A Cowboy Returns. Kelli Ireland

      “Know what?” she asked with a snarl.

      “That he brought me along.” Eli had stopped several feet away, his eyes hidden by reflective sunglasses. He’d changed into jeans and a pair of beat-up boots she recognized from years past. His shirt was clean but wrinkled.

      “Great.” How much had he heard? Whatever it was, she couldn’t take it back. Instead, she stared at the very man she’d so wanted to avoid. “Been a while since you’ve sat a horse, Eli. Do your best not to fall off, would you? Earlier, it seemed you’d already taken the opportunity to roll around in shit. Once a day is our limit out here.”

      Tyson barked out a laugh. “You rolled around in shit? Where was I?”

      Eli never took his eyes off Reagan when he answered. “You missed Cade taking it upon himself to reintroduce me to his fists.”

      Ty sobered instantly. “So you didn’t jump from the plane?”

      “No.” He shook his head, his eyes still on her. “While I’m flattered you’re worried about my well-being, don’t bother. I can take what you dish out, Dr. Matthews.”

      Ty sobered instantly. “That’s right. She said you knew about her marrying Luke and—”

      “The marriage. Nothing more, Ty, and I insist it stay that way.” Reagan reined the horse to the side with a heavier hand than necessary. The animal protested by tossing his head and crow hopping. She settled him down and pointed him toward the northeast again. “Chances are, the herd has holed up out here where they can be sick and miserable without human intervention. I want to get to them as quickly as possible. Either keep up or go home, Esquire.”

      “You’ve gotten bossy as hell,” Eli muttered.

      “And you’ve got a great manicure. Your point?”

      Ty bit his lip and nearly choked on his laughter.

      “You always were a smart-ass.” Eli coiled his rope with a practiced ease that made her fight the familiarity of him. “Some things never change.”

      Settling her hat tight, she forced herself to calm down or she’d transmit her tension to her mount. “True, but some things, and people, do. Don’t pretend to know who I am anymore, Eli.”

      Clucking at the gelding, she slipped into an easy lope.

      The sooner she got this job over with, the sooner she could get home and start piecing her life together again. But after Eli’s reappearance, it was going to take more than all of her life experience and surgical skill.

      It was going to take a miracle.

5

      ELI’S LEGS WERE sore by the end of the first hour. By the end of the second, he wasn’t sure he still had an ass. He shifted in his saddle as Ty reined in next to him, a wicked smile decorating the kid’s face.

      “You ever do those Buns of Steel videos?”

      The casual inquiry caught Eli off guard. “What? No. Why?”

      “I was thinking I might market a cowboy version, Buns of Leather. You know—ride ’em rough, ride ’em tough, fifteen minutes is never enough.”

      Eli laughed out loud. The ranch hands glanced their way before casually returning to their own conversation. They’d extended due courtesy to Eli. Their words and behaviors stopped long short of respect, though. To Ty, on the other hand, they were deferential. It chafed.

      Ty caught him shaking his head. The youngest Covington reached over and punched the elder in the shoulder. “Give them time, Eli.”

      “Time to what? Drown me in the stock tank? Drop a branding iron in my lap? Dump my ass in the bull pasture before they take off with my horse? No, thanks.”

      “I’d forgotten Cade and I did that your last summer at home. Dad was pissed.” His mouth twitched. “If it makes you feel any better, the bulls are on the south side of the place now.”

      Eli shook his head. “You guys almost got me killed.”

      “Never saw a guy climb a windmill so damn fast.”

      “I was up there overnight!” Reaching out, he flipped his little brother’s hat off his head.

      Ty caught it before it hit the ground, grinning. “And you’re still whining about it.”

      “Shut up.” Eli smiled through the grumbled command. In a weird way, it hurt to remember the good times. He’d spent so many years hating who he’d been and where he’d come from that looking back with affection felt wrong, like a betrayal of who he’d fought so hard to become. Being reminded that it hadn’t all sucked...it stung.

      Then there was the little bit he’d overheard of Reagan’s admission to Ty. That more than stung. Way more.

      Clearing his throat, he twisted in his saddle and found her. She rode among the men with the surety of one who belonged. He envied her the ease with which she fit in. She’d always been that way, though, so confident and aware of where she belonged. He’d had to scramble to keep up, always feeling one step behind.

      Her eyes met his.

      A shock of awareness burned through him. He twisted around so quickly he nearly unseated himself.

      “She’s an amazing woman,” Ty said softly.

      “Always was.” The admission scraped at emotions that were already raw. He adjusted his sunglasses. “When did she marry?”

      Ty slouched in his saddle. “Eight years ago.”

      So long. “Any kids?”

      “No. They never—”