Looking up at his tall, shadowed figure, Shiloh saw his eyes were warm. And it fed her heart and soul. Reaching out, she slid her hand into his gloved one. She could feel him monitoring the strength of his holding her fingers, careful not to hurt her. “Where are we going?” she asked, coming to her feet.
Roan released her hand. Didn’t want to, but there you go. He had to or else. “There’s a flower meadow not far from here,” he said, gesturing with his finger. “I thought it might cheer you up. This time of year, the early flowers are blooming.” Instantly, he saw happiness flood her green eyes, those gold flecks set deep within them. His heart raced momentarily. Damn, but it made him feel good to know how easily he affected Shiloh in a positive way. And then Roan wondered what her eyes would look like if he kissed her. He knew how to love a woman. Knew how to give her pleasure that would float her off into that treasured space where lovers went.
“I’d like that,” she said, her voice strengthening. “Are you sure it’s okay? I know you said you had to ride fence line today.”
Always thinking of others first. It was a good way to be and it only made Roan like her that much more. He placed his hand lightly in the small of her back, guiding her toward Charley. “It will be all right,” he reassured her. Roan saw the instant worry replaced with excitement. “Better keep your cell phone ready when we get there. You’ll probably be taking more than one photograph.”
Grateful that Roan helped her mount up, she took the reins from his hand, looking down at him. “I love flowers. How did you know? Did Maud tell you that?” He stood with his large hand on Charley’s rump, the other resting against the swell of her saddle. He was larger than life, a quiet, intense cowboy with those warm gray eyes that continued to thaw her frozen soul. Shiloh was amazed that he was allowing her to see the real Roan Taggart. It left her breathless.
“No, Maud didn’t tell me.” He smiled a little and patted Charley’s neck. “Just a feeling.”
She watched him walk over to his large black gelding, gathering up the reins. Both rider and horse were lean, tight, and in top athletic condition. Her lower body was simmering with need. Her skin still skittered in memory of his touch. For a man who was so rugged, he had a gentle touch. When looking at Roan’s hard, weathered face, Shiloh would never have dreamed he had tenderness within him. Taking a ragged breath, she clucked to Charley as he led the way around the hill.
*
The wildflower meadow was a special place. Roan always liked it because it was on the property where the cabin was being built. Before, he wasn’t going to tell Shiloh about his cabin or even let her know it was on the Wind River ranch property. Now something in him moved him to show it to her. Roan didn’t know why, only that he sensed it would make her happy. The tragedy she carried within her ran her life; now she was targeted again, only this time by a stalker. He wanted to ask her more but he’d upset her enough for one day. Roan would choose another time, a better one, to try to get her thoughts.
They rounded the hill and the meadow was on a slight slope downward onto a basin area of the valley floor. To the left, less than a quarter of a mile away, stood his half-finished log cabin. In the morning light, the slats of sun made the cedar logs on the eastern side of his cabin glow like newly minted gold coins. He had drawn back a bit, riding half a horse length behind Shiloh, watching her. The gently sloping meadow was filled with many kinds of newly blooming wildflowers. The dew was still thick on the lush grass that the horses walked through, sparkling like rounded bits of tiny rainbows as a breeze rippled across the area.
Roan heard a soft gasp escape Shiloh as he watched her slowly pan and take in the color across the meadow. He pulled up, absorbed in her discovery of the flowers peeking out among the long and short strands of grass. Only able to see her profile, he went hot as her mouth curved upward. She pulled Charley to a stop and twisted around in the saddle, catching his studied gaze.
“This is incredible, Roan!” she gasped. Shiloh saw him nod, the corners of his mouth tipping upward as he dismounted and dropped the reins to his horse. The warm sunlight felt good, the light strong. His face was shadowed as he walked up beside her horse, putting his hand on his rump.