Fancy stood on the front porch with the others to watch Domino come down the ridge toward home, driving a big black bull ahead of him. She stood just behind and to the right of King, close enough for her skin to tingle at his nearness. For the past two days, since Gentry and Clay had left, things seemed to change between them. They’d been dancing around one another, playing their own version of hide-and-seek. While her awareness of him had only increased, he seemed to go out of his way to avoid her. No one had to tell her that something needed to break, things couldn’t go on the way they were.

“Domino!” King hailed their friend. “Looks like he’s leading you home, not the other way around.”

Heading out into the yard, they all went out to greet the cowboy, who looked weary from his journey. “Be careful around him, Diablo’s got a temper.”

“Oh, he’s beautiful,” Fancy whispered, already enamored with the large bovine. “He doesn’t deserve such a harsh name. He’s a Black Beauty.”

Jericho chuckled. “Fancy, if you call that bull, Beauty, you’ll emasculate him. He won’t ever father any calves.”

“Masculine men can be very beautiful, I think,” Fancy said softly and to the other men’s delight, King blushed. No one said anything, but there were more than a few under-their-breath snickers.

“He sure got a lot of attention when I took him off the train. He drew quiet a crowd, men ganging around him, all trying to get a closer look. That bull is going to be the envy of the territory,” Domino said as he dismounted. Jericho and Boone stepped forward to lead the bull to the barn and Fancy took off after them, anxious to make friends with the animal. As she ran, laughing on her way, Domino’s eyes followed her. “Damn, the awkward duckling has turned into a right-pretty swan.”

King ignored Domino’s comment. “I’m about ready for this cast to come off. Will you check it out later?”

“Sure will, I can’t wait to examine the construction. I bet Fancy can teach me a thing or two.”

“Maybe. Was the payout for the drive what we expected?”

Domino removed a leather pouch from his belt, which was held tight by a metal chain. “We lost a half dozen along the way, which was to be expected, but the price per head was good. After I paid everyone and bought the bull, we still came out ahead of what you wanted. I was pleased.” He handed the pouch to King.

“What about the cook?”

Domino eyed him funny, but answered the question. “I did talk to Rodriguez about coming to work for us. He has one more cattle drive to make, then he said he’d stop by and check things out on his way home to San Antonio. The man’s in demand, I’m not sure we can pay what he wants.” He gestured toward the barn. “Fancy’s not working out?”

“Oh, she works herself to death. Cooperative. Unselfish. Bends over backwards to do whatever she thinks I want.” King let out a harsh breath. “I just think it would be better for everyone concerned if she found some place more suitable.”

“Well, I did as you asked about Rodriguez, Captain.” Domino clapped King on the shoulder. “But I must say, I think you’re being a fool.”

“You might be right. Come on in the house and tell me all about the drive.”

…Fancy hung over the side of the stall as Boone and Jericho fed and watered the newest member of the family. “I bet he’s glad to get here.”

“Be careful, Fancy,” Boone warned. “We don’t know what kind of disposition he has yet.”

Hanging over the side, with her arm outstretched, she giggled as the big animal licked her palm. “Oh, he’s a sweetheart, aren’t you, Beauty?”

Jericho grinned at Boone. “She’s gonna ruin him. He’s gonna be a puppy dog instead of a bull.”

Climbing down, she ran to check on her other charge, the small bull calf whose mother died giving birth. “How are you, Little John?”

“Little John? What kind of name is that for a bull? When he grows up are you going to change it to Big John?” Boone loved to give Fancy a hard time.

“Maybe,” she giggled, “but the name isn’t a reference to his size, Little John is the legendary outlaw friend of Robin Hood. He was Robin’s chief lieutenant and second-in-command of the Merry Men. In his case, Little John’s name was ironic, because he was gigantic, over seven-foot-tall and highly skilled with the bow and quarterstaff.”

“King’s always loved Robin Hood, he used to call us his Merry Men, cheered us up when we would be facing another battle,” Boone remembered. “You’ll have to ask him about it sometimes.”

“I will.” Sometimes. If he ever stayed in the same room with her for any length of time. “I guess I’d better go finish the meal. Domino will be hungry.”

“All right, but try not to spoil these animal, Miss Fancy. They won’t be worth a plug nickel.”

“I’ll try,” she promised. “I just love so hard, sometimes I can’t keep it all inside.”

“And if you come back later, be sure to shut the gate and the stall doors. We’re not going to let this one run loose on the open range. He’s worth too much money. We’ll be bringing the ladies into the barn or the corral to visit him. If he were to get loose, he’d take off into the hills and maybe run into that cougar. We wouldn’t want that to happen.”

“No, we wouldn’t. I’ll be careful,” she assured them.

Boone and Jericho watched her go.

“She’s something else,” Boone muttered. “I’ve never met a woman like her.”

“Someday we will,” Jericho said solemnly, “someday we will.”

When Fancy arrived at King’s cabin, she headed for the kitchen, intent on putting the final touches on the celebration meal she’d prepared for Domino’s return. Upon entering the kitchen, she saw Domino using a hand saw to remove King’s cast. “Oh, do you need some help?” she asked, running to offer her assistance.

“No, I have it,” Domino told her. “I must say, this is as fine a cast as I’ve ever seen. You’ll have to give me your recipe.”

“Gladly.” She knelt down next to them, so as to see better. “How does it look?”

Watching the man and woman examine his leg with fascination, made King feel like he was a bug being studied under one of those new-fangled microscopes he’d seen at university. “I want to stand up.”

“Hold on, Ramsay,” Domino cautioned him. “You’re going to have to take your time. You probably should use those crutches for a while.”

“He will, I’ll make certain of it,” Fancy promised for him.

“Excuse me,” King interrupted them, “I think I know what I can or can’t do.”

Fancy and Domino stared a glance, obviously both thinking the same thing.

“I’ll help him until he gets his sea legs,” she promised Domino.

King didn’t realize how serious she was until the meal was over and he mentioned that he was going to take a short walk, just to limber up his leg. Fancy wiped her hands on the dish towel, then came to him and proceeded to glue herself to his side. She wrapped an arm around his waist and urged him on. “All right, here we go. Lean on me.”

He hadn’t expected it, but before he’d taken too many steps, he found that he did need her. His leg wasn’t as strong as he expected, the muscles were weak and if Fancy hadn’t been lending him support, he would’ve ended up on his ass more than once.

As they walked, Fancy thought the night felt like silk around them. She loved the feel of his body pressed to hers. Everything seemed magical – from the stars in the sky to the night birds calling goodnight from the nearby grove of trees.

“Thanks,” he told her, once they’d made a round to the barn and back.

“You’re very welcome. Glad to help.” She was indeed happy to be of service, mainly because every second she got to be close to him was heavenly. “I sure do like the new bull.”

Knowing how she was about the animals, he cautioned her. “When you go down there to feed the calf, make triple-damn sure you latch the gate. I don’t want the new bull out with the general herd.”

“I will. Of course,” she assured him. “Boone and Jericho told me the same thing.” She wouldn’t ever put one of their animals in danger if she could help it. They walked for as long as he wanted to, and when he was through, she helped him back to the cabin.

As they moved inside, they walked into the kitchen where Domino and Reno were waiting, so Domino could check his leg one more time. The two men were talking, and Fancy couldn’t help but overhear.

“I approached Rodriguez about working here to replace Fancy. He doesn’t really like being tied down, he enjoys the chuckwagon. Between you, me, and the gate post, I don’t think he’ll be interested, but to make King happy, I asked.”

Domino had no more than got the words out of his mouth, that he looked up and saw King and Fancy. Fancy’s face crumpled. She glanced up at King with her heart in her eyes, then bowed her head and fled. “I’m going to go feed Little John.”

“Little John?” King asked, his stomach sinking at what had just happened.

“She named the calf after some Robin Hood character.”

King frowned. “I know who Little John is.” He hobbled over to a chair. “Hell, I keep messing this up one way or the other – over and over again.” Hanging his head, he shook it sadly. “Sometimes doing the right thing is hard as hell.”

…Fancy ran through the dark, tears streaming down her face. She felt like Sisyphus, who was condemned by the Greek god Zeus to push a boulder up a hill, then watch it roll back down, only to be required to repeat the move again and again, with the results never changing. Surely, she must be crazy to keep making the same mistake time after time. She was so naïve, thinking they were becoming close, that every time would be different. But King never failed to slap her down, put her in her place, remind Fancy of her position – a position which did not include a relationship with him.

Reaching the barn door, she flung it open, shut it hard, then ran to throw herself in Little John’s stall, draping her arms around the small bull’s neck. She sat there on the hay and wept, crying until she could cry no more. After a time, she rose and led the orphan to one of the milk cows, then stayed with him while he nursed, making sure the cow accepted the little waif. When she was calm enough, she kissed Little John goodnight, then spoke to Beauty, before shutting everything up tight.

After leaving the barn, she didn’t go back to the cabin straightway. Instead, she strolled in the moonlight to the garden spot, wondering if she would be here when the time for harvest came. She smiled sadly as she recalled how she’d dreamed as she’d sown the seeds, pretending to herself that this was truly her home, King was her husband, and she was working to provide for her family. Fancy didn’t know what she would’ve done without her imagination, her life would be unbearable without it. She’d used it to escape intolerable situations, imagining she was a princess, or Joan of Arc, or a wife waiting on the shore for her sailor husband – but this time, her daydreams had backfired. She’d begun to believe them. Yes, King’s behavior contributed to her confusion, he seemed to run hot and cold – giving her hope, then dashing those hopes against the rocks of reality.

Standing by the fence, she held on to the post, barely aware of the rough wood grazing her cheek. She needed to go in, go to bed and rest. Morning would come early, there were chores to be done. For as long as she was here, she’d do her job to the best of her ability. She lingered just a few more seconds, watching the fireflies as they flitted through the trees.

Her attention was so rapt, she didn’t see the figure as it came through the trees, slinking to the shadows on the way to the barn.

* * *

 

 The next morning, Fancy was frying pork, getting ready to serve breakfast when Boone came rushing into the kitchen. “The bull’s gone, the barn door was left unlatched!”

She whirled around, her heart sinking, while the men all jumped to their feet to join the search.

“Shit!” King slammed his fist on the table, then turned to glare at Fancy. The accusation in his eyes was clear as a bell. “I told you to make sure you fastened the locks.”

“I did! I promise I did!” She removed the pan from the fire, ready to go help look for the animal.

“Well, somebody left it open and you were the last one out there. What other explanation is there?” King stood and reached for his crutches, then tossed them aside with disdain. “I’m sick of those things!”

“You need them, King!” She hurried to pick them up and bring them to him. “Please use them until your leg is stronger.”

“No!” He held his hand out to keep her at arm’s length. “I don’t need the crutches and I don’t need you!”

Fancy pulled back as if she’d been struck, stepping aside while he moved past. “I didn’t leave the gate open, I didn’t.”

“Yea, it opened by itself. The men know better, they’re used to taking care of the stock!”

Reno stood from his place at the table. “Let’s not get excited. We’ll find him, he’s probably just hunting a girlfriend. Let’s split up and we’ll make short work of this.”

As they left, Fancy stood there, still reeling from King’s anger. She was so crushed at his displeasure, she could barely breathe. Covering her face, she tried to remember exactly what had happened the night before. She’d gone inside the barn, crying, fed the calf, spoke to Beauty, then left. She’d shut the gate, hadn’t she? Fancy tried to remember. Could King be right? Was this her fault? Nausea roiled in her belly. What if something happened and it was because of her?

Unable to stay inside, she made triple sure the wood stove fire was under control – she didn’t want to burn the cabin down – and left out the back door. In the distance, she could see the men fanning out on horseback, ready to search in different directions. Even King was managing to ride. If something happened to him and he hurt his leg again, that would be her fault also.

Desperate to do something, she tried to figure out what direction the bull would go if he took off. Water. Food. Companionship. Those were the things she would seek out, so that’s the direction she went first, toward the river.

Fancy walked at a fast pace. Sometimes the going was rough, rocks were strewn about and the ground was uneven. As beautiful as her surroundings were, today she didn’t stop to admire the view. Packsaddle Mountain loomed to her left, the river straight ahead. She knew there were gorges and caves that the cattle sometimes wandered into. She’d only been down this way a couple of times, but she’d listened to the men talk about their land often.

As she hurried, she kept scanning in every direction. “Beauty! Diablo!” He probably wouldn’t pay attention to her, no matter what she called him. She wished she’d brought along an apple to entice him. If she found him, she didn’t know how she’d lead him back. She hadn’t brought a rope. Grabbing her nervous stomach, Fancy realized she didn’t think this through very well. “At least I’ll know he’s okay, that nothing’s happened to him.”

…About a half mile away, King was frustrated as hell. In addition to there being no sign of the bull, he felt disturbed about the confrontation with Fancy. He couldn’t forget the expression on her face after he’d yelled at her, accusing her of being responsible for the bull’s escape.

Shading his eyes, he gazed into the distance, trying to see if he could spot any of the men. Seeing nothing, he turned his horse and headed west. The open range was a damn big place and not knowing how much of a head start the animal had, they’d have to just spread out and keep looking until they found him.

…Fancy held up her skirt. She was trying to hurry and not do any damage to her new dress in the process. Almost in tears, she acknowledged how helpless she felt. Her idea about the river didn’t pan out, the bull was nowhere to be seen. Going deeper into the canyon, she decided to search some of the narrow gorges. During the rainy season, Reno had warned her these places would flood. Anything in those deep places would drown when the water came rushing in from higher ground and swollen, overflowing streams. “Are you in here?” she asked. “Beauty?”

Going deeper into the canyon, she kept her eyes wide open. Fancy sure didn’t want to run into a snake, she hated snakes. Hopping from rock to rock, she prayed around the next bend, she’d find the big, black bull.

Suddenly, a scream rent the air, a scream that ended in a blood-curdling guttural growl.

The shock of the sudden noise tore a scream from her own chest. She wheeled around, falling and twisting her ankle. Crying out with pain, she raised her head, not knowing if she’d find a banshee or a monster. The sight of the snow-white cougar, crouching on a high bluff over her head, terrified Fancy. Knowing the big cat was about to pounce, she tried to run, every step agonizing. “Oh, King, I’m so sorry. I’m in a mess,” she whispered. Every second, she expected to feel the sharp claws and tearing teeth of the huge feline. Hazarding one glance over her shoulder, she prayed the cougar had gone on about its business. With a wry gasp, she concluded she was the cat’s business, for he was coming leisurely along behind her.

Fancy was being stalked.

With an anguished whimper, she glanced desperately around. There was no way she could out run it and she had nothing to fight with. The only thing she could do was hide. Checking around frantically, she saw a cave. Her first instinct was to dart inside. But would she be trapped? Could she fight off the animal or would she be easy prey, cornered with nowhere to go? Seeing the opening was large, she passed it by, hunting any alternative, one that might afford her some degree of protection.

A loud snarl not too far behind her spurred Fancy on, even though every step brought her great pain. Taking a split second to look over her shoulder, she saw the cougar was not in a hurry, but still on her trail. Fancy knew she wasn’t presenting much of a challenge. Apparently, the big cat like to play with its food.

Praying with every step, Fancy scanned the canyon walls for any place that she could seek shelter from the danger dogging her steps. Finally, when she was almost about to give up hope, she spotted a small cave in the hillside. Fancy knew if she could get through the opening, so could the cougar. But she had no choice, maybe there’d be enough nearby rocks she could pelt it with, discourage the animal from coming closer.

With a strangled cry, she dragged herself into the hole, hoping against hope there were no snakes inside. If she had to choose between facing the cougar or facing a den of reptiles, she’d go with the cat any day. As she stepped inside, she breathed a sigh of relief, seeing no snakes. Plastering herself against the side of the wall, she tried to peer into the darkness. There was nothing to keep the animal out. There were a few rocks, and a good-size stick, but going head to head with the animal wasn’t her best option. Gazing around, she saw another opening, deeper in the cave. Knowing she had little time, and little choice, she moved farther back, hoping to find some type of shelter the cat couldn’t reach.

“Please, please, please,” she chanted, hoping to find a way to protect herself. A growl outside the door, told her she had little time. To her immense relief, she saw a narrow crevice, just big enough for her body to fit in. Narrow at the onset, if she could squeeze through, she might could keep the cougar at bay with the stick and the rocks. Grabbing a few make-shift weapons, she struggled to get in place before her uninvited company arrived. “Dear Lord, if you’ll just help me out of this mess, I’ll be the best person I can be.”

…Even though autumn had arrived, the high noon sun beat down hot on King’s head. Removing his hat, he wiped his brow. So far, there was no trace of the prize bull. Every ridge he topped, he expected to find some evidence, but so far – nothing.

“King!” Reno’s voice sounded to his right.

“Here!” he answered.

“We’ve got them!”

King tugged his horse to a stop, urging it to the right to meet up with Reno. To his surprise, he wasn’t alone. Domino was with him and they were leading the bull and a horse with a rider whose hands were tied behind him.

Harvey Bohannon.

“What the hell?” King couldn’t believe his eyes. “Do you know what we do to cattle thieves in these parts, Bohannon?”

“I saw him in town yesterday, boss. He was one of the ones admiring the animal. I guess he let his coveting get out of hand.” Domino held a rope that was tied around the man’s waist, along with the rope attached to the horse.

“Mr. Bohannon and I have had trouble in the past.” King well remembered knocking the man to his feet with his crutch. At the time, he’d been defending Fancy. A bitter blade of remorse ripped through his gut when he remembered how he’d treated Fancy, assuming she’d been the one to release the bull.

He’d been wrong.

“Son-of-a-bitch,” he breathed. “After you return the bull to the barn, Reno, go with Domino into town and have this man arrested.”

With those words of direction, he set his horse to a gallop, heading back to the ranch.

There was an apology he needed to make.

* * *

 

 “Stay back, you beast!” Fancy pressed herself into the cleft of the rock, as close as she possibly could. The cougar hadn’t given up, he was blocking the opening, slapping at her with his front right paw. Every time he swiped, she struck his outstretched leg with the stick. Fancy knew her efforts were futile. The possibility was very likely that she’d tire before the big cat did. A feeling of resignation overcame her. No one was looking for her, they were all searching for the bull. For a moment, she considered just giving up the fight. Only the thought of King, and the hope of seeing him one more time kept her fighting. “No! Go away!” Picking up a rock, she chunked it at the beast, hitting him on the shoulder. He backed away a step or two, but it wasn’t long before he returned.

…Pulling his horse up short, King dismounted as fast as he could. Seeing Ace on the front porch, he called out. “Tell Fancy to come out. We found the bull!” His jovial demeanor hid a guilty conscience. Telling Fancy that he’d been wrong wouldn’t be easy.

Bounding off the porch, Ace came running to meet him. “She’s not here, King. I’ve looked everywhere. She must’ve left.”

Left? “Are you sure? Did you check the barn?”

“Yea, I did. She’s just gone.”

Gone. “Is there a horse missing?”

“No. The buckboards are still here too. Wherever she went, she’s on foot. Do you think she’s hunting the bull too?”

“Probably.” He wouldn’t doubt it. “Dammit.” Just thinking how hurt she’d been when he lambasted her, what she must be thinking about him, how desperate she must feel to find the bull and prove him wrong.

Because he was wrong. He’d jumped to a false conclusion. Blamed the one who hoped to please him the most. King felt like a cruel, overbearing fool.

“Don’t worry, Ace, I’ll find her. When the others come in, let them know, tell them Fancy is missing.”

With reins in hand, he walked his horse around the cabin, making sure there was no sign of her. He looked out over the fields, trying to imagine which way he’d go on foot. They’d checked the pastureland, knowing the bull would seek out the existing herd. There’d been no sign of her there. That only left the area near Packsaddle and the river. Taking a chance that would be her choice, he urged his horse into a canter and headed for the canyon.

… “If you’ll just go away, I’ll make sure you get a nice juicy steak. I’ll bring it out here to you myself.” She whacked the cougar’s paw again. Fancy got the feeling that she was no more than a toy. Not a challenge, just something to amuse the monster. She was tiring, though, and the cat seemed to exert very little effort into the game. He had her trapped like a rat and was in no hurry for his next meal. “Do we have a deal?”

The cougar’s roar made her jump, and she took it as a resounding ‘no’. The albino animal didn’t seem in the mood to make a bargain. Fancy had always heard when a person faces death that the events of their life passes before their eyes. She was glad that did not seem to be case with her. The life she’d led didn’t bear reviewing, much less repeating. No, she didn’t think about what had gone before, she grieved over what would never be. Of course, she had no assurance that the rest of her life would be any better than what had gone before, but if she were alive, she had hope.

At the moment, unfortunately, her situation seemed pretty hopeless.

…As King’s horse picked its way down the canyon path, he kept his eyes peeled. There’d been nothing by the river. What was the likelihood that she’d traveled into this winding maze? He was just about to turn around when he heard it – the ear-splitting scream of a cougar. He reined in his horse and looked all around. Sound traveled in the canyon, echoes bounced over the tall, stone walls. It was hard to tell from which way the noise was coming from. His heart started pounding with the realization that Fancy could be in danger.

When the next swipe came a little closer, Fancy knew it was over. This wouldn’t go on very much longer. The cat wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was she. There was really only one foregone conclusion. Shutting her eyes, she just waited…

“Fancy! Fancy! Can you hear me?”

Her eyes blinked open. “King! King! I’m here! I’m here!”

The cougar reacted to her exclamation, lashing out. In her excitement, she’d moved just close enough that his sharp claws caught her arm, ripping her skin.

When King heard her answering cry, an ocean of gratitude swamped him. He was so weak with relief, he swayed in the saddle. Urging his horse forward, he went further into the canyon. “Talk to me, Fancy! Where are you?”

Grabbing her arm, she plastered herself against the back wall. Suddenly, she wanted to live very, very badly. “King! I’m in a cave! Here!”

Hearing her voice once more, he pinpointed her location. Jumping from the horse, he winced when the full weight of his body landed on his leg. Grabbing his horse by the mane, he steadied himself and pulled his gun. Climbing up the side of the cliff, he made his way to a narrow opening, where he thought her voice and the cat’s roar came from. “Fancy! Keep talking!”

Tears ran down Fancy’s cheek as she let herself believe she was going to be rescued. “Here, King! There’s a cougar! Be careful!” Making eye contact with the cougar, she warned him. “You’d better run. Kingston Ramsay’s coming after me.”

Nearing the entrance to the cave, he lifted his gun in the air and fired off a shot.

Hearing the gunfire, the cougar sprang back and bounded from the cave, almost on top of King.

Outside, King jumped back, dropping his rifle, amazed at the sight of the unusual, but deadly animal.

“Fancy!”

Weak from fright, Fancy held on to the wall as she made her way out of the cave. The sun was still high in the sky and she blinked her eyes, trying to see King’s beloved face. “You came!” she spoke in abject wonder.

“Yes, I came,” he said, stepping forward to sweep her up in his arms. “Are you hurt?”

“Just a scratch,” she whispered. “And my ankle, I twisted it, but not too bad. I can walk.”

“Let me see.”

She removed her hand from where the cat clawed her. “My new dress is ruined.”

“I’ll buy you a new one.”

He looked at the place. “Not too deep. We’ll clean it and when Domino returns from town, he’ll fix you right up.”

“Let me wrap it.” She went to bend over. “I’ll just tear a strip of material off my shift.”

“Nope, you’re not using your new shift.” King pulled his shirt hem from his pants and proceeded to rip a strip off it.”

Fancy gasped. “You shouldn’t have, King!”

“Nonsense.” He worked to wrap the cloth around her arm, kissing her soft skin just above the wound.

Fancy shivered. “Careful, I might get blood on you.” The fact that he was holding her was too wonderful to process. Part of her mind wanted to think this amazing rescue was another of her daydreams. Very possibly, she was still in the cave and the cougar was inching closer.

“I don’t give a damn.” Taking her in his arms, he sought out her mouth with his, covering her lips and kissing her with complete abandon.

When his mouth slid from her lips to her neck, she cupped the side of his beautiful face. “Are you real?”

“I’m a jackass, but I’m real.” He kissed her again for good measure. “I’m so sorry, Fancy. So damn sorry.”

If this is what happened when she got cornered by a cougar, Fancy planned on putting the big cat on retainer. “No, it’s all my fault. I came down here looking for the lost bull. I tried to think about it, King, and I might have let him go. I was upset. I just don’t remember too well.” She kissed his cheek. “I apologize, I’ll help you find him, and if…”

“Hush.” He layered his mouth to hers, drinking from her lips, as if she were cool water and he was starving for a drink. “The bull was stolen, you didn’t let it loose. I owe you an apology.”

“Really? You found him? Beauty’s fine?”

The happiness on her face as he gave her the news humbled him. She wasn’t angry, she bore him no animosity. Instead, she’d helped in the search, almost losing her life in the process. “Yes, he’s fine. Reno and Domino caught Harvey Bohannon herding him home on the end of a rope.”

Fancy let go of all her worry. “I’m so relieved. Thank you for saving me, King. I think the cat was just about to tire of our game.”

King shuddered at the thought. “Let’s go home.” He helped her back to the horse, climbed on, then held down his hand to help her. “Come on, up here with me.” She held up her arms and he clasped her close, bringing her across the saddle and settling her in front of him. “Now, lay your head on my chest and let me hold you.”

Fancy dared not question her good fortune. “This is much nicer than riding alone.”

King chuckled. “Well, you have a saddle this time.”

“Yes, and you.”

“Yes, and me.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “When we get home, I think we need to talk.”

“Talk?” She shivered. She’d rather not talk, she’d rather just be happy and marvel at this new turn of events. “If you say so. Lunch will be late, and I didn’t even finish breakfast. Everybody will starve.”

“Nobody is going to starve. Quit worrying about it. We’ll make flap jacks for supper.”

Fancy hung her head and tears began to flow. “I don’t understand what’s going on, King. You’re confusing me.”

He pulled her back against him and kissed her neck. “Don’t be confused. I’ve finally come to my senses. High time, don’t you think?”