No Ordinary Cowboy. Marin Thomas

to protect herself from serious injury.

      Her blue-eyed gaze implored him. “If the Pony Express goes under then Michael will have died in vain.”

      Nothing anyone said or did would validate Michael’s death, but Tony refrained from saying so.

      “Every drunken cowboy I prevent from getting behind the wheel is a life that Michael’s death saved.”

      Maybe Cal Durango wouldn’t object to Tony helping his daughter if he kept Lucy from killing or injuring herself. “Okay, I’m in, but I want something in return.”

      “What?” she asked.

      “Access to the Durango Gold Mine.”

      “Dad said he’d speak with your supervisor about allowing the border patrol access to that area of the ranch.”

      “I want to go out there before anyone else.” Tony wanted to be the one to find evidence that the property was being used to transport young girls through the desert.

      “What if I can’t get my father to cooperate?”

      “Then no bull-riding lessons.” He prayed she wouldn’t call his bluff.

      “When do I get my first lesson?”

      “Six o’clock tomorrow night at my mother’s.”

      “You won’t cancel out on me?” she asked.

      “You hold up your end of the bargain, and I’ll hold up mine.”

      Lucy flashed her sassy dimples at Tony and got out of the truck. How the hell was he going to help Lucy and keep his hands to himself when each breathing, living part of him wanted to have his way with her?