Free Forbidden Passions by India Masters Page B

made a disgusted noise. “It means—”
    “I know what it means.” His eyebrows snapped together in a frown. Did she really think he was that big of an idiot? Hell, he may not have had the opportunity to attend some big-time college, but he’d gotten a two-year degree in farm and ranch management at the local college. He and Ty had had to work, for Christ’s sake. She could be a bitch when she wanted to, but he’d never known her to be a snob.
    Bodie was well into his sulk when she said, “I’m sorry. That was unforgivably rude, and I apologize.”
    He nodded. “Apology accepted. Now, do you think we can make an effort to try and get along for the next two weeks?”
    Bodie smothered a satisfied smile when she sighed. “Yes. I suppose we can.”
     
    * * *
     
    Silence descended once more until they reached the trailhead. Libby gathered her camera equipment while Bodie and Ty helped the crew unload the stock and pack the animals. She squatted on the side of the road, carefully packing her cameras and lenses into her TrailMax saddlebags. Setting aside her Nikon D700 digital, she picked out her two favorite lenses and put them in the pommel bag. The excitement was upon her now, tendrils of exhilaration curling in her chest, settling into her belly to flutter there like hummingbird wings.
    In all the years she’d lived here, Libby had never once been to Yellowstone. Ranch work took priority over sightseeing, and if she wanted to camp, her father had told her, they had several thousand acres that would do her just fine and plenty of cattle to keep her company. Now, here she was, a few years away from her thirtieth birthday, and she was going on the adventure of a lifetime with two men who would likely have their way with her this very night. She raised her camera and took a few shots of the crew putting the final touches on the pack job.
    “You ready to go, darlin’?”
    Libby lowered the camera.
    Ty.
    Images of the previous night flashed in front of her. Angry green eyes narrowed to slits. The aggressive jut of his chin as he hovered over her, his body language threatening, his voice scornful. Spoiled, he’d called her. Selfish. And she had to concede that maybe he had a point. But there was no sign of that man now. Just mischievous, sparkling green eyes and a full mouth smiling at her with pleasure.
    “You bet,” she said. “Which horse is mine?”
    “The little bay with the white stockings.” He reached for her saddlebags. “His name’s Sox. Not very original, but he’s sturdy and dependable, not prone to stumbling, and he has the heart of a lion. Ain’t a river he won’t cross.” He held up her saddlebags. “These things waterproof?”
    “Of course.” She slowed to let him get ahead of her and admired the way his jeans fit just right over his tight ass. Like as not, she’d have her hands on that beautiful backside before too long. She licked her lips and increased her pace. No sense in letting him know what she was thinking.
    Studying one another warily over the back of the horse, Libby and Ty secured her saddlebags to the cantle of the saddle.
    “Lib . . . about the other night—”
    “Don’t. It’s forgotten. Water under the bridge. Let’s get this show on the road, okay?”
    “Okay.”
    Libby took the reins and mounted, waiting as the crew said their good-byes and wished everyone luck. She fell in line behind Bodie, and Ty eased in behind her, leading the pack animals.
    They picked their way through blackened trees, and Libby took a few shots of the miracle of regeneration. Colorful fireweed grew profusely, and already new growth was evident everywhere.
    “It’s really coming back fast,” she commented to no one in particular.
    “The wonder of nature,” Bodie quipped. “We’re gonna set up an early camp at Meadow Creek, let you get some shots in before dark; then we’ll head south in the mornin’ to Mountain Creek. There’s a couple of stock sites we can use, spend a couple days