The Cattleman by Angi Morgan

reflection. What little sunlight through the clouds there was bounced off a black halo of hair.
    Beth hadn’t had time to braid or pull her thick mane into a ponytail. It hung free, just below her shoulders, just below the boulder at his feet.
    “Nick. Nick.” She waved to get his attention. “We’ve got company.”
    “I’ve seen them. Did you get in touch with McCrea?”
    “The sheriff needs a location for a chopper to land.”
    There wasn’t any ridge close. He pulled the bridle off Applewine, slapped her on her behind and sent her down the path so she’d be safe. Joining Beth, they picked their way back to the trees. But there was no way out.
    Her mouth fell open when he unsaddled Rocket and let him loose to join the mare. He shrugged. “There’s no other way.”
    “There are lots of other ways. The first would be discussing it before you let our ride take off without us. Can we hide or are we making a run for it on foot?”
    “Not here, Beth. They’ll be on top of us any minute. And the last thing you want to do is shoot one of them.”
    “So you’re just giving up?”
    “We’re surrounded with no way out. Tell ’em.”
    Beth got on the radio and gave their location and his decision. “We’ll hold them off as long as we can.”
    He didn’t have nearly enough ammo for a gunfight. Neither did Beth. As soon as she announced they were giving up, he turned off the satellite phone and shoved it in Beth’s pocket.
    “Are we going somewhere?”
    “Down.”
    “But I thought—”
    “I said that in case they were listening.”
    “Cluing me in on your plans might be nice.” She stepped between the trees and around the large rock they’d grown around.
    “No time. Can we talk about this later?”
    “I’m supposed to be the big-time DEA agent and Mr. Rancher over here is...” Beth mumbled as she led the way.
    Nick couldn’t hear much of her complaints but got the gist. They were more about being caught unprepared than about him trying to save their behinds. That was just fine. She skidded along, grabbing rocks to slow herself, mad at their situation but not whining about it.
    Maybe it was time to admit that he liked her more than just a little. But this was not the time or the place to admit it to her. A rock fell and hit his shoulder.
    “Beth.” He pointed up and behind them. “They’re coming down.”
    “Then we need to move faster. Take the lead. I don’t suppose there’s a cave or even a...a large crevice close by that we can use for cover?”
    “Put your gun away. You need both hands for this. Stay close so I can get to you if you slip.”
    On a normal day, it would take several hours to just walk down the road to the bottom of this mesa. Coming straight down the side was dangerous. Very dangerous. They moved in silence. Breathing hard. No time for water. Their legs working overtime battling the steep descent.
    Beth’s legs were already sore from riding yesterday. She skidded, let out an “oh, no” and her hand landed in the middle of his back. He braced himself at her warning, catching a solid foothold and grip.
    “These boots were not made for climbing.” She brushed off the near fall with words, but she was stiff against the rock face.
    “You might lose one or two of those rhinestones,” he teased.
    “We might fall to the bottom. Do you think I’d be better off climbing barefoot?”
    “Better keep ’em on.” He smiled and knew he needed to quit teasing. He should be serious. They were in deep trouble with no way out.
    An avalanche of emotion dropped on his head like the rocks above them could at any moment. Thinking about the woman instead of the problem was a sure sign he liked Beth...a lot. Maybe too much.
    Of course it was too much.
    He anchored himself and held out his hand, ready for her to come to him. She hesitated, barely raising her arm. He latched on to her fingers and her feet moved slowly. He waited. Bodies close together, eyes level with his and wide with