Free Tracie Peterson - [Desert Roses 01] by Shadows of the Canyon Page A

grinned and left Joel’s side to come to Luke.
    “Please ignore him, Mr. Toland, he can be a bit of a bore.” She lowered her head just a bit. Looking up at him with huge green eyes, she smiled prettily and batted her lashes.
    Luke ignored her and continued to speak to the group. “You’ll see for yourself as we descend, the canyon is a series of layers. With each layer you’ll see a good many changes. The canyon is a blend of limestone to sandstone to shale and so on. The plant life changes with the layers, as does the animal population. On the rim you might have seen gambel oaks, piñon, sagebrush, and juniper. As we head down into the canyon, this is going to change, and you’ll see more yucca and mesquite, and down by the river you’ll even have cottonwood and desert willow.”
    Luke loved the canyon for its variety and beauty. He loved to share the information he’d learned in his years at the Grand Canyon, but he could also read a group of tourists like a book. This book was clearly bored with the information. They were city folk who were used to fast-paced lives and nonstop entertainment. Asking them to slow down to the point of recognizing the differences between sagebrush and snakeweed was expecting too much.
    Valerie Winthrop took hold of his arm. “So what’s the ranch like?”
    Luke nodded and tried to disentangle himself from her hold, but Valerie would have none of that. Giving up so as not to make a scene, Luke looked to the group.
    “Phantom Ranch is a real treat. It’s going to be as welcome a sight as your own home, especially after a day on mule back. We’ll have a good meal for you and cabins for your comfort.The night ends up being pretty short, given how tired you’re going to feel.”
    “Oh, surely you cowboys don’t get tired,” Valerie whispered.
    Luke looked to her and nodded. “Even cowboys get tired, Miss Winthrop.”
    The rest of the trip was much the same. Luke found that anytime he stopped the group to rest, Valerie was right beside him. Harper scowled from a distance, as if trying to assess the threat and deciding what needed to be done.
    “You simply must come to New York sometime,” Valerie insisted. “Have you ever been there?”
    “No. I’ve never been there.”
    “Then you don’t know what you’re missing,” she gushed. Luke continued checking the cinches on the mules. “I thought you were from South Carolina.”
    “I am, but I prefer the fun to be had in New York. The parties there are so incredible—why, you’d positively think you’d died and gone to heaven. And this nonsense of prohibiting liquor is hardly a bother at all. In fact, it can be quite exciting. Sometimes the police come and we all scramble like madmen out the secret passages. They have false fronts for the bar and everything. It’s truly marvelous—you’d love it.”
    Luke looked up and studied her for a moment. “I don’t think you know me well enough to know what I might love or detest. Because of this, I have to tell you you’re very wrong. I wouldn’t love it. I detest drinking—and drunks.”
    The look on Valerie’s face suggested complete and utter surprise. Having finally rendered her speechless, Luke took the opportunity to move away from her to talk to Clancy.

    “Well, my dear, you don’t seem to be making much progress with our cowboy leader,” Joel said snidely. “Good thing, too, as I specifically remember telling you to leave his type alone.”
    Valerie turned to meet Joel’s gaze. “I’ll do as I please. Idon’t need you telling me what to do or offering unsolicited advice.”
    “The only advice I’ve come to give is to remind you that I’ll not brook this nonsense any longer. Your father agrees with me. You’re much too flighty and out of control. We’ve been discussing your possible liability to his campaign.”
    “I beg your pardon?” Valerie was stunned. How could this man make her so completely miserable and still expect her to feel passion for