Dusty awoke in Harper Bay’s arms.

“Shh,” he said. “Don’t try to talk. We’ve called 9-1-1, and one of the rodeo docs is on his way.”

9-1-1? That was silly. She was fine. She opened her mouth to voice this thought, but nothing came out.

“Can you understand me, Dusty?” Harper asked.

Again, no words would come. She tried to nod her head, but wasn’t sure if she was successful.

“I think she has a concussion.” Harper’s voice sounded distant, muffled.

“Let me take a look.” Another voice.

Then a blinding light in her eye. “Pupils are responding. That’s good. What was she doing on that bull, anyway?”

“Don’t know.”

Dusty tried to speak again, but failed.

“Well, she looks better than the other fella.”

“How’s he doing?”

“Gored pretty good in his thigh. He won’t be bronc busting for a while.”

Zach? Were they talking about Zach?

“But he’s okay, right?”

“Yeah, he’ll live. I cleaned him up as good as I could and sedated him, but he needs to go to the hospital for stitches and antibiotics. I’d like this little lady to go as well.”

No. No hospitals. Hospitals held only pain and death. Dusty opened her mouth to protest, but only a croak came out.

Please, not the hospital. Zach, I want Zach.

She drifted back into oblivion.

---

Dusty was dying of thirst. Her throat was parched. An iced tea would be heavenly. “Water?” she croaked.

Harper came to her quickly.

“Where am I?” she asked, her voice hoarse and raspy.

“The hospital, honey. You have a concussion.”

She looked down and was dressed in a horrid hospital gown. Lying in a hospital bed.

Her worst nightmare.

No IV, though. Thank God.

“Zach?”

“He’s here. He’s going to be fine.”

Thank God, thank God. “I don’t want to see him.”

“You don’t have to see anyone you don’t want to.”

She tried to sit up, but realized quickly what a bad idea it was.

“I don’t think so,” Harper said, gently pushing her back down.

“I need to call my brother.”

“I’ll call him.” He whipped out a cell phone. “What’s the number?”

No cell phone. “Just leave a message for him. We’re staying at the Holiday Inn downtown.”

“I’ll take care of it, honey. You just rest.” He brought her a glass of ice chips. “Here, suck on these. It’ll help.”

Ice chips. To Dusty, the sweet water trickling down her aching throat was nectar of the gods.

“Harper?”

“Yeah?”

“How long did I stay on?”

He chuckled softly. “Trust you to think of that right now.”

“Well?”

“You were awesome. You stayed on for six seconds.”

She closed her eyes. Not long enough. If she could only have made it for two more seconds…

Another failure.

She slept.

---

Runny scrambled eggs and a freaking knife in his thigh. Not Zach’s ideal breakfast. The coffee sucked, too. Spending the night in the hospital during the stock show and rodeo was not on his agenda for these two weeks. All because of one stubborn, beautiful woman. He was madder than old Diablo himself. Thank God she was all right, though. He’d gotten a positive report from his morning nurse.

“Never fear, coffee’s here!” Chad bellowed in his deep voice as he walked through the door, carrying two large Starbucks cups and an Einstein Bros Bagels bag. “Couldn’t abandon you to hospital food, brother.”

“You’re a goddamned saint, Chad,” Zach said, pushing his tray away. “Bring that stuff here. Please.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Been better.” Zach took a long slow drink of coffee.

“I called Ma. She’s on her way.”

“Hell, she doesn’t need to come out here for this.”

“She was going to come tomorrow, anyway, for your bronc busting. Guess we can count that out now, huh?”

Zach sighed. “I guess you’ll be the only one bringing home prize money this year, little brother.”

“Yeah, I guess so. I’m real sorry this happened, Zach.”

“Don’t be.”

“What was the twerp thinking?”

“Don’t know.” Zach winced as he shifted, his leg burning. “She had just screwed up her barrel race.”

“Yeah, I saw it. Damn shame. She looked good. Real good.”

“She sure did. What I saw of it, anyway.”

“You weren’t watching?”

“I was, but Angelina wouldn’t leave me alone. She kept cackling in my ear like a goddamned prairie chicken. Then she…”

“She what?”

“She kissed me.”

Chad’s jaw dropped. “Whoa.”

“You’re telling me. I don’t know what the hell she wants. She broke up with me. Not that I cared all that much. I feel like a heel for missing Dusty’s race.”

“Damn, bro, you’re really whipped aren’t you?”

Zach’s heart lurched, but he forced his face into what he hoped was a nonchalant expression. Him? Whipped? “I wouldn’t say that.”

Chad chuckled. “I would.”

“If only I understood her. Something’s bothering her, I just know it. And this whole thing with Diablo. Why in the hell is she so obsessed with that bull?”

“It might have something to do with the half mil purse you’ve got on his head,” Harper Bay said, entering the room. “Morning, Zach. How are you feeling?”

“Like shit.”

Harper grinned. “If it’s any consolation, you look like shit too.”

Zach ignored the insult and took a deep breath. “I’ve got a score to settle with you for letting the fool girl get on that bull, but that’ll have to wait. What were you saying about the half mil purse?”

“Look, I tried to stop her, but—”

“Later, damn it. What about the purse?”

Harper cleared his throat. “I think she needs money.”

Zach took a deep breath. He’d been thinking the same thing. Sharing a Holiday Inn room with her brother, no cell phone. “What makes you say that?”

“Just a hunch. That and the fact she sold me her barrel racing mare yesterday.”

Zach nearly jumped out of his bed, the jolt sending a sharp pain through his wound. “Damn. That hurt.”

“You need to simmer down, Zach,” Chad said. “You’re supposed to be taking it easy. You’d better cooperate if you want to get out of here this afternoon.”

“She sold you her mare?”

“Yeah. I talked with her after her race. Told her I was looking to buy a horse for Catie, and hers was the best I’d seen. Drove a hard bargain, too. She wouldn’t let the mare go until I offered seventy-five K.”

Zach shook his head. “Dusty loves animals. I can’t believe she’d sell one of her own.”

“Like I said”—Harper sat down in a chair by the bed—“I think she needs the money.”

“I need to see her,” Zach said. “Help me out of the damn bed, Chad.”

“See her?” Chad shook his head. “You’re not mad at her?”

“Are you crazy? I’m mad as shit. But something’s going on, and I want to see her.”

Chad’s gaze drifted to Zach’s bandage. “You can’t put weight on that leg.”

“Then I’ll fucking hop, damn it.” He grimaced as a dart shot through his thigh. “Now get over here and help me.”

“Zach…” Harper cleared his throat.

“What?”

“I think I should tell you. She doesn’t want to see you.”

“Excuse me?”

“I was just with her. She’s doing well.” Harper hedged and cracked his knuckles. “She’ll be leaving later today.”

“What the hell were you doing with her?” Zach demanded.

“Just visiting. Her brother’s with her now.”

“Well, I’m going to see her.”

“I think it would be best—” Harper began.

“I don’t give a bloody damn what you think, Bay. I want to see my woman!”

“Your woman?”

Zach winced. His woman? Where had that come from? He was mad at the little fool. Still, the words echoed through to his soul. His woman. “Yeah. You got a problem with that?”

“No.” Harper shook his head. “It’s just that she led me to believe she was available, that’s all.”

Zach tensed. Harper was interested in Dusty. He could smell it. He felt like a wolf, fierce and possessive, with another male sniffing around his mate. The thought of Harper’s hands on his woman made him want to throttle the guy.

“She’s not.” His voice was low, feral.

“All right. Jesus.” Harper rose from his chair. “I think it’s only fair to tell you, though, especially if you’re involved with someone else. Angie thinks she’s gonna start things up with you again.”

“She made her intentions clear at your party. I told her I’m not interested.”

“Good enough,” Harper said. “For me, that is. But Angie’s used to getting what she wants, and what she wants right now is you.”

“She can’t have me.”

“I understand. Just don’t expect her to accept no for an answer.” Harper walked out the door, but turned his head and looked back. “Honestly, I’m glad you’re okay, Zach.”

“What are you standing there for?” Zach said to Chad. “I told you. I want to see my woman.”

“Your woman is the reason you’re in that hospital bed, Zach.”

“I don’t care. She’s mine, and I want to see her.”

Chad rolled his eyes. “I never thought I’d see the day. Fine. But don’t you dare get up. I’ll go get you a wheelchair.”

Chad had no sooner left the room when Angelina trotted in, followed by Dallas and Chelsea. “Oh, God,” Zach said under his breath.

“You poor thing,” she gushed. “I came as soon as I could. How are you feeling?”

“Like shit.”

She sat down on the edge of the bed and pushed his hair out of his eyes. He flinched.

“What can I do for you, sweetie pie?”

“Nothing. Chad’s here, and my ma’s on her way. I don’t need anyone else fawning over me.”

“Surely there’s something I can do.”

“Nothing.” Zach sipped his coffee, which was now lukewarm.

“Now, Zach, Angie’s just trying to help,” Chelsea said.

“And I don’t need her help, Chelsea.”

“Honey, why don’t you and Angie wait outside for a minute,” Dallas said. “I want to talk to my brother alone.”

“Christ,” Zach said, as the women left. “What is it?”

“Are you going to believe me now?”

“About what? Dusty being no good for me?” Yes, the woman had gotten herself and him injured, and yes, he was mad, but no way in hell would he clue Dallas in on that fact. “No, I’m not.”

“She got on your bull without permission. She could have been seriously hurt, and she would have sued us, and—”

“First of all, she’s okay, thank God,” Zach said. “And secondly, she wouldn’t have sued us. She doesn’t have a malicious bone in her body.”

“She needs money, Zach.”

“So? Who doesn’t?”

“You don’t, for one, and she knows it.”

“If she wanted my money, she wouldn’t be sneaking off with my bull.” Zach shifted, and winced. “She’d be trying to trap me into marriage, like Chelsea did to you.”

Dallas’s mouth thinned into a grim line. “That’s hitting below the belt, little brother. Chelsea didn’t trap me. I wanted to marry her.”

“You know as well as I do the Beaumonts were in financial trouble. Chelsea didn’t want to give up her heiress ways, so she married money. You.”

“We were in love.”

“Were? Past tense, Dallas?”

“Are. I meant are.” Dallas fidgeted with his Rolex.

Zach knew he’d hit a nerve. “Right. Whatever. Dusty is nothing like Chelsea.” He spied Chad in the doorway with a wheelchair. “Chad’s taking me on an…errand.”

“I’ll be here when you get back.”

“Please, don’t be.” He grimaced as Chad helped him into the chair. Zach didn’t look back as Chad wheeled him out of the room, IV rack in tow.

---

“This coffee is awful,” Chelsea said, wrinkling her nose.

“I know. I hate hospitals. They’re full of…sick people.” Angelina examined her manicured nails.

“Right now this one is full of the man you want as your husband,” Chelsea said, “so you’d better get used to being here.”

“I know, I know.” Angelina sighed. “This is turning out to be a more difficult project than I had anticipated. With that little trashy cowgirl hanging around him. And now she’s put him in the hospital.”

“It’s too bad your little trick didn’t work.”

“You’re telling me. That stupid flare gun recoiled and gave me a nasty charley horse in my arm.”

“You didn’t spook the bull?”

“I spooked him all right. And she landed on her butt and just sat there crying. I was afraid she’d really been hurt, and I freaked out a little. I never wanted to hurt her.”

Chelsea scoffed. “Why not?”

Angelina looked at her friend’s perfectly made-up face and saw something she wasn’t sure she liked. Did Chelsea really want to see Dusty hurt? The little cowgirl was trashy, sure, but she didn’t deserve that. “I didn’t stick around to see what happened, but she raced today, so obviously she was fine.”

“It didn’t keep her away from the bull then.”

“No, and consequently, it didn’t keep her away from Zach.”

“Well…you and Zach have a history. Can’t you seduce him?”

“Tried it. I kissed him during the barrel race. I thought he was going to respond at first, but he pushed me away. Said he was sorry, but it was over.”

“Hmm.” Chelsea raised her perfectly plucked brows. “How was he in bed?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Nothing.” Chelsea grinned, her lined lips curving upward. “I’m just curious.”

“He was great, actually. I always thought things were good between us. How’s Dallas?”

“He’s a cowboy, like Zach.”

Angelina didn’t push, although Chelsea was obviously evading the question. One only had to look at Dallas to know he was a stud in bed. He was as good looking as Zach, only more rugged. If only he weren’t married—

She stopped that thought abruptly. Chelsea was her friend, after all. She cleared her throat. “So what can I do now?”

“What about Harper? He seems interested in her.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“He couldn’t keep his eyes off of her at your party. Didn’t you notice?”

“Not really.”

“And he was with her when she rode the bull today. If you get him interested in her…”

“You want me to sell out my baby brother for a man?”

“Well”—Chelsea’s mouth curled into a smirk—“sometimes, when the stakes are high, one has to up the ante a little.”

“But Harper?” Angelina shook her head. She had been willing to spook a bull, but sacrifice her brother to some low-class rancher girl? Of course, Chelsea did have a point about the stakes. She wanted Zach McCray. And Harper could charm the pants off just about anyone.

“Exactly what do you have in mind?”

Chelsea winked at her. “Come on. Let’s go shopping. There’s a sale on shoes at Nordstrom.”

“And?”

“And my mind is always at its best when I’m trying on shoes.”

---

Dusty lay on her hospital bed. “I don’t want to see him.”

“I understand,” Harper said, standing next to the chair where Sam sat. “I just thought I should let you know he seemed downright determined to see you.”

“What’s the problem, Dust?” Sam asked. “You do owe him an explanation, don’t you think? You hijacked his bull and put him in the hospital.”

“I was perfectly fine. He didn’t need to come charging in like a knight in shining armor. I wasn’t some damsel in distress. I had Diablo under control.”

Sam clenched his fists together. “I still can’t believe you let her get on that bull, Bay.”

“She was on the bull by the time I got there. It would have been more dangerous for me to interfere.”

“You didn’t have to unlatch the gate.”

“I know.”

Dusty recognized the anger in Sam’s eyes, but none of this was Harper’s fault. “I made him, Sam.”

“Right. You had a gun to his head.”

“Your brother’s right, Dusty,” Harper said. “I never should have unlatched the gate. But—”

“No buts,” Sam said.

“You’re right. It was just something in her voice.”

“You’re both nuts,” Sam said.

“He’s right,” Dusty said. “About me needing to be with Diablo.”

“Whatever.”

“Hey,” Harper said, “I just came by to warn you that McCray’s on his way. I’m glad you’re feeling better, Dusty. Hope to see you out on the grounds soon.”

“I’ll be there tomorrow.”

“No, you won’t, young lady,” Sam said, his tone parental.

“Why not? I’m perfectly fine.”

“You’re recovering from a concussion.” Her brother shook his head. “If I have to get the doctor to tie you down, I will.”

Dusty huffed. Sam was right, of course. There’d be no more competing, either. She’d blown it big time. No winnings, and she had lost Regina. And there was the problem of that phone call, which she hadn’t told Sam about yet. “Fine.”

“Now you’re talkin’ some sense,” came a voice from the doorway. Zach wheeled himself into the room with one arm, dragging his IV stand with the other.

He had an IV. Dusty’s heart collapsed, and she looked away, concentrating on the figures of Harper and Sam.

“If you’ll excuse us, Harper, Sam, I’d like to speak to Dusty.”

“That’s up to her, I think,” Harper said.

“Damn it, Bay—”

Sam grabbed Harper’s shoulder and ushered him out. “You’re entitled to a few minutes, Zach,” he said, “but don’t upset her.”

“The last thing I want is to see her upset.” Zach wheeled himself over to Dusty’s head. Once Chad had shut the door, Zach leaned over and kissed Dusty’s forehead. “Thank God you’re all right.”

Dusty’s throat tensed. He was going to be nice to her. It would be so much easier if he were angry. He had a right to be. As upset as she was with him, she hadn’t had the right to ride Diablo without his permission.

“I’m sorry,” she said meekly.

“I know.”

“Why aren’t you mad?”

He chuckled. “I am mad. My thigh hurts like a mother, I can’t compete, and someone I care about is hurt due to her own stupidity.”

“Hey—”

“Sorry, darlin’, but getting on Diablo all by yourself like that was stupid, and you know it. Even I can’t believe it, but I’m just so relieved you’re not seriously injured.”

Dusty gulped, tears forming in her eyes. Why did he have to look so wonderful? His hair was tousled and sexy, his face unshaven and rugged, and he wore green flannel pajama pants and a silk robe. She was still furious with him, yet she burned for him. Her entire body trembled at his nearness.

“It’ll be okay,” Zach said.

“No.” She sniffed. “Nothing’s okay.”

“I’ll make it okay. I swear it.”

“You can’t.”

“I can. I want to. If you’ll just tell me—”

“No!” Dusty’s pulse quickened. “I-I’m glad you’re okay, Zach. I never wanted you to get hurt. But you can’t help me. Just go away. I don’t want you here.”

“Damn it, Dusty. Why won’t you let me in?”

Let him in? Oh, that was a good one. “I did. I did let you in. I let you into my body.”

“I’m not talking about your body.”

“I am. I gave you something I’d never given anyone, something that was mine to give only one time. I did it gladly. I wanted it. But you…you… Oh!” She turned over, away from him.

Within seconds, he had wheeled himself to the other side of the bed. “Darlin’, what is it? Do you need money?”

How humiliating. “You think this is about money? You’re infuriating!”

“Dusty—”

She clenched her fists. “I lost the barrel race because of you!”

“Me?”

“I lost my horse. I can’t rope tomorrow. And I only stayed on Diablo for six seconds. Six seconds, Zach! That’s three seconds longer than you’ve been able to ride him. But it’s still two seconds short, isn’t it? So I don’t get the purse, do I?”

“If you need the money, I’ll gladly give you the purse.”

“You will, huh? A cool half mil. Is that what a twenty-three-year-old virgin is worth these days? Makes me a damned expensive whore, doesn’t it?”

God, she had gone too far. His blue eye darkened, and his brown eye smoked. Anger. Raw, crazy wrath. Well, let him be angry then. He should be. She had gotten him hurt. She was no stranger to anger, herself. She was damned mad at him. Damned mad at the whole world.

“You’re so determined to push me away.” His voice cracked. “Fine, I can take a hint.” His hands clamped onto the wheels of his chair, his knuckles white with tension.

“Don’t you get all high and mighty with me,” she said. “I’m not the one who was making out with Angelina yesterday. That was you. And during my race!”

His eyes softened. “You saw that?”

“Yeah, I saw that, and I lost because of it.”

“Oh, God, darlin’.”

“Don’t call me that. It’s nothing but a lie. Now get out.”

“But if you’ll let me explain—”

Sam opened the door and walked in. “You need to leave now, Zach. She’s all upset.”

“I’m not done talking with her.”

“Yeah, you are. For now. Go on.”

When Zach looked back at her, Dusty looked away. He didn’t argue any more with Sam. “I’ll come by to see her later.”

“Maybe not a good idea. There’ll be plenty of time for you all to talk when you’re both in better condition.”

“All right.” The door closed with a gentle whoosh, and Zach was gone.

Her mattress sank as Sam sat down next to her. “I’m sorry, Dust.”

She sniffed. “No matter.”

“What is this really about?” He took her hand.

For a moment, Dusty flashed back seventeen years, to the day their father had told them about their mother’s terminal condition. Sam had grabbed her small hand and rubbed her palm with his thumb, like he was doing now. His thumb was callused now. She swallowed hard.

“Is it the money?” Sam said. “Because if it is, stop worrying about it. That old ranch isn’t worth it. We’ll be fine.”

Dusty swallowed. The time had come to tell him. “The ranch may not be worth it, Sam. But my life is. The hospital called yesterday. My white cell count is up.”