and straight.
    Kit stared after her in amazement, his eyes tracking her until she disappeared from view. A pussycat? Dammit! For two cents he'd go after her and make her eat her words.
    His hand gripped the door handle. He paused. The gleam in his eyes was sudden. He'd wait. Tomorrow he'd have her alone, out on the Smiths' ranch, totally at his mercy. Then he'd show her what a pussycat he was.

Chapter 5
     
    The next morning promised to be as hot as the previous one. Kelly dressed in a loose yellow top and white shorts. In deference to any walking they might do at the Smiths' ranch, she wore socks and tennis shoes, instead of sandals. Her feet were hot before she finished tying the laces. She drew her hair back into a high ponytail to keep it off her neck.
    Preparing the picnic lunch, Kelly hoped she had things he'd like, wishing she had a basket. Stuffing everything into a paper bag and a cooler, she located an old blanket, got her sketch pad and stacked everything on the front porch. She didn't know when he'd arrive, but she was ready.
    Kelly was surprised at the surge of pure joyt that swept through her when Kit drove up. She had a hard time keeping the smile from splitting her face as she gathered her things and walked slowly to the truck. No sense letting him know how glad she was to see him. She was sure the feeling wasn't mutual. She still wondered why he'd offered to take her to see the pony.
    "Good morning," she said, peering into the cab.
    "Put the things in the back and let's go."
    She complied, quickly opening the passenger door and climbing in.
    "Don't you ever use normal social amenities like good morning, how are you, nice to see you?" she asked as she fastened her seat belt.
    "Why?" He threw the truck into reverse and backed quickly to the highway, then accelerated.
    "It's a polite way to greet people when you haven't seen them in a while."
    "I saw you yesterday."
    "That's a while." A long while if you were counting minutes.
    "If I wanted to chat up some woman, I might try it. Otherwise, why bother? You see me. What does hi accomplish."
    She shrugged, no longer willing to argue about something so unimportant. She was going to enjoy today, no matter how obnoxious Kit Lockford became. She could handle him. She'd had a long talk with herself last night and was ready to deal with the man today. She hoped.
    She watched as the familiar scenery rushed by. She'd driven this road a couple of times when first exploring the area. The hills rose and fell with regularity, deserted and barren except for the drying grass and enclosing barbed-wire fences. Here and there a group of live oaks offered relief from the monotonous scenery. The sky was cloudless, pale blue and brassy. The sun was already hot, and the worst heat of the day was still ahead.
    Kit turned onto a dirt trail barred by a metal gate.
    "Open it, wait for me to drive through, then close it behind us," he said as he stopped.
    "Can we go there?"
    "Sure, as long as we close the gate behind us."
    She jumped down from the high cab