Up the Creek Without a Saddle (Bandit Creek Book 31) Read online

  Up the Creek Without A Saddle

  A Bandit Creek Contemporary Romance

  Copyright 2012 by Sandy Kelly

  Greetings from the ‘tale-end’ of the Bandit Creek series! What an amazing experience it has been to watch this journey unfold and to celebrate the launch of a new Bandit Creek story every two weeks for the past 18 months. It has been a privilege to share the energy, talent and generosity of the Bandit Creek authors. To find other books in the series, visit www.banditcreekbooks.com.

  To discover more of my writing, please stop by www.sandykellyauthor.com.

  Thanks for visiting Bandit Creek… I hope you enjoy your stay!

  Sandy Kelly

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Christmas on the Run Excerpt

  About the Author

  Up the Creek without a Saddle

  “Are you alright?”

  The captivating voice called gently from behind Lily, causing her to jump nearly out of her skin. She spun a complete circle in the air before her bare feet landed forcefully on the gravel. She thought she had been completely alone in the middle of nowhere.

  “Are my cows causing problems?”

  Standing before her, looking alarmed and shy, was a strikingly handsome man. So striking, in fact, that Lily was certain her eyebrows shot up and her mouth dropped open at the sight of him. He was standing at the edge of a field of cattle, where Lily had been having her tantrum. His muscular frame was planted firmly in place, as if he had sprouted from the ground itself. Lily felt embarrassed and startled all at once. Her body tingled with surprise, as the beautiful and unexpected vision before her mixed with all the other emotions she had endured over the last unusual moments.

  “I…I don’t have any shoes,” Lily muttered stupidly, looking up at the single shoe she still held high over her head. She had been about to throw it into the field where her first shoe lay half buried in the mud.

  “Well, I guess I have one,” she concluded.

  Oh, how she must look to this man who had appeared out of the blue. He was peering as intently at her as she was at him. The muscles of his arms were barely contained under the gray t-shirt that pulled tightly across his shoulders and chest. Lily couldn’t help but notice the cotton shirt had come untucked from his faded blue jeans in several places, draping seductively around his waist. His skin looked as though it had been darkened by the sun, matching the thick black hair that curled playfully around his face.

  Topping it all off was a grey Stetson that could have come right off the set of an old Clint Eastwood movie. Yes, this incredible man was wearing a cowboy hat and standing there like a beautiful caricature of a western movie.

  His expression remained serious, although Lily detected a glimmer of mischief in his dancing green eyes. She felt awestruck by his strong presence, as he waited quietly a few short feet away.

  “I’ve had some problems,” Lily began to explain, feeling dazed by what was happening. Not a single molecule in her body felt normal, after her strange travels across the country over the last four days. She was exhausted and certainly not used to feeling so unsure of herself. Lily was groomed to be meticulous in appearance and demeanor, and found herself at a total loss in this situation. She wondered if she was about to faint. Then, to her increased amazement, a prominent dimple dazzled suddenly beside his lips as he smiled at her.

  What a sight she must be! Her face was streaked with the flush of her previous anger, which had quickly turned to excitement at the sight of him. Her ivory skin must have suggested an easy life. It was quite obvious she wasn’t a person who toiled in the hot sun… or toiled at all. And she was certain her eyes held the crazy deep blue color that often made people startle because of their brightness. Lily quickly lowered them shyly.

  “Your shoes…” he began, breaking the charged silence, as both looked to the soiled shoe Lily still held absently in her hands. “What are you doing with your shoes?”

  He sounded completely perplexed and Lily noticed he seemed to be trying to avoid looking into her eyes. But she also noticed he kept stealing glances, which made her feel even more awkward.

  Under his intense gaze, Lily was quite aware of how silly she must look. How embarrassing, to be so muddled by this man who was just trying to be polite. He probably wanted to simply provide whatever assistance she needed and then just get on with his day. What a nuisance she was being.

  Lily tried to hide her filthy shoe behind her back. He would have thought she was foolish for reacting so strongly to getting her shoes dirty. His physique told her he was quite used to physical labor, and he was likely very familiar with the untidiness that came with hard work. She didn’t want to insult him, since he was being so kind to her.

  “I don’t have any shoes,” she repeated, surprising herself by how strangely sad she sounded about it.

  “Oh, I see,” the man said quietly, glancing discreetly at her old dusty car that looked abandoned at the roadside.

  This ‘Damsel in Distress’ role was a new one to Lily, but she was at a loss to stop the charade. Explaining her background, the reason for her journey, the reason she had thrown her other leather shoe into the field in the first place would have complicated the situation even more. She decided to try and gather whatever remained of her pride, make some feeble explanation, and leave this poor confused man to carry on with his day.

  “I’ll just be getting on my way,” Lily stammered, trying to brush the dry crusts of prairie dirt off her hands while clinging to her one shoe. She began backing away, wishing the car was closer so she could clamor inside and drive away from this awkwardness.

  “But you don’t have any shoes,” the man said.

  “Oh, I’m used to that,” Lily found herself saying, instantly kicking herself for adding to the confusion.

  “I’ll be alright,” she tried again to placate him, as she continued to head toward her car.

  “But you need some shoes,” the stranger pushed on. “Where are you going? I’d like to help you.”

  She saw how confused he was as he watched her walk away.

  “Please don’t be afraid. I want to help,” he said again, beginning to move toward her with such gentleness it was as if he were trying to rescue a little bird.

  The man slowly raised his large hand and placed it ever so lightly at the base of her elbow. Lily gasped at the shot of electricity and moved slightly away as if to release his tender grasp. He held a bit tighter, trying to steady her. He moved his body slowly so he could face her directly, trying to get her full attention. He lifted his other hand to her chin and made her look squarely up at him. Such a pleasant and handsome face, full of concern and patience. Every move he made was slow and deliberate, as if the tiny bird might take flight at any time.

  “Please let me help you,” he said tenderly, his eyes peering into hers. “Everything will be alright.”

  “Okay,” Lily whispered breathlessly. She let him steer her towards the car, thinking all the while how strange it was that she trusted him so easily. She would never have gotten into a car with a stranger back home, but here he was opening the passenger door and guiding Lily’s slender and dirty form inside.

  “I’m just going to get my bike,” he told her slowly.

  A bike. That’s why I didn’t hear him, Lily thought. At least that part of the situation began to make sense. She was so exhausted. It felt like the last few minutes had played themselves out as if she were watching from a di
stance. Now she must get control of herself and the situation, or it was only going to become more confusing. And humiliating.

  She would simply tell him she was fine, that she was feeling much better now and that she would just carry on her way. She didn’t want to inconvenience him any more than she already had. She watched as he quickly picked up a silver bike, wheeled it over the uneven soil and laid it along the ditch.

  “I’m fine, really,” she said again, as he opened the door on the driver’s side. He stood beside the car and braced his husky body with his elbow on the roof, leaning down to peer inside.

  “Please let me drive you wherever you’re going,” he said softly. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

  He shifted slightly and placed his hands together on the roof, forming a little cushion where he placed his forehead. He faced her squarely and the round muscles of his arms bulged with strength as he bent his body to face her. “Please, it will be okay,” he said reassuringly.

  “Alright,” replied Lily’s small, girlish voice.

  The man lowered his frame onto the driver seat and slowly turned toward her. She found herself staring at him, entranced by his presence. She was never this flustered, but she was jolted once again by the spark that seemed to dance between them.

  “My name is Jayce,” he said finally.

  “My…name is…Lily.” Why was she so nervous? She was dirty and tired and stumbling to find any appropriate words to say.

  “That’s a very pretty name,” Jayce said softly, still peering at her with an appreciation she felt so undeserving of. She was well accustomed to handling herself with ease at the countless social engagements required of her stature. But she felt none of that was at all apparent as she stumbled awkwardly with this man named Jayce who had the unfortunate task of trying to sort out the situation.

  “Thank you,” Lily managed, still intent on studying the dirty hands in her lap. She wanted to tell him that it was her dad’s idea, to name her for a delicate flower the instant he saw her ivory skin. But she was completely distracted by him, acutely aware of his presence and of the fact that he smelled so very clean while she was filthy.

  “Thank you,” she repeated, finally turning to look at him. Jayce’s rugged face was softened by such tenderness that Lily relaxed a bit. He turned to close the door and the thud broke the extraordinary moment.

  “So, where are you headed?” Jayce asked politely.

  “Oh,” Lily stammered, there was simply no denying that she had absolutely no plans. “I really don’t know.”

  This was becoming ridiculous! And he was likely convinced that he would only scare her again if he pressed to find out what had happened to make her so confused and vulnerable. What had happened to land her in this predicament? He obviously felt sorry for her distress and, Lily figured, that made her a liar.

  “Well, the first thing we’re going to do is get you some shoes,” he stated, seeming to gain confidence by taking charge once again.

  “But I don’t need shoes,” Lily said quickly.

  “Please, you said you’d let me help you,” Jayce said firmly, starting the engine and pulling the car onto the gravel road toward the highway.

  The situation was beyond explanation now. Lily’s old car, her confusion, her lack of shoes had convinced this friendly stranger that she was desperately in need of help. What on earth is he thinking, Lily wondered nervously. He probably figured she was running away from someone or that she was sick. At the very least, he was likely convinced that she was poor and unable to properly clothe herself. This thought made Lily giggle.

  She had come such a long way, had driven for days, to get to this point. Anyone else in her family’s corporation would have booked a first-class flight when they had to conduct business clear across the nation. But, after years of feeling out of place in the rich life she was leading back home, Lily had decided to venture forth with a plan of her own. She would close the deal out west and not disappoint her father, but she would do it without involving any of the extravagance she had inherited.

  She had headed out four days ago with a small suitcase, an old car she bought at a wrecker’s auction, and a quest to do things her own way for a change. She had business to conduct in Montana, but she also had to take a bit of time to herself before she was completely devoured by her father as he groomed her to take over the multi-million dollar corporation.

  Chapter 2

  It seemed like such a long time had passed since Lily left her father’s estate, but it was really only a few days. The first buds of a new spring were already coloring the gardens when Lily had prepared to leave, and a thin layer of cotton dotted the perfectly manicured lawns.

  Lily had always been surrounded by cotton. The scents and textures of cotton reached as far back as her earliest memories and it seemed to grow as she did. She loved the harmony and security of her yard, her home. Even the fluffy white clouds that floated by her unhurried gaze looked like cotton. Cotton balls. Cotton candy. Isn’t that how all children describe clouds as they try to make sense of the world? Not that Lily was a child any longer, although she still felt small and vulnerable at times as she searched to find her place in the world. She was 22 years old and it was time to venture out for herself.

  Lily stretched her long legs and looked around the grounds of her family’s estate on that last morning. These were the gardens where she and her mom and dad laughed, loved each other and grew up together. It was always just the three of them, like an exclusive club.

  Lily’s parents had already inherited the land with all the cotton fields and factories that had made her grandparents rich, but they would have been just as happy living in a basement flat so long as they could be together. That their love had resulted in only one child bewildered them, but they were never sad about it. They were never sad about anything, really, as they adored Lily and hired more staff to look after the tedious grind of cultivating all that money.

  As the years ticked away, the city had extended out to the estate and her grandparents subdivided the land and harvested even more money. They didn’t need the cotton fields anymore, anyway, as they had workers doing the labor on much larger farms. The cotton gin had long since grown into a garment factory on the outskirts of the city. The enterprising elderly couple had created their own line of merchandise and had a corporate-sized staff marketing the “family grown 100% cotton” to yet another generation of shoppers, and they established a fleet of trucks to ship the clothes all over North America.

  When her grandparents died within a few months of each other, they left their only child and her young husband, Lily’s mom and dad, with hundreds of millions of dollars and a huge conglomerate to look after.

  It was only recently that Lily’s father had begun to question Lily’s plans, suggesting, for example, that she should really be dating some of the young men who were obviously captivated by her. It wasn’t that Lily found the idea of spending time with a man unpleasant, but she was always suspicious they were after her money. Soon her dad was pressing her to begin taking over more and more of the business, and that was enough to send her packing.

  Pack she did… a meager carpetbag with only the bare essentials. She had agreed to do the business trip out west, both to placate her dad and to get away for a while. But she’d do it on her own terms, taking all the time she needed and dropping any outward sign of her enormous wealth. She’d leave all those trappings behind as she tried to figure out who she was and where she was going.

  Lily had walked toward her old car where it waited on the cobblestone drive as she prepared to leave the estate. She paused at a large weeping willow, its huge branches sweeping down protectively around the exquisite mound of miniature flowers at its base. Lily tenderly gathered the cotton she held, pressing the pure white fluff to her lips for a moment.

  “Goodbye, mom,” she said, gently placing the cotton near a small bronze cross that had stood for several years amid the blooms. Then she pulled away from the fam
iliarity of her little world and drove down the winding private lane without once looking back.

  She had so very far to go. Four days of driving across the northern states to reach Montana. She had shocked everyone by volunteering to travel to the state’s capital, Missoula, to close another series of land deals. But she was restless for an adventure and eager to be free from the corporate pressures at home for a while. And when she began studying maps of the area, she came across several things that caught her interest. Among them was a little town called Bandit Creek and decided to drive through the place on her way to Missoula.

  The drive was long and tiring, but Lily was captivated by the landscape which changed dramatically before her eyes, as the rush of the densely populated regions of the Eastern States gave way to the incredible expanse of land in the west. Lily was inching closer to her goal, and woke the fourth morning filled with a sense of optimism and adventure.

  She had tucked her bright scarlet blouse into her designer black jeans before leaving the hotel that morning, and slipped her feet into the expensive black leather pumps. She reached for her designer sunglasses and wished for a moment that she had purchased more modest clothes for the journey.

  But she quickly cast the thought aside and found herself full of anticipation as she drove the remaining few hours to the border of Montana. The landscape was extraordinary, as incredibly green fields gave rise to the rugged Rocky Mountains. She was absolutely struck by the beauty around her and felt compelled to stop the car. She hadn’t passed a single vehicle for close to half an hour, but Lily signaled nevertheless. Out of habit, she checked over her shoulder before turning onto the shoulder of the deserted roadway.

  As the sun blazed its noonday heat, Lily opened the door and slowly stood up as if in a trance. For around her in every direction was a vast stillness that was absolutely complete. Herds of cattle grazed both far and near, each standing perfectly still along the field before her. The scene was breathtaking. The vast grasslands were broken only when they drifted into the base of the magnificent mountains in the distance.