“Shall we discuss what kind of a schedule would best suit you?” she asked. “I’m quite flexible.”
“Let’s make sure I know what you want from me.”
“I’d like to borrow a horse to ride, if that’s possible,” she said. At his nod, she continued. “Since this is your home territory, I hope you’ll be able to locate the herds on the reservation for me so I can count the horses and get an overall impression of their health.”
“First—you do understand that mustangs make no distinction between reservation land, BLM land, or privately owned ranch land? They aren’t ‘our’ horses, they’re free-ranging.”
“I’m quite aware of that, but I understand at least two herds seem to spend most of their time on Paiute land.” Laura was congratulating herself on her businesslike approach despite her nervousness, when Sage popped into the room.
“Grandfather has asked me to invite you to stay here at the ranch with us,” Sage said to Laura. “Please say you will. We have lots of room, and it’ll be way more convenient for you. Otherwise, you’ll have to drive back and forth from Reno all the time.”
Though taken aback, Laura noticed Shane seemed even more surprised than she was at the invitation.
Before Laura could respond, Sage added plaintively, “I really wish you’d stay here, so we could get to know each other better, like you said.”
Sympathy for Sage’s need for female company shot down Laura’s instinctive refusal before the words passed her lips. She understood what it was to be lonely.
Shane frowned at Sage. “I don’t think Ms. Walker would want to—”
Laura cut him off. “Please tell your grandfather I’m grateful for his thoughtfulness,” she said to the girl. “If Mr. Bearclaw here approves, I accept the kind offer.”
Privately, she reserved her right to retreat to a Reno hotel if it proved uncomfortable to be in the same house with Shane.
“Stay, by all means,” Shane said, in such a determinedly neutral tone, that Laura knew he’d been hoping she’d refuse.
Maybe that was part of the reason she’d accepted. Certainly if he’d invited her, she never would have, though the truth was, staying at the ranch would be more convenient.
“I’ll bring my things with me when I come in the morning, then,” Laura said. Looking at Shane, she added, “What time will you be ready to ride?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Whenever you get here.”
Since Sage was so eager to play hostess, Shane let her show Laura to the door, watching her walk away despite not meaning to. She moved as gracefully as any mare, which was, coming from him, a compliment. So many women either plodded or sashayed, neither of which conveyed grace.
Without willing himself to, he wandered to the window where he’d be able to see her get into her car.
“Laura will be good company for Sage while she’s here,” Grandfather said from in back of him, having arrived soundlessly, as usual. “That’s why I told Sage to ask her to stay with us.”
Shane turned to face him. “I wondered why you hadn’t bothered to consult me.”
“Partners in running the ranch we may be, but I am still Grandfather.”
“Yes, Respected Elder.” Shane said the words with affectionate mockery.
Grandfather grinned at him. “And don’t you forget it.”
Shane had to agree that female company would be good for Sage, but he’d be willing to bet old Bearclaw had something else up his sleeve. Grandfather had the most devious mind on the res. And more than likely in the entire state of Nevada.
Still, what could be his scheme? He’d never interfered in Shane’s private life, so the fact Laura was a woman shouldn’t have anything to do with it, other than her being company for Sage, like he’d said. What then? The mustangs? The fact that she might have some sort of in with the Feds?
Shane shook his head to both possibilities. Maybe he was just imagining Grandfather planning something. What would be the point?
Chapter Two
As Laura drove back from the reservation to Reno, she told herself she shouldn’t have been swayed, by her empathy with Sage, into accepting the invitation to stay at the Bearclaw ranch. She was bound to be uncomfortable in Shane’s house. It would be difficult enough when they rode together in search of the wild horses—why had she let herself in for more awkwardness in the evenings?
Though she didn’t trust any man except her brother Nathan, Shane was typical of the kind of man who unnerved her the most. He was big and rugged and so very much there. If he was present, he couldn’t be ignored.
Yet, how could she have resisted the appeal in Sage’s eyes? The girl so obviously wanted her to agree to stay. What had happened to the girl’s mother? she wondered. Laura had gotten the distinct feeling there was no woman in the Bearclaw home.
She really hadn’t minded the girl’s personal questions because she felt they were innocent, that Sage merely wanted to know more about her. In any case, the girl hadn’t been the first one to ask Laura if she was married. Sometimes people went on to ask why not, which was far more offensive. The first question was easy to answer. The second was not, and she didn’t even try, but merely shrugged and either walked away or changed the subject.
The truth was, despite the therapy Laura had been through over the years, she’d never been able to convince herself that kind words and smiles from men weren’t a cover for deception of some kind. The best protection was to stay single. Permanently.
At the hotel, she was reluctant to go to her room after she ate because there was nothing to do there except watch TV. So she wandered through the casino, eyeing the devotees at the slot machines, but not venturing even a nickel of her own money.
There is such a thing as being over-cautious. Her therapist’s words. Laura shrugged. Maybe she was, but caution kept her safe, didn’t it?
As usual, she ignored the occasional male stares and comments aimed at any, even minimally attractive, unaccompanied young woman. She’d gotten so effective at this, very few men ever persisted in coming on to her. Pausing to listen to the trio in the lounge for a time, she admired the female singer’s performance, as the woman swayed and gestured in time to the music. True, it was no more than a performance, but a tinge of envy made Laura sigh. The singer seemed so naturally uninhibited that she was a pleasure to watch.
If only I could act even half that free and easy, Laura thought. If only I didn’t have to keep monitoring my behavior so I don’t attract attention from men.
Finally feeling the effects of jet lag, she went to her room and got ready for bed. Though she fell asleep right away, she kept rousing throughout the night, probably because she was so apprehensive about working with Shane. Near dawn she finally got up, dressed in riding jeans, boots, and Western shirt and went down to eat breakfast. One great advantage of Nevada casino-hotels was being able to eat at any hour of the day or night. Twenty-four-hour service. Breakfast over, she decided to head for the ranch, even though she’d be arriving really early. It’d serve macho Shane right if she got there before he was up. Quickly packing her belongings, she checked out.
When she got to the ranch house, Sage answered her knock and insisted on helping to carry in her things.
“Grandfather and Shane are in the barn,” Sage said, when Laura was settled into a sparsely furnished but comfortable-looking bedroom. “There’s coffee if you want some.”
After refusing any food, Laura sat in the kitchen with Sage, drinking a mug of coffee.
“Whoa,” the girl said. “For somebody who doesn’t