B.J. Daniels - Honor Bound

He looked over at Ainsley. He could see that she was at home in a saddle. There was something so strong and self-assured about her, not to mention beautiful and smart and funny, he thought, remembering this morning when she’d been hiding under the covers. He smiled to himself. He could see where a man might become infatuated with Ainsley Hamilton.

She glanced over at him and smiled as if content with the silence between them. He felt the same way. It was another remarkable fall day. A clear brilliant blue sky hung over the pine-covered mountains. Patches of golden-leafed aspens rustled in the breeze, and an occasional hawk would sweep past overhead, casting a winged shadow over them before disappearing behind a rocky bluff.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she said, looking out at the Western landscape as they rode along.

“Beautiful,” he said, his gaze on her.

She glanced over at him as if she’d felt his stare on her and knew he wasn’t talking about the country. Her smile was warmer than the sun on his back.

They found several locations that Ainsley thought might suit Gunderson.

“I think that’s enough options,” she said.

“One of the kitchen girls told me about a hot spring up this way,” Sawyer said, not wanting their time together to end just yet. “I’m not sure it would make a location for the commercial, but if you want to see it...”

Ainsley glanced at her watch. He could tell that she was torn. The old Ainsley who always did what was right and prudent needed to get back to Gunderson with her latest ideas. The new Ainsley?

“Are you trying to lead me astray, Mr. Nash?” she asked when she looked up and saw the way he was studying her.

He grinned. “Is it working?”

Again she hesitated. “I suppose we better check it out.”

They rode in silence a short way up a narrow valley until they came to a rock formation set against the mountain. Sawyer could feel Ainsley’s excitement. He assumed it was because this would be a beautiful place for the commercial shoot since the canyon had fallen through, so to speak.

He dismounted, tying his horse to a pine tree, and started to reach for Ainsley, when she swung a leg over her saddle horn and slid down next to him. Feeling like a kid, he took her hand, excited to see the spring.

It was better than he could have imagined. Steam rose from an oval pool of clear water surrounded by large boulders.

“Why didn’t I know about this?” Ainsley demanded of herself.

“I overheard one of the girls who work in the kitchen talking about it. They are planning to ride up here tonight with some boys they know.” He looked up at Montana’s big blue sky overhead. “I bet it is beautiful at night.”

Ainsley was still looking guilty that she hadn’t been aware of it. As if being the location scout, she should know everything about the entire state. She finally looked over at him. “What are you doing?”

He removed his coat, then began unbuttoning his shirt. “Going skinny-dipping.”

“You wouldn’t.”

He laughed as he stripped off his shirt. “You were all for it last night.”

“That was different. I was—”

“The new Ainsley Hamilton, the adventurous, the woman who was bound and determined to do everything she’d missed out on.”

She lifted her chin as he reached to unsnap his jeans. “If you think you can tempt me to—”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. I don’t mind going in alone.”

She opened her mouth, then snapped it shut. “You think I won’t do it.”

Sawyer cocked his head at her. The buttons on his jeans popped out one after another. As he began to shrug out of the denim, she turned her back. He smiled to himself as he stopped to watch her toss aside her jacket, then slowly unbutton her shirt.

He stepped into the warm pool. It quickly became deep. He sank into it, relishing the heat. “It’s perfect!” he called to her. She had taken off everything but her bra and panties. He could see she was about to chicken out. “You won’t want to ride back in wet underwear. I’ve already seen you naked, but I’ll turn around if you like. I can be a perfect gentleman. If that’s what you want.” His words were apparently sufficient.

“I’m not as big a prude as everyone thinks I am,” she called to him without turning in his direction.

He saw her unhook her bra, and he turned around as promised. He heard her enter the water a few moments later. He felt small ripples move against him. “Is it safe to turn around now?”

“I guess so,” she said. She was neck deep in the water. Had the water been clearer he might have been able to see her below the surface. But he didn’t need the view. He’d never forget what she looked like after last night in the moonlight.

He stayed where he was, sensing that’s the way she wanted it. But he was smiling to himself. He was damned proud of whichever Ainsley Hamilton was sharing the pool with him. He admired a woman who accepted a challenge, especially for something out of her comfort zone.

“Have dinner with me tonight.”

* * *

SARAH HURRIED DOWN the hospital hallway, reaching Russell’s hospital room as the doctor came out. “How is he?”

He recognized her from all her other visits and like most people in the county, knew that she had been Russell’s fiancé not all that long ago.

“It is nothing short of a miracle,” the doctor said, closing the door behind him. “He’s still a little confused. We’ll need to run more tests, but it appears he will have a full recovery.”

She breathed a sigh of relief that brought tears to her eyes again. “Thank you. Can I see him?”

“Just keep your visit short.”

Sarah took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The first time she’d come to see Russell was right after his attack. He’d been so badly beaten that he hadn’t been expected to live. The doctor had worried that he would have brain damage. So it really was a miracle.

As she entered the room, she let the door close behind her. Russell lay on the bed on his back, his eyes closed.

She moved quietly to his side and took his hand. His eyes opened at her touch, and he turned his head toward her, a smile coming to his lips.

“I am so glad to see you’re awake,” she said, unable to hold back the tears.

His smile wavered. “I’m sorry, I thought for a minute you were my daughter, Destry.”

“I’m sure the doctor has called her.”

He nodded and looked toward the door. “I thought the two of them would be here by now.”

She stared at him. Now she was the one confused. “Destry and her husband?”

“Destry and Judy, my wife.”

Judy? His deceased wife?

She stared at him. The doctor had said there was some confusion after such major injuries. “Russell, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I know you were just trying to help me. If I could take any of it back—”

He pulled his hand free, his frown deepening. “I don’t mean to be rude, but do I know you?”

She was momentarily stunned. “Russell, it’s me, Sarah.” He still looked puzzled. “Sarah Hamilton.”

His eyes widened as he finally seemed to recognize her. “I’m sorry, but I thought you were... That is...” He looked around the room as if now not sure where he was. When his gaze came back to her, he looked more frightened than confused. “I’m sure I recall going to your funeral.” He fumbled for his call button to alert the nurse, all the while he just kept frowning at her.

Sarah stared at him, almost too shocked to speak. “You don’t remember finding me on the road outside Beartooth months ago?” she asked, her voice breaking.

“Finding you?”

“You don’t remember...” She couldn’t bear to say the words. You don’t remember falling in love with me, asking me to marry you? You don’t remember promising to help me? The door opened behind them. Sarah turned as a nurse came in.