The Cowboy She Never Forgot

By Cheryl Biggs

WAY OUT WEST

WORTH WAITING FOR?

Three years ago she'd returned his ring and he'd kept her heart. Kate Morgan had loved long, lean bull rider Shane Larrabee more than anything in the world except being a cop. And when forced to choose, she'd stubbornly chosen her work.

Now Shane had returned for the rodeo finals, and Kate faced a formidable dilemma. Because the man she'd never forgotten thought she'd given up her profession but his life depended on Kate keeping her undercover assignment a secret. Could this honourable deception cost Kate her second chance at love?

Because there's nothing like a cowboy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Jul 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781460861455

Cheryl Biggs

When she was a child, Cheryl Biggs spent hours watching cowboy series on television and going to see Westerns at the movies. Actually, she still loves them and views them whenever she has the chance. Cheryl is not quite sure why she has this passion. Maybe it is because she is one of those rare people-a native of California, where so many of these shows have been filmed. Whatever the cause, it provided the impetus to learn to ride horses, and at one time she owned two. Besides the West, Cheryl has wide ranging interests, which she has used to develop new books for her loyal readers. Ms. Biggs lives at the foot of Mt. Diablo, with her husband, five cats, Dooby, Dusty, Dolly, Mikey, and Lil' Girl, and a blue-eyes dog, lady.

Book preview

Prologue

It was now or never.

Shane scooped his hat up from the ground and waved it at the cheering crowd as he walked from the arena.

The antics of the rodeo clowns drew gasps as the audience watched them dodge the bull whose back Shane had just jumped from, then ushered him out through another gate.

Shane’s ride had been a good one. In spite of the fact that his thoughts had been elsewhere all day, he’d more than made the points he needed to win Reno’s rodeo and go on to the Nationals in Vegas.

Now or never. The words had been playing through his mind for hours.

Kate stood at the gate, smiling, waiting for him, the arena lights catching the red highlights in her long dark hair and turning it into a fiery halo that framed her face, then spread down over her shoulders.

He looked into her eyes, those deep blue-green eyes that haunted his every dream and desire. Now or never. The words echoed through his mind again.

You did it, she cried, as he rounded the gate and she threw herself into his arms. Her lips captured his for a brief kiss.

Shane’s adrenaline was pumping full speed. Nothing could go wrong now. Nothing. Laughing, feeling on top of the world, he wrapped his arms around her waist and, crushing her against his body, lifted her easily from the ground and swung her around. Holding her, loving her, was one thing he knew he would never get tired of.

You’re going to make it, Shane, Kate said softly, brushing her lips over his again as he finally lowered her back to her feet. You’re going to get the title. You will. I just know it.

C’mere, Red, he whispered, using his pet name for her, and slipping an arm around her waist. He pulled her into the shadows beneath the raised announcer’s booth overlooking the arena. He’d planned on waiting until later, taking her to a nice restaurant where they’d have soft music in the background, a table set with candlelight and roses, and he’d order champagne, but he couldn’t wait, not even one more second.

Pushing his hand beneath the chaps that covered his jeans, Shane dug into his pocket and grabbed the small, velvet-covered box he’d been carrying around all day. He pulled her into his embrace again, holding her securely against his long, lean length. And if I do win in Vegas, I want you there with me, Red.

She smiled, feeling all warm inside. I will be, she said. I’ll get some time off from the department and fly down and...

He shook his head. No. I want you with me always, for all my rides and all my wins. I want you with me every day and every night. He held the box up before her and flipped open the lid. Marry me, Red.

She stared at the exquisite diamond solitaire set into a swirling ring of gold, glistening against its bed of black satin. Tears filled her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks, then she shook her head and, pushing the box away from. her, stepped out of his embrace....

Three years later

Memories. He didn’t need them. Wished there was some way to get rid of them. Wipe his mind clean of every thought of those days...of her.

Shane’s hands tightened on the steering wheel of his pickup as he rounded a rising curve in the freeway, topped a hill, and the city of Reno, Nevada, came into view. The old memories always assaulted him for a while upon his arrival, and this time was no different.

He glanced in his rearview mirror at his brother, driving the pickup behind him and pulling the trailer that served as their home away from home while on the road.

Shane had thought about not coming to Reno this year. He hadn’t run into Kate the last couple of years he’d come, but this time he’d just had a feeling and thought about skipping this trip. That was before Widow Maker had gotten the better of him in Mesquite. That Brahma was one back-breaking, mean-spirited animal. He shifted gears as the freeway sloped downhill and the weight of his horse trailer pushed against the rear of the pickup. Now, after his failure to stay on Widow Maker, if he wanted to make it to the NFR Championships in Vegas and defend his title, he had no choice but to compete in Reno, and win.

He resettled the Stetson on his head, pushed at the aviator-style dark glasses that had slid a bit down the bridge of his nose, and rolled his shoulders, as if shrugging off all the things he didn’t want to think about. The past was dead, so there was no use wasting time thinking about it. He had to concentrate on his rides, on winning.

But he couldn’t keep his gaze from straying toward the hills south of the sprawling valley town, where the ranch Kate’s grandfather had left her was located.

Chapter 1

You understand no one else can know why you’re really here?

Kate nodded. Yes. Captain Aames’s orders were quite clear. She was undercover, in a place where there was sure to be at least a dozen people who had known her three years ago, and had known she was a cop. Her cover story was that she’d quit. Hopefully it would work.

The trailer’s entry door suddenly flew open and crashed against the wall.

Kate jerked around.

Dammit, Hodges, look at this. Shane Larrabee barged into the room and threw a dozen long, rust-covered tacks onto the surface of the arena manager’s desk.

Kate’s heart nearly stopped, and every muscle in her body went taut. She had known from the instant her boss had assigned her this case that this moment would come, that she’d have to face Shane again, but she’d been hoping it wouldn’t come quite so soon. A ragged breath pushed its way into her lungs.

If my horse had stepped on one of those things.... Damn, Jim, I don’t even want to think of what might have happened to him, Shane raged. You’ve got to do something before these pranks, attacks or whatever the blazes they are, really get out of hand.

I’m working on it, Hodges said.

Well, dammit, man, work faster. This is the third time in the past two days some yahoo’s tried to... As if suddenly aware there was a third person in the trailer, Shane glanced at Kate. The remainder of his tirade abruptly died on his tongue as his mouth hung agape. What the—? His gaze raked over her, while he struggled with the surprise of seeing her there. When she hadn’t come after him three years ago, and he hadn’t seen her at the Reno rodeo since, he’d figured never to see her again. At first it had depressed him, then angered him, and finally he’d convinced himself it was for the best. It would never have worked between them anyway.

Kate stood rigid, riveted by his stare. Past and present instantly came together like an explosive force.

She held her hands tightly clasped behind her, fingers twisting about one another, pressing hard, writhing nervously.

He hadn’t changed, and yet he had.

His dark blue eyes, staring at her from above a definite ridge of cheekbone and shadowed by the brim of the black Stetson that rode low on his forehead, were just as penetrating as ever.

Shane, this is Kate Morgan, Jim Hodges said, cutting through her thoughts. She’s new on the circuit. Just signed up for the barrel-racing competition.

On the circuit? Kate saw the confusion that flashed into Shane’s eyes, the frown that tugged at his brow.

She met his gaze and knew immediately it had been a near-fatal mistake. The hold she had on her composure at the moment was merely a thin thread at best, too fragile to challenge and steadily slipping from her grasp. She took a deep breath and tried to gather her emotional defenses.

It had been three years since he’d walked away. Three years since she’d seen him, heard his voice, looked into his eyes. But nothing had changed between them, she reminded herself. The reason he’d left, the reason she hadn’t gone with him, was still very much between them.

Kate took a deep breath in an effort to recapture some semblance of calm. She was on assignment. She had a job to do, and having Shane Larrabee around made no difference to her whatsoever.

His eyes threatened to devour her.

Kate, Jim Hodges said, jerking her attention back to the moment again, this is Shane Larrabee, the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association’s World Champion All-Around Cowboy, and from the way he’s been riding all season I’d bet on him taking the title again this year.

Kate forced a smile to her lips, and thrust a hand toward Shane, trying to ignore the fact that her legs felt suddenly weak. Yes, I’ve, um, seen you ride a few times. How do you do, Mr. Larrabee?

Shane’s eyes narrowed slightly. How do you do, Mr. Larrabee? He looked at her hand, and hesitated before finally reaching out to take it. Why was she acting as if they’d never met?

The moment his fingers wrapped around hers, the bottom dropped out of Kate’s stomach and the air in her lungs turned to fire. She mentally stiffened against it, drawing up her emotional barriers, and reminding herself, again, that nothing had changed between them.

Shane tipped his head. Barrel racing? he said quietly, his eyes never veering from hers.

She nodded, knowing the question that was uppermost on his mind and also knowing she couldn’t answer it. Yes.

His eyes appeared framed by a few more lines than she remembered, as was the mouth whose kisses had once sent her senses reeling. It was, and always had been, a face of both ruggedly carved lines and gentle curves, of boyish charm and maturity. A day’s dark stubble seemed somehow to enhance his good looks.

Memories crashed down on Kate.

His hair was still the dark, rich color of freshly turned earth, but now. hiding within the strands that curled raggedly over the tips of his ears and the collar of his shirt were a few strands of silver.

How many times had she slipped her fingers through that silky mass and felt it caress her flesh? Kate ground her teeth together, struggling to maintain her composure. Being sent here wasn’t fair. There were any number of other officers the Captain could have sent. She couldn’t be the only one on the entire Reno police force who had competed in the junior rodeo in her younger days, and still had horses.

Her gaze dropped to Shane’s shoulders. They seemed broader than she recalled, his waist a bit thinner, his legs longer, leaner.

Kate pulled her hand from his as casually as she could, and turned to look at the tacks Shane had thrown onto Jim Hodges’s desk. You found these in your horse’s stall? She picked one up and, turning it about between her fingers, examined it. Pretty nasty-looking.

We’ve been having a little problem the last couple of days, Jim Hodges said, but we’ve tightened our security. There shouldn’t be any more trouble. He waved a dismissive hand toward Kate. Nothing to worry about, Miss Morgan. Really. Probably just some bored teenager’s idea of fun anyway.

Kate knew Shane was watching her, could feel his gaze still on her, and knew she had to get out of that trailer. In spite of the portable air conditioner that was pumping full tilt, she could barely breathe.

Well, I’ll make certain to check my horse’s stall before I move her into it. Kate tossed the tack back onto the desk. So, if everything’s settled here, she said, trying to sound cheerful, I’ve got some gear to unload, a stall to find and a horse to get settled.

Before Hodges or Shane could say anything further, Kate threw them a hasty goodbye and sprang for the trailer’s door.

Shane whirled around and stared as it snapped shut behind her. What was going on? Why had she pretended they were strangers? And what was she doing on the circuit? Why hadn’t he heard anything about her competing before this?

Bright sunlight instantly hit Kate’s eyes and nearly blinded her as she stepped from the trailer.

I won’t have a cop for a wife, Kate. Give it up and marry me, or we’re through. The ultimatum he’d given her three years ago echoed through her mind, endlessly, mercilessly.

She put a hand out to the side of the trailer to steady her quaking body, telling herself her sudden dizziness was merely from the sun. But that didn’t account for the fact that her knees felt like melting rubber and she couldn’t seem to catch her breath. She pressed a hand to her stomach. It was upside down, and her heart was pounding so hard against her rib cage she was surprised it hadn’t exploded. She wanted to sag against the trailer and search for her composure, but she was too afraid it was gone forever.

More to the point, she was afraid Shane would come out while she was still there.

Several people passed. One woman in the group paused and looked back. You okay, honey? You look a little pale.

Kate nodded and smiled weakly. Fine, thanks. She pushed away from the wall and hurried stiffly across the open area toward where she’d left her Jeep Cherokee and horse trailer parked. He walked out on you, she mumbled to herself. Hasn’t contacted you in three years. Not a word. Not even a postcard. She glanced into the horse trailer to make sure Rain Dancer was still okay. He didn’t really love you, and you’re sure as all heck not in love with him anymore, she grumbled beneath her breath. She walked to the Jeep and jerked open her door. So, forget it. She climbed behind the steering wheel. "Forget him."

Of course, since she hadn’t been able to forget him in the three years he’d been out of her life, the idea of forgetting him now was obviously wishful thinking. Nerves, she told herself sternly, that’s all her reaction to seeing him again was. Nerves.

The moment her captain had handed her this assignment, and she’d realized she couldn’t get out of it, Kate had begun plotting ways to try to avoid running into Shane. She knew he’d be at the arena. Reno’s annual rodeo was one of the city’s biggest yearly events, and most cowboys aiming for the Championships in Vegas didn’t miss it.

After reading what little information there was available on the case, she’d realized avoiding Shane was going to be impossible. The stock and quite a few of the contestants had begun arriving two days ago. The incidents of sabotage had started almost immediately, and Shane had already been a victim three times.

Nerves, she snapped at herself. Kate jerked the key in the ignition and the engine squealed in protest. Cringing, she tried again, with a lighter hand. The engine purred to life and Kate shifted into gear and headed for the numerous rows of covered blue stalls that lined the eastern side of the rodeo grounds.

She could have tried to argue her way out of this case, but this would be her first plainclothes assignment since passing the detectives’ exam. If she wanted to have a chance of getting the next open spot in the detectives’ division, turning down assignments wasn’t the way to do it, especially after Captain Aames pointed out she was the only officer available with any rodeo experience.

She cursed her luck and pulled the Cherokee to a stop in front of the stall the arena manager had assigned her horse. What she needed to do was catch the saboteur quickly, and stay as far away from Shane Larrabee as possible.

She swallowed hard as thoughts of him filled her mind. Why did he have to come back to Reno anyway? Couldn’t he have made his points somewhere else? She’d purposely stayed away from the rodeo the past two years, just to avoid running into him, and she’d intended to do the same this year.

Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel. More to the point; why did there have to be a maniac sabotaging the rodeo anyway? Couldn’t he have been a normal nutcase and picked on the casinos?

She brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face and tried to push the memories of a tall, dark cowboy as easily from her mind. But it didn’t work.

Marry me, Red.

Kate closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself. What they’d had was in the past. She might still be attracted to him physically, but that was all. And even if there was more to it than that, it was still no good. She would never, ever make the same mistake her mother had made. Not for any man. She jerked open the door of the Jeep and walked around to the rear of her horse trailer. Let it go, she ordered herself harshly. It’s over. Finished.

Jim Hodges flipped open a ledger, ran his finger down the length of one page, and finally stopped near the bottom. He wrote something down, then looked up at Shane, who was still staring at the door Kate had exited through. Move your horse to stall 38A.

Shane stared at the door, lost in confusion and memories.

Larrabee! Hodges snapped.

Shane jerked around as Hodges’s voice sliced through thoughts of Kate that he didn’t want and shouldn’t be having. The past had rushed in on him the moment he saw her standing in Hodges’s office, bringing with it an avalanche of feelings he’d thought long dead and buried.

Move your horse to 38A, Hodges said again.

Shane stared at the arena manager. Move my horse? he echoed, forcing his mind back to the business at hand. What good is that going to do?

I don’t know that it’ll do any good. Hodges ran a hand through his rapidly receding, silver-streaked brown hair, and pushed back in his swivel chair. But it’s worth a try until we get to the bottom of whoever’s pulling these stunts. Especially since this is the third one directed against you. He threw his pen down on the desk. And for right now, it’s about all I’ve got.

Shane left the trailer, cursing under his breath. First these blasted incidents, and now Kate. Next time he’d follow his gut’s hunch, which had been telling him for days not to go to Reno. Dammit all. If anything happened to his horse before Hodges got his sorry rear off that chair and nabbed whoever was behind these damned attacks, someone was going to wish they’d never heard of Shane Larrabee. Then a thought struck him; was Kate there to investigate the things that had been happening? It made sense. But he didn’t want it to. He decided not to think about that. At least not right now. He needed to keep his concentration on the rodeo...on his rodeo...on making sure his horse and gear were safe.

A while later, after gathering his equipment and grumbling a bit at the change, he headed toward the new location. With his horse in tow, he paused behind a red-and-white horse trailer attached to the rear of a red Cherokee. Both were parked in the aisle between the stall buildings, and the trailer was blocking the door to Samson’s new stall.

Shane looked around. There were only two stall doors standing open nearby. One was directly across from where he stood, but he could see that the stall was empty. He moved around the trailer and Jeep to the other open door, which was just beyond the vehicle’s front bumper.

The most magnificently built Appaloosa mare he’d ever seen stood profile to him in the middle of the stall. Her ebony body seemed to shimmer richly, while the blanket of white hair across her rump was as pristine as newly fallen snow. She turned her head upon noticing Shane, then pawed the ground nervously with one front hoof.

Whoa, girl, someone said softly.

Shane frowned, seeing no one. He bent slightly and saw two booted feet and a pair of slender, jean-clad legs beyond the horse’s stomach. He rapped his knuckles on the stall’s metal door. Hey, excuse me. You mind moving your rig so I can open the gate to my horse’s stall?

Kate, in the process of brushing down Rain Dancer, froze upon hearing Shane’s voice.

Yo, excuse me? Shane said again, when he received no response.

Kate tossed the brush into a nearby pail and reluctantly straightened, looking at him over Dancer’s back. The urge to flee filled her immediately, but he stood in the doorway, so there was nowhere to go.

Sunlight at his back gave his image a dark, almost forbidding appearance. His face remained in shadow, shaded by the Stetson pulled low over his forehead, so that she couldn’t see his eyes, but she didn’t have to. She felt them, remembered what it was like to lose herself within them.

Something hot and gnawing coiled within the deeper