Christmas with the Mustang Man. Stella Bagwell

yard.

      “Is there a special time I need to be here tomorrow?” she asked as they walked briskly toward the truck. “If you have other appointments, I can match my schedule to yours. That’s the least I can do for arriving late today.”

      “I don’t have anything pressing going on tomorrow,” he replied. “Come out whenever you’d like.”

      As they moved along in the darkness, she realized he was close enough for her to reach over and touch, if she was so minded to. The idea titillated her senses and sent all sorts of questions hurtling through her mind. Mainly, where was Hayley’s mother? And was there some other woman in this man’s life?

      Don’t be letting your thoughts stray in that direction, Dallas. The hurt that Allen laid on your heart would be a minor scratch compared to what this cowboy could do to you. Get your business done with the man and get the heck out of here.

      “I’ll be out early,” she promised him as she jerked her thoughts back to the real issue.

      Once they reached the truck, he closed a hand around her elbow and helped her into the tall cab. Determined not to linger any longer, she closed the door between them and reached to start the engine. To her dismay the truck gave one loud sputter, and then the starter whirled uselessly.

      Boone knocked on the door panel to garner her attention and then made a motion for her to lower the window. Dallas did as he asked, then hung her head over the partially opened glass panel.

      “Pop the hood,” he instructed. “I’ll have a look.”

      She pulled the hood lever, then climbed to the ground while he poked and prodded at several things attached to the engine.

      After a few minutes, he finally said, “I don’t see anything undone or broken. Which leads me to think you could be right about the problem being with the fuel.”

      She was already half-frozen from being out in the icy wind. It was growing later by the minute and she was miles and miles from Pioche, the only town in the area large enough to have any sort of amenities for a traveler.

      “Well,” she said decisively, “I’ll have to call a wrecker and have the truck towed to Pioche. Is there a service you’d recommend?”

      The glance he flashed her was full of impatience. “By the time a wrecker drove out here and pulled you back to town it would be the wee hours of the morning. And I doubt you’d find a mechanic that would want to crawl out of bed and start repairing your truck at that hour.”

      Not willing to give in to her dire predicament, she asked, “You don’t happen to have a spare vehicle that I could borrow? I’d be happy to pay you for its use.”

      He slammed the hood shut on the pricey vehicle and walked back over to where she stood. “Just an old truck we use here on the ranch,” he explained. “It’s not even highway legal.”

      “Oh. Well, it was just a thought,” she said, trying her best not to sound dejected.

      “Look, Dallas, I’d offer to drive you in to Pioche, but I’m not about to leave Hayley on the ranch by herself and I’m not going to drag her about for three fourths of the night. Especially when tomorrow is a school day.”

      She’d not even gotten as far as that solution, Dallas thought. But she could see how the idea of him driving her all the way to Pioche was just as problematic as calling for a wrecker.

      She might as well face the fact that she was stranded in the middle of nowhere, without anyone to rely on for help, except this big stone-faced horseman.

      “I would never ask you to do such a thing, anyway,” she told him, then released a short, helpless laugh. “But I am going to ask what you suggest I do now?”

      A faint grimace tightened his lips. “The way I see it, you have one choice. And that’s to stay here tonight.”

      Chapter Two

      Stay here? With him? Oh, God, nothing about this trip was turning out the way she’d planned, Dallas thought desperately.

      “Thanks for the offer, but I’d rather get back to Pioche. I’ve already interrupted your evening.” She couldn’t imagine spending the night under the same roof with this man. Even if several rooms separated her from this rancher, she’d still know he was close by. She doubted she’d get a wink of sleep.

      “The way I see it, you don’t have a choice in the matter.”

      Her spine stiffened. She didn’t like anyone, especially a man, telling her that she’d run out of options. She was a doer, a thinker and a fighter. She didn’t just give up on something because it seemed hopeless. Even as a child her parents had bemoaned the fact that Dallas would obstinately refuse to accept the word no. Now, years later, she was still slow to accept it.

      “I certainly do have a choice,” she said primly. “I’ll call a wrecker and hitch a ride back into Pioche with him. It won’t kill me if it’s late in the night when I get there. And if my truck can’t be repaired by midmorning, I’ll rent one.”

      His features tightened and Dallas realized it was the most emotion he’d shown since she arrived.

      “Look, Dallas, I understand this place doesn’t have the luxuries you’re probably accustomed to. But it should be comfortable enough for you to bear up for a night or two.”

      It wasn’t exactly sarcasm she heard in his voice, or accusation. He’d merely made a flat statement. As though he knew her inside and out and had already decided she was too soft for his type of life. The idea irked her, but she did her best to keep it hidden. She didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot with the man. She’d not driven over a thousand miles to go back home with an empty horse trailer.

      Trying not to let irritation show in her voice, she said, “That’s not the issue at all.”

      He continued to look at her and Dallas suddenly realized that Boone was the first man in a long, long time who made her remember that she was every inch a woman, complete with desires and frustrations. The notion jolted her even more than being stranded on this remote ranch with him.

      “Really? I get the impression that you’re not comfortable with the idea of staying here overnight.” He folded his arms against his chest as he studied her with a thoughtful eye. “If you’re worried about being alone—with me—forget it. I may not look like a gentleman, but I am.”

      It was herself she couldn’t trust. Not him. Glad the darkness hid the heat blazing on her cheeks, she said, “I’m not worried about that, either.”

      “Good. Then you should realize that getting back to Pioche tonight is senseless,” he stated. “Might as well stay here and deal with the horses in the morning while you wait for a tow truck.”

      His suggestion did make sense, Dallas thought. And she supposed she could endure being under this man’s roof for one night. God only knew she was exhausted from the long drive and to think of rattling back over all those rough miles to Pioche tonight was enough to make her ache all over.

      She shrugged with resignation. “That does sound less complicated. As long as you’re sure I won’t be a bother to you.”

      His expression a smooth blank, he moved a step closer. “If you get to be a bother, I’ll let you know about it. Do you have any bags with you? Or did you leave them at the hotel?”

      Seeing he considered the matter settled, she answered, “They’re in the backseat. I didn’t take time to unload them at the hotel. Guess that turned out to be a good thing.”

      After fetching her two leather duffels from the truck, he walked off, leaving Dallas to follow on his heels. As they tromped toward the house, she tried not to think of the night ahead or the predicament she’d gotten herself into.

      When they reentered the kitchen, Hayley had already disappeared. With his head, Boone motioned toward an arched doorway.

      “Follow