Sassy Cowgirl Kisses by Kathy Fawcett

Chapter 10

“Are you sure you know where the creek is?”

Sassy turned to talk to Ash as he guided the ATV across West land. She held one hand on the top of her cowgirl hat, while the other held tight to the ATV’s grab bar to steady her on the bumpy ride.

“It’s my first day, but not my first summer at West Ranch,” Ash disclosed, still elusive about who he was. He smiled over at Sassy as she grinned in happiness, at the beautiful sunny day, no doubt. He wanted to keep his identity from her as long as possible so she could form her own opinions of him, separate from the West family.

Sitting so close to Sassy, Ash felt the weight of his name—a name he was still growing into. Sure, he joined the Wests at community events, and took part in board meetings for the foundation. He weighed in on decisions that would affect the family and the growth of the ranch—buy this property or that; donate which acres to the town; where to develop?

But today he understood for the first time the ramifications of being an owner of the ranch—the ranch that happened to hire the prettiest girl in the world as a summer intern.

If he asked her on a date, even just to the movies, lots of people in his life were going to have opinions, and his family’s objections would be merited. If she went out with him, other ranch hands could claim favoritism. If she declined his invitation, she could claim harassment.

It was a minefield in a sea of sagebrush.

For the first time, he appreciated the dilemma Colton was in a few years earlier when the beautiful Liu Chen came to work as a chef for the family. Kat didn’t want Colton kissing the cook, she told him. And wanted to protect the family name and reputation.

“Liu Chen could do a lot of damage if she doesn’t share your feelings,” she’d told Colton. “Especially if she feels pressured to date you.”

Love won out, though, and the two were married the summer before Ash graduated and left for Michigan. But Liu was a Wyoming girl, through and through. Whereas Sassy was destined to go back home in the fall.

One big reason to keep a respectable distance.

When they reachedthe fallen tree at the creek, Ash tried to help Sassy with the thick tree trunks and spikey, scratchy branches. But she just laughed him off.

“Such a gentleman, offering to do my job for me,” she teased, using her best impression of Scarlett O’Hara. “Thank you, Rhett Butler, but I have to make my own way in the world.”

“Well Miss Scarlett,” Ash bantered back as the swarthy Clark Gable, “I’m just trying to get us back to Atlanta before it’s all burned down.” He was glad he stayed awake during the four-hour film for one of his extra credit classes, instead of just reading the synopsis.

Sassy laughed even harder, and the time flew as they talked about their favorite movies, winter sports, and food.

“Gone With the Wind was epic, but it was no Tombstone,” Ash declared.

“I declare, that’s blasphemy,” Sassy stated in her best southern belle voice.

“Hmm, best change the subject,” Ash said. “Skiing or snowboarding?”

“Snowboarding is overrated, and downhill skiing is going to make a splendid comeback,” Sassy was sure.

They debated the pros and cons of Chicago-style pizza versus Detroit style.

“Detroit style, hands down,” Ash said, and to his surprise, Sassy agreed.

“I can’t fall on my sword for Chicago style, I’m afraid,” she said. “Not when Detroit makes the crispiest, cheesiest crust.”

“At last,” Ash said theatrically, “common ground.”

He was beginning to feel more relaxed in her company, when Sassy suddenly dropped a tree limb she had been tugging at and let out an ear-piercing wail.

“Ahhhh.”

Throwing off his safety glasses and gloves, Ash rushed to her side, splashing through the creek as he went.

Sassy had sat down hard on the creek bank, and held one hand in her other. Ash sat down next to her, the side of his body fully against hers.

“Ow ow ow,” she cried out.

“Here, let me look.” Ash gently but firmly took her hand. As she turned away, she let out another cry. “Oh, that’s a bad splinter,” he said, “it went right through the glove.”

“I… know…” she wailed louder.

As Ash worked her glove off, Sassy’s cries turned to resigned sobs. Shaking, she held her hand as still as she could, allowing Ash to tend to her. She had her eyes squeezed shut, and opened them only when she felt Ash setting a small branch upon her lap.

“Here, bite down on this stick, Scarlett.”

His face was close and his words were whispers she could feel on the bridge of her nose.

“Did you say bite… down?”

Ash nodded somberly.

“We’re going to have to amputate.”

In spite of her pain and fear, Ash heard Sassy expel a surprised laugh at his joke. When she did, he pulled out the offending splinter in one swift move, before she could protest.

She turned to him in shock and wonder as he hung onto her trembling hand.

“You were so brave, Scarlett,” Ash laughed softly. Without warning, he pulled her hand to his lips and kissed—tasted, really—her finger. As he warmly wrapping his lips around her slender digit, her gasp was so spontaneous and unpracticed that Ash felt his chest tighten with unfamiliar joy. He gazed over and ventured a look into her eyes.

“All better?” Ash’s voice was low and scratchy.

“All better,” she said back, in a whisper that would haunt his attempts at falling asleep for many nights. Seeing her eyes widen, and her lips parting ever so slightly would play over and over in his memory like a closed loop.

He knew he shouldn’t have done any of that.

“Do you know how many germs are in your mouth,” his Granny would demand to know when he was a boy, trying to cleanse a scratch with a little spit.

But there it was, her small hand resting in his. And then there were all those tears, and his longing for… something. Before he knew it, he had her perfect porcelain finger between his lips, savoring it like a candy cane and watching her eyes for a reaction.

So much for keeping the beautiful girl at a distance.