Cowboy to the Rescue by Stella Bagwell

wheel for a backrest.
    As night fell and the stars became visible in the wide Texas sky, Christina forgot about everything but Lex and sharing this part of his life, even if it was only for one night.
    After a while, Lex’s lips bent near to her ear. “Do you know what Eduardo is singing now?” he asked.
    The song was in Spanish, but since Christina knew the language fluently, she had no trouble following the lyrics. “He’s singing about a woman who ran away and left all her riches behind just to be with her lover—the gypsy Davey.”
    It was an erotic tune, especially for a trail song, and hearing it only made Christina more aware of Lex’s strong arm next to hers, his long legs stretched out in front of him. And before she could stop herself, her head listed sideways and nestled comfortably on his strong shoulder.
    Next to her ear, she heard him sigh, and the sound tumbled right through her heart.
    Â 
    By the time Sunday morning rolled around, Christina was still thinking about her night spent on the roundup. Lex had taken great pains to make her a comfortable bed an arm’s length away from his. She’d lain there in the dying firelight, gazing at his profile and thinking how exciting and full a life with him would be.
    But morning had brought reality back with a jerk. After a hasty breakfast, Lex had saddled up Leo for a day’s work, and she’d driven the truck back to the ranch to begin her diligent sifting through Paul Saddler’s papers. Since that time, she’d only spoken with Lex briefly. At that time he’d assured her he’d be ready for the trip to Corpus.
    This morning, as Christina waited for him to join her on the front porch, the temperature hovered near eighty degrees. Cool shorts and a halter top would have felt good, but she’d decided a simple cotton sheath splashed with flowers in pale yellow and lime green would be more appropriate.
    Since they’d be spending most of the day on the coast, she’d wondered if Lex would forgo his boots and jeans and hat, but when he finally appeared, she saw that the only concession he’d made was a white polo shirt. Even so, he looked rakishly handsome as he took his place behind the wheel of his personal truck.
    Christina wasn’t sure if the accelerated beat of her heart was due to his close presence or the fact that the two of them were headed out on an unpredictable journey.
    â€œYou haven’t forgotten anything, have you?” he asked as they passed under the huge entrance of the ranch yard.
    She patted a small briefcase lying on the console between them. “Addresses and photos are all here. And I’ve already called ahead and scheduled the boat charter. They’ll take us out at eleven. Or me out, if you prefer to stay ashore.”
    He glanced knowingly over at her. “I’m not about to let you go out alone on a boat with a group of strange men. Who knows what could happen.”
    His remark surprised her. She’d never expected him to want to protect her. Her parents certainly had never sheltered her. And even Mike, a veteran police officer, had never been particularly protective of her. He’d always believed she was capable of taking care of herself. And she liked to believe she was. Still, it was sweetly old-fashioned to have Lex wanting to be her defender.
    â€œIf I understood it right,” she told him, “there’ll only be one man accompanying me on the boat.”
    â€œThen I’m sure as hell going,” he said sharply. “You can’t trust anyone nowadays.”
    â€œI’m glad you’re going,” she admitted, then gave him a playful smile. “But who’s going to be my bodyguard when I go back to work in San Antonio?”
    Even though she’d been teasing, he didn’t look as though he was when he said, “Maybe you should just stay, instead.”

Chapter Six
    A n hour and a half later, the truck