Tom Mcgrady was 40 years old the first time a woman collapsed at his door he’d been mending the windmill when he saw her horse stumble near his fence line the rider pitched forward then sideways hitting the dry Texas earth like a sack of grain by the time he reached her the bay mare was foaming at the mouth and the woman lay still as death in her torn city dress Victoria Sterling that’s what the papers in her saddlebag said but papers could lie and Tom had Learned not to trust much in this world except the sunrise and his cattle
what he couldn’t have known was that pulling her unconscious body into his cabin would change everything that her presence would awaken parts of himself he’d buried so deep he’d forgotten they existed that a man could live 40 years without truly understanding hunger until it looked back at him through green eyes filled with secrets if you’re following along from somewhere out there in the world let us know in the comments where you’re reading from we love hearing from fellow western story lovers the question that would haunt him for days
wasn’t whether she’d live or die it was simpler and more dangerous than that what happens when a man who’s never known a woman’s touch finds himself alone with one who needs saving she woke with a gasp that cut through the cabin’s silence like a blade Tom froze at his stove coffee pot halfway to his mouth in 36 hours of her unconsciousness he’d grown used to the soft rhythm of her breathing the sudden absence of it made his chest tight easy he said not turning around his voice came out rougher than intended you’re safe
Victoria Sterling sat up slowly her dark hair falling across shoulders that the torn dress barely covered Tom caught the movement in his peripheral vision and fixed his gaze firmly on the coffee pot where am I her voice carried the cultured tones of Chicago money but underneath lay something raw fear maybe or desperation broken Creek Ranch Texas he poured two cups hand steadier than his pulse found you unconscious your horse didn’t make it the silence stretched long enough for him to risk a glance over his shoulder
she was studying his cabin with the calculating eyes of someone who’d Learned to assess exits quickly her dress had torn further when she’d fallen revealing the curve of her collarbone and the shadow between her breasts Tom’s mouth went dry you’ve been taking care of me it wasn’t a question her fingers touched the clean bandage on her forehead then moved to where someone had clearly helped her out of dust caked outer garments heat crawled up Tom’s neck I you had a fever I only did what was necessary the look she gave him then was strange
part relief part something else he couldn’t name you’re not what I expected what’s that supposed to mean Victoria swung her legs over the side of his narrow bed and Tom caught a glimpse of silk undergarments and pale skin before he spun back to face the wall his coffee cup rattled against its saucer most men would have she let the words hang you really don’t know do you know what she was quiet so long he finally turned around she sat with perfect posture despite her disheveled state watching him with an expression that mixed pity
with something dangerously close to fascination how old are you Mister Mcree 40 come November the admission tasted strange in his mouth and you’ve lived here alone how long since my mother passed five years now Victoria’s lips parted slightly Tom found himself staring at their shape wondering what they might taste like then jerking his gaze away in shame Mister Mcgreedy she said carefully have you ever been with a woman the coffee cup slipped from his fingers and shattered against the floor brown liquid spread across the planks
while Tom stared at the mess his face burning with mortification I dot he knelt to gather the pieces grateful for an excuse not to meet her eyes my mother she was protective said women would only bring trouble oh you poor man the pity in her voice made him flinch I managed just fine on my own I’m sure you do Victoria rose from the bed and Tom’s breath caught as the movement caused her torn dress to shift revealing more of her curves but managing and living are two very different things she moved toward him with predatory Grace
her bare feet silent on the wooden floor Tom scrambled backward until his shoulders hit the wall what are you doing you saved my life Victoria knelt beside him close enough that he could smell her skin clean sweat and something floral that made his head spin the least I can do is teach you a few things teach me what her smile was soft and dangerous what you’ve been missing Lesson 1 Victoria said settling cross legged on his floor like they were discussing the weather eye contact Tom sat rigid against the wall
every muscle tense I don’t need lessons look at me when I’m talking to you he tried God help him he tried but every time his gaze met hers it seemed to drift downward to where her dress gaped open to the swell of her breasts rising and falling with each breath the shame of it made him sick stop that Victoria said sharply stop what looking at me like you’re committing a sin she leaned forward and Tom caught a glimpse of lace before forcing his eyes to the ceiling desire isn’t something to be ashamed of Mister Mcgreedy it’s human
my mother said your mother is dead the bluntness of it hit him like a physical blow Victoria’s expression softened I’m sorry that was cruel but she’s gone and you’re still here still alive don’t you want to know what that means over the next three days she taught him things that had nothing to do with desire and everything to do with it how to hold a conversation without staring at his boots how to read the signals women sent with their eyes their posture their hands how to stand close enough to catch her scent
without crowding you’re learning she said on the fourth morning accepting the coffee he offered without their fingers accidentally brushing he’d finally mastered that particular torture but you’re still holding back Tom sat across from her at his small table noting how the morning light turned her hair to silk holding back from what from asking the questions you really want answered heat prickled along his spine I don’t know what you mean Victoria leaned back in her chair the motion causing her borrowed shirt
his shirt to pull tight across her chest Tom’s knuckles went white around his coffee cup why did I really stop here Tom the use of his first name sent electricity through him I figured you were running from something someone her voice went flat my brother Marcus he’s been using me as cover for his embezzlement schemes and now that everything’s falling apart he needs me to disappear permanently he wants to kill you eventually first he’ll try to convince everyone I’m the real criminal that I seduced investors stole their money
broke their hearts Victoria’s laugh held no humor the irony is I wouldn’t know how to seduce a man if my life depended on it Tom set down his cup carefully I find that hard to believe do you she tilted her head studying him what would you do if I tried to seduce you right now the question hung between them like a loaded gun Tom’s pulse hammered so loud he was sure she could hear it I’d probably make a fool of myself probably Victoria rose from her chair and moved around the table toward him but that’s not what I asked
she stopped beside his chair close enough that he could feel the warmth radiating from her body her hand settled on his shoulder fingers tracing the line of muscle through his shirt I asked what you’d do not how you’d feel about it Tom’s breath came short and sharp Victoria touch me the words were barely a whisper but they hit him like a shout Tom’s hands clenched into fists against his thighs I can’t why because he struggled for words that wouldn’t make him sound like the inexperienced fool he was because once I start I won’t be able to stop
Victoria’s fingers stilled on his shoulder when she spoke again her voice carried a tremor he’d never heard before what makes you think I’d want you to stop the sound of approaching hoofbeats shattered the moment like glass Tom was on his feet instantly his rifle in his hands before Victoria had even registered the danger through the cabin’s single window he counted four riders moving slow and deliberate toward the house get down he commanded but Victoria was already moving crouching behind his heavy oak table
it’s them she whispered her face gone pale that’s Marcus on the black horse Tom studied the approaching men through the window’s edge the leader sat his mount with the casual arrogance of someone who’d never doubted his right to take what he wanted expensive clothes soft hands the kind of man who paid others to do his dirty work what do they want me dead or compliant doesn’t matter which the riders stopped 30 yards from the cabin close enough to talk far enough to avoid rifle fire Marcus Sterling called out in a voice that carried the smooth confidence
of a practiced liar Victoria Darling come out now this has gone on long enough Tom moved to the window rifle visible you’re not welcome here and you are Marcus’s laugh was cold just a lonely rancher who got lucky when my sister rode up looking for comfort she’s good at that making men feel special right before she empties their bank accounts that’s not true Victoria hissed but Tom could see the doubt creeping into her expression how well did she really know herself how well did he know her think about it Cowboy
Marcus continued beautiful woman appears out of nowhere needs rescuing suddenly you’re the hero of her story how much money have you shown her how many secrets has she Learned Tom’s grip tightened on the rifle because the truth was Victoria had asked questions about his land his livestock the old mine shaft up in the hills that he’d mentioned might still have some gold in it Tom Victoria’s voice was barely audible you can’t possibly believe toss out your weapons Marcus shouted and send my sister out do that and nobody has to get hurt
one of the other riders shifted in a saddle and Tom caught the glint of sunlight on steel they were armed and positioned to cover all approaches to the cabin professional work how many bullets you got in that rifle cowboy Marcus called four men out here and we’ve got all day Victoria moved beside him her breath warm against his ear there’s so something I need to tell you about that gold mine Tom’s blood went cold what about it I may have sent a telegraph to my lawyer in Chicago told him about it as proof I was safe
that I had found someone trustworthy her voice cracked Tom I think I LED them right to you outside Marcus was growing impatient last chance Victoria come out now or we come in shooting Tom looked at the woman who’d turned his world upside down in less than a week who’d awakened hungers he’d never known he possessed who might have been playing him for a fool from the very beginning why should I trust you he asked quietly Victoria met his eyes without flinching because I’m about to bet my life that you’ll choose to
protect me anyway she was right god help him she was right whether she was innocent or guilty whether she’d used him or saved him the thought of letting Marcus Sterling take her made something savage rise in his chest get behind the bed Tom said and stay down the first bullet shattered his window before he’d finished speaking the gunfight lasted seven minutes when the smoke cleared Marcus Sterling lay dead in the dust and his men had fled with their tails between their legs Tom stood in his doorway rifle smoking
blood trickling from a graze on his temple Victoria emerged from behind the bed her dress torn and dusty her eyes wide with something that might have been awe you could have died she said Tom set down his rifle and looked at her really looked at her maybe for the first time not as a mystery to be solved or a temptation to be resisted but as a woman who’d chosen to trust him with her life so could you she crossed the room slowly her bare feet crunching over broken glass when she reached him she placed her palm flat against his chest
over his heart the gold mine she said quietly I did tell my lawyer about it but not because I wanted to steal from you her fingers traced the buttons of his shirt because I wanted him to know I’d found something worth protecting Tom covered her hand with his the mine’s been played out for years nothing left but fool’s gold and empty promises then why did you let me stay he thought about that as the Texas sun climbed higher burning off the morning’s gunsmoke and fear about loneliness and hunger and the way a man could live 40 years
without really living at all because you saw something in me that I’d forgotten was there Victoria’s smile was soft and real nothing calculated or practiced about it and what’s that a man worth saving she rose on her toes and kissed him then soft and sweet and full of promise it was Tom’s first kiss and it tasted like redemption that’s our story from the Broken Creek folks if these tales of the Old West speak to something in your heart subscribe for more stories of love loss and second chances under the wide Texas sky
until next time keep riding toward your own sunsets outside the wind picked up carrying the scent of sage and possibilities across the endless prairie
