“Really?That sounds like fun.”

“Howlong are you in town for?”

“Theconference is over in a couple of days.”

“Soyou’re flyin’ or drivin’ homeafterward?”

“Flying,yes.”

Hegot quiet for several minutes as the horse continued to walk along under hisexpert guiding hand. “What kind of books do you write?”

There it was. “Westerns.”

“Ohyeah? Like cowboys and Indians? Louie L’Amour type stuff?”

Sheshook her head and almost unseated herself from the back of the horse. Afistful of his shirt kept her in place. “No. Like cowboys and the love of theirlives. I write erotic modern westerns.”

“Interestin’.”

Thehouse came into view and she sighed in relief. She’d be able to get off theback of the horse shortly, but it also meant giving up sitting behind Joel andremoving her hands from his magnificent chest.

Asthey rode into the yard, she could see what appeared to be a main house andseveral smaller cabins of some sort. She assumed this is where the guestsstayed. A large corral sat in the back of the biggest building where severalhorses stood. A handful of cowboys hung around the front of the tack room.

Oneguy stepped forward, taking the reins of the horse as she slid off the leftside. “Hey, Joel. Where’d you pick up a rider?”

“Behaveyourselves,” Joel answered, swinging down from hissaddle. “This is a lady whose car stalled out near the north pasture line.Mesa, these are some of my brothers, Joseph, Jackson and Josh. Guys, this isMesa.”

“Howdy,ma’am,” Joseph said, tipping his hat.

Wow, twins? “Doyou all always call every woman ma’am?”

“Yes,ma’am,” Jackson replied. “Our mama would skin our hides if we didn’t.”

“Well,call me Mesa, please. I feel old when you call me ma’am.”

“So.”Josh moved closer, taking her hand and slipping it through the crook in hiselbow. “How did a beauty like you get stuck with Joel?”

“Uh…”she stammered slightly as she blushed from the attention.

“Enough,Joshua. I’m taking her into the house so Mom can help herinto some dry clothes,” Joel said, taking her hand from his brother andcapturing it within the warmth of his own. Tingles started in her fingers andworked their way up her arm. She frowned at the sensation. Surely she wasn’tattracted to Joel other than being grateful for his rescue? Why the hell not? I fantasize about cowboysall the time. He’s the finest specimen of a cowboy I’ve ever seen.

“Don’tmind them, Mesa. They’re all bachelors. When a pretty woman gets within fiftyfeet of them, they can’t help but drool and act like idiots.”

He thinks I’m pretty?“Thank you for the compliment.”

“It’strue. Anyway, let’s get you inside and dry.”

“Youdon’t have to do that. My clothes are almost dry now from the heat.”

“I’msure you could use something to drink and to at least dry your shoes. I canhear ’em squishing from here.”

“True.”She laughed as she wiggled her wet shoe. “I would be nice to put them in adryer along with my socks. I’ll probably get blisters.”

“Momwill try to feed you too since it’s almost supper time around here.”

“Ihope I’m not taking you from your chores. You said you were checking fenceswhen you found me.”

“It’llbe fine,” he said as they walked toward the large, house-like structure. “Wedon’t work on any time schedule.”

Builtout of what appeared to be logs and flagstone, the house boasted three hugedormers, a porch the size of a football field stretching across its front, andhuge, wooden doors on the side they were headed toward. Joel held the door asshe made her way into the dining room. Several picnic tables lined the hugeroom. Each one gleamed from the sunlight now pouring in through the big windows.Rough wood paneling lined the walls with a brand burned into several boards—TRwith a circle around it. Huh. Interesting. Iwonder what it stands for?

“ThunderRidge.”

He read my mind?

“It’sthe brand our cattle wear too.”

“It’sreally cool you have it burned into the wood on the walls.”

Thesmell of cooking food floated to her nose. Her stomach growled impatiently whenshe realized she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Joel grinned and her heartflipped over in her chest. Damn, he has asexy smile. He could probably melt butter with that grin.

Withher hands still encased in the warmth of his, he tugged her along toward a roomin the back. “Come on. We’ll get you something dry to wear, put your shoes inthe dryer, and get you some food.” As they approached the back of the dininghall, she noticed a small office built into the back of the huge room. Thewoman taping away at the computer screen seemed oblivious to their presenceuntil Joel said, “Mom?” Mesa could see where Joel got his black hair. The cascadinglength only added to the woman’s stunning beauty.

“Heybaby.” She glanced up with the same blue eyes that Joel had and stared. “What’cha got there?”

“Ifound her out on the road with her car stalled.”

Indignationruffled her ego, causing her back stiffened. They were making her sound likesome lost puppy or something.

“Well,welcome to Thunder Ridge. I’m Nina Young. This here is my son,or one of them anyway.” She held out her hand and when Mesa took it, she pumpedit several times.

“MesaArraguso. I’m sorry to intrude.I don’t want to make you feel like you’re taking in a lost stray.”

“Nonsense.No intrusion. We love company. It’s why we run a dude ranch.” Nina looked ather clothes and said, “Oh my. You’re soaked, honey. Let’s get you something dryto put on. You look about my size. I’m sure I have something that will fit.”Nina shuffled her out of the office leaving Joel standing in the doorway. “Comewith me.”

Ninawalked her through another huge room with an enormous fireplace standing fromfloor to ceiling and almost wall-to-wall. Large leather couches invited peopleto sit in front of a roaring fire, should there be one blazing away. Not today,though.

Mesafollowed Nina toward the back of the room and down another long hallway with adoor marked private. Mustbe the family’s quarters.

“Whaton Earth were you doing out on a back road like ours?”

“Runningout of gas.”

“Ohmy, really?”

“Yes.I took a drive and my GPS got lost. Did you know some of these roads aren’t onthe thing?”

Ninalaughed. “Oh yes. Our road doesn’t exist on most of them because it’s on ourland. We maintain it ourselves.” Mesa continued to follow Nina toward a set ofdouble doors at the end of the hall. “We should be able to find you somethingto wear. Would you like jeans or a dress?”

“Anythingis fine. I really appreciate this.”

Theroom looked rustic with its wood walls, large bed, and wooden dresser along theleft wall. Paintings depicted different flower arrangements of pinks andpurples, matching the floral comforter on the bed. A couple of good sizedwindows overlooked what appeared to be a garden with roses, lilacs, and severalother species of flowers she didn’t recognize.

“We’llget you something.” Nina opened a door to the right, exposing a huge walk-incloset with rows of clothes hanging on each side. Everything was color codedwith yellows together, blues together, and so on.

“Damn.”

“Ihave a thing for clothes. My husband calls it an obsession.” She shrugged. “Whatcan I say, I love to shop, although most of this nevergets worn since we live out here on the ranch. I’m usually in jeans.” Ninagrabbed a red sundress off the rack. “This should fit you. Plus, red would lookfabulous on you with your black hair.” With a tilt of her head, she looked Mesaover from head to toe. “Do you have Native American blood?”

“Yes.Somewhere in my past, anyway. I’m not sure how farback.”

“Ah.”Nina handed her the dress before she walked to the window to look out. “You’relucky to have received the thick, dark hair of your heritage like some of mysons did from me. I am a quarter Choctaw.”