[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
looking up at Stan and Anna.
Hi, yourself, Stan laughed. Like pigs do you?
They re okay. But they sure make a lot of noise when they don t want you to
catch them, Brie said thoughtfully.
The remainder of the group drew abreast of T.J. and his guests. We have
company, Gabby. These are friends of Reid s, Stan and Anna Jenkins. This is Gabby, or
I think that s her under the crud.
Gabby decided to brazen it out. She started to extend her hand, then thought
better of it. It s nice to meet you both.
You know, I ve heard about mud being good for the complexion. Is Wyoming
mud therapeutic too? Anna asked with a smile. Oh, she liked this young woman.
Anyone who could crawl around in mud, and then be presented to guests and act so
natural about it, had to be special. Reid was going to have his hands full with this young
woman and she had no doubt that he would love every minute of it too.
Best to be had, Gabby assured her laughing. Her small perfect teeth showed
white against her muddied face. No Marla type here, Gabby thought happily. This was a
warm intelligent woman and she liked her instantly.
Reid s told us a lot about you, Gabby. But he didn t mention that you were into
nature to this degree, Stan interjected.
Didn t you, Reid dear, Gabby said closing the small distance between them.
Before he could react, she jumped up wrapping her arms around his neck to give him a
warm but very muddy kiss. The kids began to giggle and the adults burst into laughter.
When the kiss ended, she tried to slide down his body, but he held her pressed to
his side with one strong arm. His face and clothing had absorbed some of the mud from
116
Autumn McCullah
hers. He looked deep into her eyes but he spoke to T. J. Isn t there a horse trough
around the corner?
Sure is. Help yourself," T. J. said with a twinkle in his eyes.
In the blink of an eye, Reid scooped Gabby up into his arms and headed around
the corner with the kids laughing and squealing behind him.
Reid McAllister, you put me down right now! Don t you dare& was as far as
she got before he unceremoniously dumped her into the trough. She came up sputtering
and brushing the hair from her face. You& you brute, she yelled at him splashing
water in his direction.
You didn t think your mother would let you back into the house covered in mud
like that, did you? I just did you a favor, piglet, Reid grinned cheekily. He leaned over
to rinse off his hands. Just then Kyle and Franklin leaped into the trough sending a wave
of water right into his face.
Gabby was pushed under the water but came up laughing and began to splash him
again. Reid jumped back just as Brie and James joined the others. There wasn t much
room in the trough with Gabby and all the kids but that didn t stop them from laughing
and splashing each other.
Stan and Anna stood back with T.J. to watch. Reid s friends were laughing so
hard that they had to dab at their eyes. Stan looked at Reid s filthy clothes now muddy
and wet and laughed all that much harder.
T.J. determined that most of the mud had washed off the kids so he stepped in
closer. All right now you little ones. Out of that trough and come with me. We ll see if
we can get you washed up and changed before your parents get here. Reid, I ll leave
Gabby to your care. With this he began herding the kids towards the house. Stan and
Anna left with him.
Dad! Gabby called but he didn t turn back. Then she looked at Reid and didn t
like that gleam in his eyes. You can just go home and get cleaned up too, McAllister. I
believe you and your mother are having dinner with us tonight, she stated trying to ease
up and out of the trough.
Not quite so fast, piglet, he said pushing her back down into the water.
Her eyes widened as he raised a leg over the side into the trough. What are you
doing?
Reid stepped into the now muddy water and sat down pulling Gabby forward to
rest against his chest. I m getting cleaned off, piglet. And since you put most of the
mud on me, you can help clean it off.
I will not, she snapped. Besides, Brie did some too!
But Brie is a child and didn t know any better. You did! Reid said drawing her
face up to his.
Reid I& His lips covered hers, swallowing whatever she had been about to say.
Gabby s mind shut down and her body took over. Running her hands through his thick
hair she pressed closer deepening the kiss. Bringing her knees up she straddled his
thighs.
Reid was on fire. Vaguely he wondered why the water wasn t boiling by now.
His large hand cupped the back of her head holding it captive as his lips moved boldly
over hers, loving their softness and taste that was uniquely Gabby. His other hand moved
117
Autumn McCullah
under the water to caress her nicely rounded bottom and, at the same time, pressed her
closer to his hardness.
Gabby had just begun to work at the buttons on his shirt when she heard a familiar
voice.
Jasper, think we ought to throw a bucket of ice on those two? Jeb cackled as he
led his horse out toward the south corral. Looks like Gabby girl has finally got herself a
man. Jeb had worked on the Stoner ranch for forty years. He d watched each of the
Stoner children grow up, and was particularly fond of Gabby.
Jeb s voice was like a dash of cold water for both Reid and Gabby. They broke
apart as if by mutual consent suddenly realizing where they were and what they d been
doing.
Gabby s cheeks were aflame. Embarrassment made her voice sharper than
intended. Will you get off me? she demanded.
Darlin , if you look down you ll see that this time you re the one on top, Reid
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]