FATE ON SAPPHIRE MOUNTAIN...

Jasmine Telford has just told her boyfriend she can’t marry him when their small plane crashes into the Sapphire Mountains of Montana. Miraculously, no one is seriously hurt. Instead, the tall, gorgeous cowboy who comes to Jasmine’s rescue leaves a dramatic, very emotional impression. But Wymon Clayton is quickly becoming more than just a hero to her...

Wymon’s attraction to Jasmine is like nothing he’s ever felt. He should know better—sophisticated women rarely long for the simple ranching life. Yet he can’t resist the beauty of her green eyes, her warmth or how she always says something unexpected. Now Wymon’s falling head over spurs for a woman who is clearly made for him...if he can trust her not to break his heart.

“I’ve wanted to see you again and tell you how grateful I am...”

“Jasmine—”

Her heart leaped, but she was afraid, too. “But if you tell me you think I’m emotionally unstable because of the crash and don’t know my own mind, then I’ll get out of the truck right now and we won’t be seeing each other again.”

He leaned across and caught her softly rounded chin in his hand so she was forced to look him in the eyes. They’d darkened with emotion.

“When I was witness to the magnificent way you handled yourself at the crash site, I knew you were the most emotionally stable woman I would ever meet in my life!”

“Thank you for saying that.” She wanted him to kiss her. Oh, how she wanted him to take her in his arms.

She was no longer the same woman who’d answered the front door.

The earth had turned on its axis because Wymon Clayton had happened to her... and nothing would ever be the same again.

Made for the Rancher

Rebecca Winters

www.millsandboon.co.uk

REBECCA WINTERS, whose family of four children has now swelled to include five beautiful grandchildren, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the land of the Rocky Mountains. Living near canyons and high alpine meadows full of wildflowers, she never runs out of places to explore. They, plus her favorite vacation spots in Europe, often end up as backgrounds for her romance novels, because writing is her passion, along with her family and church.

Rebecca loves to hear from readers. If you wish to email her, please visit her website, www.cleanromances.com.

Dedicated to the memory of the great John Muir,

also known as John of the Mountains.

He was a Scottish-American naturalist,

author, environmental philosopher

and early advocate of the preservation

of the wilderness in the United States.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“Mr. Clayton? I’m Ross Lee from KUSM-TV. Would you mind answering a few questions?”

Surprised to hear his name called out, Wymon glanced to his left. He’d just come from a committee meeting and had walked out onto the steps of the Montana State capitol building in Helena with his close friend Jim Whitefeather, only to have a microphone shoved in his face.

“Good news travels fast,” Jim muttered. The two of them were disappointed that a final decision wouldn’t be reached for another month when they would meet with the governor again. The eager-beaver reporter already suspected the worst outcome would happen in thirty days. No doubt he considered this delay good news.

Wymon and the members of the committee had been in the public eye for the last six months raising awareness of a controversial issue close to his heart. They’d welcomed the publicity to get their message across and had held debates across the state, some of which had been in the news.

On this day, however, he would have liked to ignore the negative attention. He and Jim needed to be diplomatic because their fight wasn’t over. They had another month to convince the public that this issue was worth fighting for.

“Naturally I’d hoped for a positive decision today,” Wymon told the reporter. “But I’m feeling confident that next month we will be successful.”

He felt the reporter bristle. “With you being the head of the Sapphire Ranch, it’s well known that you’re one of the biggest proponents for the reintroduction of the grizzly bear to the Sapphire and Bitterroot wilderness in western Montana.”

“That’s right. My colleague here, Mr. James Whitefeather of the Nez Perce tribe, is another big proponent. We’re part of a much larger group dedicated to fulfilling our initial mission statement.”

“If you would, highlight it again for our television audience.”

Taking the opportunity to speak on one of his favorite subjects, Wymon said, “Our vision is that one day the grizzly will once again have a population in northwest Montana. We want to see them interact with the greater Yellowstone area population to the south as they did hundreds of years ago when thousands of them lived here before being killed off.”

“But, Mr. Clayton—as I understand it, today’s lack of a decision means most voters in Montana believe the issue is on a downward spiral.”

“All great ideas face setbacks,” Wymon countered. “We’re continually working to get the necessary votes. In a month’s time we hope to win by a landslide.”

The reporter squinted at him. “You think that’s possible?”

“Anything’s possible, and the decisions made by our committee will serve to guide the federal and state agencies involved in grizzly bear management. It’s our belief that a new grizzly population will contribute to the balance and harmony of nature. It will also contribute significantly to long-term conservation and recovery of the species.”

“What do you have to say in response to State Representative Farnsworth’s attacks on your coalition? He claims that the majority of people are against reintroducing the Ursus horribilis to the area. This hot issue has had tempers flaring on both sides of the state border.”

“A slender majority are currently against it.” Wymon’s jaw hardened in reaction. “I’d say the man who gave the species its scientific name had never encountered a grizzly outside of the Lewis and Clark reports. A damn shame considering it was rightly recognized as Ursus arctos, but the ‘horrible’ stuck, and the grizzly was forever mislabeled in the cruelest of ways.”

“You question history?”

“Not history, just one man’s uninformed opinion. I wonder how many people in your viewing audience realize that in the entire 142-year history of Yellowstone National Park, there have only been eight reported human deaths by bears, and not all of them have been proven to be by grizzlies. That’s one in every seventeen years. The chances of being killed in a car accident or in a plane accident are so much greater—there’s no contest.

“But to answer your question, I’ll give you a quote from John Muir, the Scottish naturalist, who was an early advocate for preserving America’s wilderness. He spent three nights in the forest with Teddy Roosevelt who had the foresight to establish our national parks. You know the story about how the teddy bear was named after him?”

“I can’t say I do.”

That didn’t surprise Wymon. “His hunting party treed a small black bear and waited for Teddy to take the shot, but he decided that killing the young trapped bear wasn’t sporting.

“To paraphrase a quote of Muir’s on the grizzly, he said, ‘He’s neither an enemy nor a means to our spiritual development, neither something to conquer nor something to experience. He’s simply an equal.’”

“An equal?”

“Yes. Muir said, ‘Nature’s object in making animals and plants might possibly be first of all the happiness of each one of them.’” Wymon emphasized the specific word.

The reporter frowned. “You mean they were created for their own happiness? Even the grizzly?”

“That’s right.” Jim took over to finish the quote. “‘And not the creation of all plants and animals for the happiness of one who wants things his own way.’ That is man’s arrogance. A better title for him should be Homo sapien horribilis.”

At the reporter’s stunned expression, Wymon almost laughed out loud. He’d bought horses from his good friend Jim for several years. The man had a great sense of humor, which was very much in evidence at the moment.

Jim kept talking. “Consider that Montana has fifteen mountain ranges above six thousand feet in seventeen counties that include, among others, the Bitterroot, Garnet, Big Belt and Sapphire. All were the natural habitat for the now-dead grizzlies who have every right to be here today.”

Wymon muttered “Amen” under his breath. “Now you’ll have to excuse us. We’ve got to get to the airport.” He and Jim left the confused-looking reporter to grill the others coming out of the meeting and hurried down the steps in the June heat to a waiting limo.

During the short ride they talked business. Next week they would meet again and figure out a ground game to reach every voter in Montana and Idaho. Wymon also planned to go up in the mountains with a couple of the wildlife experts and rangers to discuss a new conflict management program to put in place.

One of their biggest priorities was to discuss the uncertainty of the survival outlook for translocated grizzlies. There was also the problem of capturing enough sub-adult females to meet the shortened time frame when they were in heat.

Once they reached the airport, Jim got on a plane to fly back to his family in Missoula. Wymon took a flight to Stevensville, a small town in Ravalli County in the western part of Montana. From there he’d drive his truck to the ranch five miles away.

It was a good thing Wymon’s brother Eli had married recently and was running the ranch on a full-time basis. It allowed Wymon to focus on finding the funding necessary to revitalize the program he and his friends had instituted the year before.

No doubt it would take a hundred years at least to see his vision realized. Wymon would be dead before then, but he and Jim were in lockstep to help secure a recovered population of grizzly bears that would one day include a core of five hundred or more in the northern Continental Divide area.

They both envisioned grizzly bear management similar to the management of other resident species that maintained effective biological connections all the way from Canada in the north to the Bitterroot Sapphire area.

He’d been excited about the idea of bringing grizzlies back since his youth when he’d spent time in the mountains with his father and they’d talked about their demise. His dad had lamented their loss, and his concerns had served to ignite a fire in Wymon who vowed that when he got old enough, he’d try to make a difference.

If time had permitted before leaving the steps of the capitol, Wymon would have liked to relate another of Muir’s many journal entries that had always stood out in his mind.

The night before I left Yellowstone, I found myself in a small crowd squinting at a distant hillside. A grizzly was eating an elk carcass, while a wolf lay in wait just a few meters away. When the bear was sated, she simply rambled off, leaving the carcass behind. The coast now clear, the wolf jaunted over to dig in.

The crowd there urged the bear to react: “Fight!” at least two people cried, craving some carnal satisfaction in sharp teeth and bloody jaws. The bear, thank goodness, paid us no mind, leaving the wolf free to keep tugging at the meat.

According to a park ranger, the wolf would bring some back to feed his pups. And the grizzly, with the wolf gone, would return. And so it would continue, two apex predators accepting the other’s presence, engaged in an ongoing dance of wary respect.

That was the kind of respect Wymon hoped those dissenters of the plan—like Representative Farnsworth’s constituency—would develop in time. What it would take was more information at their disposal and the money to pay helpers for their ground game of dissemination of pamphlets and video clips produced for the public.

As he drove under the antler arch of the Clayton cattle ranch entrance, he looked up at the majestic Sapphire Mountains behind it, mountains filled with sapphires created at the dawn of time, sapphires his family had mined for years.

His eyes burned with hot tears. Wymon missed his father like hell. Maybe it was better he wasn’t alive to hear that today’s bill had been postponed. But Wymon had no intention of giving up.

* * *

AFTER GETTING OFF the phone with Rob, Jasmine Telford sank down on the side of her bed, wishing she hadn’t told him she’d go with him. But he said he’d be there at 8:30 a.m., so she couldn’t back out now.

Her gaze strayed to the small suitcase she’d just packed. She’d never gone away with him overnight, but he’d been hinting that this was something important for his career. He’d sounded so serious that she’d agreed to take the day off from her job at the university. But she’d told him they would have to have separate bedrooms. She’d never been to bed with a man and didn’t have those feelings for him.

Rob Farnsworth, an energy engineer from Helena, was running for a second term as a state representative. She’d met him three months ago in her father’s office, and he’d instantly won over her parents with his charm and intelligence. As for her, she wasn’t so sure, but from that time on he’d pursued her with a vengeance. At first she was flattered, but after a while little things about him started to bother her. He’d been indulged by his wealthy family—and she discovered that his ambition, like theirs, went beyond Montana politics, which made her nervous.

She’d come from a ranching family. Though her dad had been involved in local politics, he planned to get back to the family feed business once he was out of office. Her hardworking father was serving his last term as a state public service commissioner.

Jasmine’s mother was always right at his side supporting him and often stayed with him in Helena when he had business there, only coming home to Philipsburg on the odd weekend. That left Jasmine, who still lived at home, on her own.

Heaving a sigh, she phoned her mother and got her voice mail. Jasmine left a message saying that she was going out of town with Rob and would be back the next day, but that she’d stay in touch.

Before Rob arrived, she went in the bathroom to refresh her coral lipstick and run a brush through her wavy dark blond hair that was naturally streaked by the sun. She kept it medium-short so it didn’t need a lot of work.

He’d said to dress casually, so she’d put on designer jeans and a short-sleeved khaki blouse. After slipping on her leather sandals, she put on some lemon-scented lotion and decided she was ready.

Within seconds she heard him honk and left the house with her suitcase. Rob got out to hug her and take her bag. “I hope you’re up for an airplane ride.”

No-o. Her head lifted. “You’re kidding.”

“Why would I do that? I’ve been asking you to fly with me for a long time, and you’ve always turned me down. But I’m not going to let you get away with it today. By the way, you look beautiful.” He planted a firm kiss on her mouth, but his plans had caught her off guard.

“Hey—” His brown eyes swept over her. “What’s wrong? I thought you told me you’re not afraid of flying.”

“I’m not.”

“So, it’s just me you don’t trust. Honey, I logged two thousand flying hours in the military.”

“Trust has nothing to do with it. I’ve said no because you fly for your job. I haven’t wanted to interfere with that.”

He frowned. “Interfere? I want you with me whenever possible. Remember that huge rally scheduled in Helena in three weeks? You promised you’d come with me and my parents.”

“I know.” She had promised him. But since then she’d become less sure about their relationship. “I’ll fly with you this one time, Rob, but that’s it.” While they were on this trip, she’d tell him she would rather not be at his political rally.

Rob stowed her case in the rental car, and they took off for Riddick Field Airport in Philipsburg where he’d flown in from Helena. She saw a plane she didn’t recognize sitting out on the runway.

“That’s yours?”

“It’s a Cessna 177B single-engine plane.”

“You got a new one?”

“That’s my surprise!” He grinned at her, reminding her of a kid on Christmas. “Nothing but the best when you buy a Cessna Cardinal. She’s a four-seater and a real honey of a serious cross-country machine. She’s got 180 horse power. You’re going to love it.”

Before long they reached the parking area. He walked her to the shiny blue-and-white plane and introduced her to his mechanic. They shook hands. “You’re going up on a beautiful day, Ms. Telford.”

“It is gorgeous out.”

Rob helped her onboard. “As you can see, there’s a lot of room in a Cardinal. Take out the back seat and you can fit camping gear for three weeks. It’s really amazing. We can get two folding bikes, kid seats and a cooler behind the back seat for a full-family day trip, or fit a family of four in here with all the ski gear, no problem.”

Whoa. His mind was taking their relationship to a whole new level. When he’d said this outing was important for his career, she hadn’t realized she was a part of it. Whatever he was leading up to, she wasn’t ready for anything that serious. Jasmine still didn’t know him well enough yet, not after three months. And what she did know raised certain concerns in her mind.

Pretty soon they were settled and both put on their headgear. He turned to her with a smile. “We’re flying to Seattle and won’t be back until Sunday.”

“The whole weekend?”

“I have a little business to do there. How does that sound?”

“You’ve surprised me. I haven’t been there in years,” she said to cover what she’d really wanted to say, that she’d rather not go.

“Good. I have it all planned out.”

Rob was a planner with enough drive for three people. That was why he’d been so successful in business and politics. Besides his good looks, he had many admirable qualities, but that drive he’d inherited from his parents made her nervous.

Did he ever slow down? Have a quiet moment? Maybe spending the weekend with him would help her figure out if he could just be still and enjoy life. So far she suspected he was a workaholic. Jasmine wondered if she could live with a person like that, never mind that he might take exception to her more laid-back personality.

After starting the engine, he was cleared for takeoff. Soon the land receded, and they headed into a picture-perfect blue sky. Philipsburg lay below between two mountain ranges filled with mining ghost towns and lakes that made the scenery a never-ending tapestry of beauty.

“We’re flying over a portion of the Sapphires on our way,” he explained after they’d reached cruising altitude. “Did I tell you we’re finally showing some real progress on getting rid of the pollution from the old mines?”

“Yes.” She chuckled. He couldn’t help talking about his ideas for cleaning up the rivers to help the fish population thrive.

“I’m happy about the decline in the wolf population, too. Wolves are on a downward trend in the area. It means the tools we’re using to manage them are effective. The impact we’re making there is positive, and there’s more good news. The bill to reintroduce grizzlies into the area was postponed for a month due to pressure from our side. That particular ranching coalition is a tough group, but we’ve prevailed so far.”

“I know you were strongly against it.” Jasmine looked down at the green canopy below.

When she was young and on a hike with her parents, she remembered seeing a grizzly with her two cubs up in the Coffin Lakes area. Her father had whispered, “Isn’t she a magnificent animal?”

Her mother had replied, “And she’s a good mother, too.”

“They have no place in today’s world.” Rob kept talking while she was still thinking about that campout with her folks. “There’s enough trauma without inviting more. Fortunately, enough of my constituents agree with me.”

She felt like changing the subject. “When was the last time you took a real vacation?”

“It’s been a while, but there never seems to be enough time.”

“That’s because you thrive on work.”

“Don’t you?”

“Not in the same way.” It wasn’t a career that consumed her day and night.

“Why do I get the feeling you resent me for it, and that’s why you haven’t flown with me until now.”

“That’s not true at all,” she said. “Please, don’t think that. To love your work makes you who you are. I’m so impressed by your energy and excitement.”

“Impressed enough to want to be my wife?”

There it was! The question she’d been dreading. She hadn’t expected it right this second and clasped her hands in her lap.

“Rob—”

After a silence he said, “That wasn’t the one-word answer I wanted to hear. I knew you were the one for me when we first met. Surely you’ve realized I’m in love with you, Jasmine.”

She wished she could say the same, but she couldn’t. “I care for you a lot, Rob. Otherwise I wouldn’t be with you now, but—”

“But your feelings aren’t strong enough to say you’ll marry me,” he broke in on her.

“I need more time to commit to a decision that will change my whole life.”

“How much more? I’d hoped we’d return from our trip with the engagement ring I bought for you on your finger. I want it there when we attend the rally in three weeks. It’s a good thing I know your feelings now instead of at dinner when I’d planned to propose to you.”

Her heart sank. “I’m so sorry, Rob. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. I’ve always been slower to make any important decision. It’s my nature. You know I think you’re wonderful, or I wouldn’t have come with you.”

She felt horrible and wished she hadn’t agreed to come with him. Now she’d ruined the weekend. In the silence she suddenly heard a thump and then there was a burst of feathers in the cockpit. A bird had crashed through the windshield. The propeller fluttered before the engine died.

Jasmine cried out Rob’s name, but his focus was on the controls, pushing in knobs, pulling out others. He turned to her. “We’ve hit a hawk, and now we’re going to have to put her down in the mountains.”

“We’re going to crash, aren’t we?”

“Afraid so, but we have about ninety seconds before we reach the treetops. After impact, we have to get out as quickly as we can. If I’m unconscious, remember to pull these latches to get out of your seat belt and get me out of mine. You need to get away from the plane as fast as possible. Now I want you to cover your head with your arms.”

She turned straight forward in a state of shock while she heard him call, “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.” Jasmine couldn’t believe this was happening to them.

“Look—right over there. A logging road that might open into a small meadow. I’m going to head for that. Let’s pray she glides to the opening, and we don’t hit the trees.”

While Jasmine was praying with all her might, she heard him repeat, “Come on, come on. I don’t know if we’re going to make it, but we’re going to try.”

The next thing she was aware of was the crush of branches, and she realized the tail was raking through the trees. All of a sudden she was thrown forward in her seat, and the plane hit the ground. In that horrific moment it slid up a slope to a stop.

Amazed she was still alive, she turned to Jim. His head lay against the side window. She cried his name, but he didn’t respond. He’d been knocked out, but she didn’t see any blood except some cuts on his hands and arms. It took her a minute to think.

If I’m unconscious, remember to pull the latches to get out of your seat belt.

She followed his instructions and reached for the latch to extricate herself. Then she pulled his latch. He still wasn’t moving. She felt for a pulse. He was still alive, thank God.

She had to get them out of there, but when she tried to open her door, it wouldn’t budge. She tried again before realizing it had been dented on impact and would need force in order to pry it open.

The only thing to do was climb out the shattered windshield and jump down so she could pull him out of the plane on his side. First she had to push out the broken glass so she wouldn’t cut herself exiting the cockpit.

With her adrenaline gushing, she cleared it enough to get through, then climbed up on the seat. After gripping part of the dented frame, she swung herself through and took a leap. The ground came up hard, almost knocking the wind out of her. Nausea swept through her. When she could find the strength to stand, she hurried around to the pilot’s side of the plane.

She reached for the door handle and opened it. Jim was six feet and a dead weight in her arms. She tried to work him out of his seat belt. If he had internal injuries or a broken neck or bones, she had no way of knowing. All that mattered was to get them as far away from the plane as possible before something exploded.

Chapter Two

Wymon had been driving along one of the logging roads in the Sapphires for about ten minutes when he saw a single engine plane plunge into the trees directly ahead of him.

His heart almost failed him. He reached for his phone and called 911. After identifying himself, he gave the coordinates of the crash. “I’m headed to the site. Send an ambulance and a Bronco with a tank of water ASAP.”

Another minute and he reached a clearing where he saw a wrecked Cessna and a blonde woman working to pull the pilot from the cockpit. No fire had broken out yet—there was just a trail of ripped-up ground made by the plane when it came down. Amazed that part of it was still intact, he knew a crack pilot had been at the controls.

He jumped out of his truck and ran to help. “I’ll take over, but first I need to get you to safety. My name is Wymon Clayton.” He picked up the woman and carried her to the edge of the clearing.

“Thank you. He still has a pulse,” she yelled after him as he ran toward the plane.

Wymon pulled the pilot free of his harness and dragged him as fast as he could toward the woman. The poor guy was covered in cuts from the broken windshield. Oddly enough, he looked familiar to Wymon. Once he’d reached her, he began CPR.

“Come on, Rob. Wake up,” she cried.

Rob. This was Robert Farnsworth, a state representative who’d been vocal about the drainage cleanup from the mines. Wymon could understand that, but more recently he’d been against the grizzly reintroduction issue which went against what Wymon was fighting for.

He continued giving him CPR. In another minute the pilot came to.

“Oh thank God, you’re awake!” the woman said and smoothed the hair off his forehead.

“Jasmine?” he said faintly.

“Don’t move, Mr. Farnsworth. An ambulance is on its way.” He looked into the woman’s beautiful spring-green eyes. She’d survived an ordeal that should have knocked her out too, or worse. Cuts covered part of her arms, as well. “Make him lie still while I run for a blanket.”

Wymon raced to the truck. He pulled two blankets from the truck bed where he always kept his camping gear for emergencies and reached for a can of soda from the rear seat. When he returned, he put one blanket over the pilot to keep him warm, and then told the woman to sit down. He was surprised she hadn’t gone into shock already. Once she’d done as he asked, he wrapped the other blanket around her. In the process, his face brushed against her sweet-smelling hair.

“Drink this. You need the sugar.”

“Thank you,” she said in a quiet voice. “If you hadn’t come when you did...”

“Don’t think about that.”

He moved over to the pilot and hunkered down next to him. “The paramedics will be here any moment. Are you feeling severe pain anywhere besides your head?”

“No. A hawk... It flew into the propeller and shattered the windshield.”

“You deserve a medal for getting both of you out of this crash alive. There aren’t that many open pockets in this area.”

“Rob’s an incredible pilot,” his companion acknowledged. “He told me exactly what to do.” She took a few more sips of the drink.

He glanced at her, noting that she wasn’t wearing a ring. “You were brave to try to pull him away from the plane.” As he spoke, several ambulances from Stevensville and the Bronco he’d called for drove into view.

The driver recognized Wymon and called out to him. Quick as lightning, two of the men with him started draining fuel from the wings of the plane in the hope of preventing a fire. Another one got busy removing the battery.

To Wymon’s relief, the paramedics came running over to take care of the crash victims. “I’m all right,” the woman said. “It’s Rob who needs help.”

“He’s getting it,” Wymon told her. “But you need to be checked out, too. Let the paramedics do their job.”

They worked with both of them while getting names and addresses. Wymon discovered the woman’s name was Jasmine Telford. She lived in Philipsburg. The name Telford rang another bell. He knew why when one of the paramedics murmured to his partner that she was related to Commissioner Telford and did legal work for a friend of his.

Digesting that information, Wymon hurried over to the plane to take pictures inside and out with his cell phone. Soon the patients were placed on stretchers and ready to be transported to the hospital. He recovered his blankets and walked beside Jasmine to the ambulance. “I’ll follow you to the hospital and make sure you and Mr. Farnsworth get your luggage back.”

“Thank you again for everything you’ve done.”

“I’m only glad I happened to be driving up here today.” He’d been on his way to meeting with some rangers, but that was obviously not happening anymore.

The paramedics lifted Jasmine inside the ambulance and shut the door. Wymon walked over to the other ambulance. “I’ll see you at the hospital, Mr. Farnsworth. Anything I can do, just let me know,” he said, not expecting a reply.

Wymon got into his truck and followed the ambulances down the logging road that led back to Stevensville.

A sigh escaped him, and he thought that you never knew what was going to happen when you got up in the morning. He checked his watch. Eleven thirty and he was suddenly headed for the hospital. When he got there, he’d call the ranger station and explain why he’d never made it.

Once in town, he pulled in to the hospital’s public parking area and entered the emergency entrance behind the paramedics. While both patients were transferred to cubicles and attended to, Wymon held on to their luggage.

Two police officers who knew him came inside to ask him questions since he’d been the one to call 911. After they’d talked to the patients, they left, leaving Wymon to wait until the doctor had seen to both Rob and Jasmine. It was Dr. Turner, the husband of a close friend of his brother Eli’s wife. They’d met at Eli and Brianna’s wedding in March.

“Wymon? Good to see you. I understand you were the knight in shining armor. Ms. Telford’s words, not mine.”

He scoffed. “How is she doing?”

“Surprisingly well for surviving a plane crash. We’re cleaning up her cuts and will watch her for a while, but I expect she can be released in a few hours, barring any complications.”

Relieved to hear that, he asked about Mr. Farnsworth.

“Representative Farnsworth suffered a blow to the forehead, but no broken bones or internal damage. So far, so good. We’ll do a CAT scan and an MRI, then put him in a private room. He’ll have to stay overnight, maybe several nights to recover from his concussion.

“After what I found out in talking with her, they dodged several bullets today. She said he’d been a pilot in the military, and you pulled him out of the plane to give him CPR. Because you took care of them at the crash site, they’re both in amazing shape considering what happened.”

“I didn’t do much. Can I go in to see her? I’ve got their luggage. She’ll probably want a change of clothes.”

“Of course. We’ll talk later.”

Wymon picked up the suitcases and walked down to Jasmine’s cubicle. “Ms. Telford?”

“Yes? Come in.”

He removed his sunglasses and pulled the curtain aside. His wandering eyes took in the sight of her lying in the bed with her blonde head raised. She was a natural beauty with her classic features. Even in a hospital gown, or because of it, her shapely figure was evident beneath the sheet. Her cuts had been tended to. She looked to be in her midtwenties, but age could be deceiving.

“You don’t mind? I’ve brought in your cases.”

“You’re our savior, Mr. Clayton,” she said with a warm smile. “The doctor said he knew you and wasn’t at all surprised that the head of the Sapphire Ranch was the one to help us.”

“His wife and my new sister-in-law are close friends.” He set the cases by the wall before snagging a chair with his boot. “I understand Mr. Farnsworth will have to stay in the hospital for a few days, but you’ll be released soon. How can I help?”

“You’ve already saved our lives.”

“That’s nonsense.”

“No.” She shook her head. “If you hadn’t called 911 and come when you did, I wouldn’t have been able to pull Rob out of the cockpit by myself. The plane could have burst into flames. I don’t even want to think about what could have happened.”

Neither did he. “Tell me something. How did you get out of the plane? I took pictures, and your side was so dented the guys had to use a crowbar to pry it open.”

“I was desperate to get Rob out of the plane and crawled out the broken windshield.”

“You’re lucky you didn’t cut yourself more or break your leg jumping down. Because of your bravery, both of you will live to see another day.”

His admiration for her was as intense as his unwitting attraction. He hadn’t been this strongly drawn to a woman in years.

* * *

JASMINE COULDN’T HELP staring at the tall, fit, gorgeous cowboy dressed in a Western shirt sitting next to her. She’d seen him in the news recently, fighting to reintroduce grizzly bears to the area. Rob had been fighting against them, but this man had always been with a group of ranchers, and she’d never seen him up close before.

Her breath caught when he took off his cowboy hat, revealing wavy black hair. Below black eyebrows, his light gray eyes were fringed with thick black lashes. With his chiseled jaw, the kind that didn’t seem real, he had to be the most attractive man she’d ever seen in her life!

“Your hotshot pilot knew what to do to bring you home safely, Ms. Telford. He’s to be commended.”

She blinked. For a minute she was so blown away by him, she lost the thread of their conversation.

Rob wasn’t her hotshot pilot. But he was always in the news, and at this point she realized both men had come up against each other on more than one occasion. She could see why this man considered Rob a hotshot type. He flew his own plane and was an outspoken legislator on his way to the top.

After having turned down Rob’s marriage proposal, she wasn’t sure how things were going to be between them once he’d recovered.

“He definitely saved our lives by knowing where to put us down. I need to let his parents know what has happened.”

“I’m positive the police have already informed his family. The news will go out over the airwaves soon enough.”

One of the female technicians came in with some juice and checked Jasmine’s vital signs. “Are you hungry?”

“Not yet, but this tastes good.”

“Let me know if you need anything.”

“Do you know how Mr. Farnsworth is doing?”

“They’re still running tests on him. I’ll tell the doctor to give you an update when he can.”

“Thank you.”

She noticed the other woman check out Wymon Clayton before she walked out. In truth, Jasmine had been doing the same thing and had observed that he didn’t wear any rings. She found herself wanting to know more about him.

“How did you happen to be in the mountains this morning?”

“I was on my way to meet up with some rangers on business, which reminds me I need to contact them and let them know why I didn’t make it. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be right back.”

She wanted to tell him she didn’t expect him to come back. He’d done more than enough for them, but he’d slipped behind the curtain before she could stop him. Once he’d gone, the doctor came back in and checked on her again.

“You’re free to get up, use the bathroom, get dressed. Then you can go see Mr. Farnsworth if you like. If you’re still feeling well in another hour, I’ll release you.”

“That’s good. I’m anxious to move around now.”

When she came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, Wymon Clayton was waiting for her. It shouldn’t have excited her, but it did. His glance took in the jeans and knit top she’d pulled from her suitcase to wear, sending a slow burn through her body.

He stood there with his hat on. “The doctor told me you’re free to walk around. Why don’t you and I go to the cafeteria for a late lunch while we wait for Mr. Farnsworth to come back from his CAT scan?”

It was an innocent invitation offered by the man who’d come along in time to help save their lives, but she felt guilty when she said, “That sounds good. I think I’m getting hungry at last.”

All she took with her was her phone from the bedside table before leaving the ER with him. He seemed to know exactly where to go. She noticed that women young and old eyed him up as they made their way to the cafeteria at the other end of the building. Jasmine was five foot seven, but she felt small compared to Wymon. He had to be over six feet and was taller than Rob.

She felt wrong comparing him with Rob, but she supposed it was natural that she’d notice the differences between the two men.

Jasmine and Wymon each took a tray and went through the line picking out what they felt like eating. He paid for their food and led them to a table in the corner.

“I’ll pay you back when we get back to the room,” she said.

He helped her settle into her chair before sitting down opposite her. “I’m the one who asked you to eat with me.”

So he had. He had a quiet air of authority when he spoke, which had come across on TV. Again she got the sensation that she was doing something wrong. The first time it had happened, she didn’t know why, but this time she knew exactly what was disturbing her.

She felt an attraction to this man that was so much stronger than anything she’d ever felt before. Pure chemistry, hormones, whatever it was, it was powerful.

Keep it casual, Jasmine. Just be grateful for his help, that’s all. Remember the man you’ve been dating is getting a CAT scan right now—the man who wants to marry you and is still waiting for the right answer you can’t give him.

“Where were you headed when the hawk flew into you?”

She’d just swallowed another bite of her grilled ham-and-cheese sandwich. “Seattle.”

“That’s tough luck. At least insurance will pay for a new plane because it was an accident. Unfortunately, I’m sure that’s small comfort for him at the moment.”

“You’re right. He just bought this plane.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me, too.” Sorry she’d hurt Rob so terribly right before the accident happened. He had to be suffering for a myriad of reasons. Her greatest hope was that nothing truly serious had happened to him except the concussion. You could recover fully from a concussion.

“More coffee?”

“Yes, please.”

Wymon poured her some from the carafe. “I know he’s an influential representative.”

“A very dedicated one as I’m sure you’ve found out, being on the other side of the grizzly bear issue. How about you? Did you always want to be a rancher?”

He finished the rest of his coffee. “It’s my life.”

She felt the passion of that statement travel through her body, and then it dawned on her. “Toly Clayton. Your brother is the tie-roping state champion!”

Something flickered in the depths of his gray eyes. “That’s right. Toly’s my baby brother.”

“Philipsburg is on the pro rodeo circuit for July 2. I’m a big fan of his. Wouldn’t it be something if he wins the championship in December?”

“That’s his dream.”

“We’ll be rooting for him.”

“Who’s we?”

“My parents and I.”

His half smile turned her heart over. “He’s the famous one in our family.”

“How many siblings do you have?”

“Three brothers.”

“What are your other brothers’ names?”

“Roce and Eli.”

“Those are good English names.”

He nodded. “Wymon and Elias Clayton, two brothers who were immigrants from Lancashire, England, came to Montana in the mid-1800s. The names got handed down.”

“No girls in your family?”

Another smile broke the corner of his compelling mouth. “My brother Eli got married recently. Now my mother has a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter. That helps.”

So the other three brothers weren’t married. That included the gorgeous male seated across from her.

He finished off another roll. “What about you? Do you have siblings?”

“No. My parents had almost given up on having children when I came along. You’re lucky to have come from a big family.”

“It has its moments, but I wouldn’t trade any one of them.” She heard love in his voice before he said, “If you’re through eating, I’ll walk you back. I know you’re anxious to find out how Mr. Farnsworth is doing.”

Of course she was worried, but she’d also enjoyed talking to Wymon and suffered more guilt for admitting it to herself. “I hope they don’t find anything else wrong with him.”

“He seemed to be all right, and the concussion will heal. As for you, from where I’m sitting, no one would guess that a few hours ago you barely escaped a plane crash.”

“This whole day has been surreal.”

“I can only imagine. After your experience, you’re going to feel aches and pains and need rest, even if you’re fighting it now.”

“I’m sure you’re right.”

They got up and went back to the ER. He entered the cubicle with her. “Why don’t you lie on top of the bed and relax? I’ll see what I can find out about Mr. Farnsworth.”

She watched him disappear. The man had a way of being in charge without doing anything overt. He was intrinsically kind. Solid. She knew she could trust him. He was a person she imagined other people leaned on. And you’re thinking about him way too much.

Suddenly exhausted, Jasmine got on the bed and lay down on her side. Poor Rob. This day had turned into a nightmare for him. The only kind of comfort he would want was to hear that she would marry him.

Tears trickled from her eyes because she couldn’t tell him something she didn’t feel. Restless, she turned on her other side.

If only she’d acted on her worry that he was getting way too serious. She should have found an excuse not to go away with him. The thought of hurting him at all was bad enough. But to hurt him right before their accident made everything so much worse. How was she going to get out of that rally she’d promised to attend with him?

Tears of guilt overtaking her, she buried her face in the pillow.

When Wymon returned to the cubicle, he could hear that Jasmine was crying. He stood outside the curtain until her sobs subsided. When he pulled it open, he could tell she’d fallen asleep. Good. It was what she needed. In fact, he was convinced she ought to be given a room for the night.

Before he drove back to the ranch, he asked to speak to Dr. Turner and waited in the lounge outside the doors of the ER until he showed up ten minutes later.

Wymon got to his feet. “I’m going home, but before leaving I wanted to suggest that Ms. Telford be given a room. She ate a good lunch, but went right back to her bed after. I have no idea if or when her parents are going to show up.”

“I already planned to keep her overnight after I went in to check on her and found her asleep,” Dr. Turner told him.

“Perfect. How is Mr. Farnsworth?”

“I haven’t talked to the neurologist since the CAT scan, but I trust I’ll hear from him soon. You’ve done everything you can do here, Wymon, and you need some downtime to relax, too. Leave your name and cell phone number with the receptionist in triage so we can reach you if needed.”

With a nod, he did as the doctor suggested before going out to his truck. Then he drove back to the ranch, passing the main ranch house and Eli’s. A little farther down the road was Luis and Solana’s home.

Luis had come to work for Wymon’s father years earlier. With his dad’s death just a year and a half ago, Wymon and his brothers relied on Luis, who was the best ranch foreman of anyone around. Solana, the housekeeper at the main ranch house where his mother lived, had become a permanent fixture in the Clayton household.

Wymon’s place was farthest up the road. After parking his truck next to the Audi at the side of his log cabin-style house, he headed for the kitchen. Once he’d pulled a cold beer from the fridge, he took the stairs two at a time to the loft.

When he’d moved into the two-bedroom house six years ago at the age of twenty-two, it was only one story. Since then he’d slowly had renovations done and it was now a two-story house with a bedroom, bath and loft on the second floor.

He loved sleeping upstairs in his modern bedroom where he could look out at the stars and the Sapphire Mountains while he lay in bed. The floor-to-ceiling windows made him feel as if he was sleeping outside.

The scenery drew him like a magnet. He took the lid off the bottle and drank half of it while he looked out at the vista that now included one crumpled blue-and-white Cessna. The sight of Jasmine Telford courageously trying to pull the pilot out of the cockpit would never leave him. Neither would the picture of her lying on the hospital bed, looking so beautiful. Those green eyes of hers had mesmerized him.

Over the last few hours he’d had time to put the pieces together. The two crash victims had been on their way to Seattle, no doubt in love and eager to get away for a vacation. With both of them coming from political backgrounds, they were well matched and well heeled. Particularly Robert Farnsworth, whose father and grandfather had made millions in oil.

She’d make a gorgeous wife for the aggressive Montana Representative. Give the man another eight to ten years and Wymon figured he’d have aspirations for something bigger in the future.

Was she as ambitious? Did she look forward to a life with him? Possibly in Washington, DC? Wining and dining with other One Percenters for the rest of their lives?

Wymon wished he didn’t want to know the answer to that question. He had to think back to his bull-riding days in high school to remember what it was like to be this attracted to a woman on sight.

Sheila Rogers, a popular, attractive girl from his high school, had been the daughter of a local rancher. Wymon had fallen hard for her. They’d planned to get married after college. But she’d enrolled in a study-abroad program in Italy and met a guy there who was on location making a Hollywood movie.

When she returned home she had stars in her eyes. She wasn’t the same girl who’d sobbed in his arms before leaving for Europe and had promised to email him every day and send pictures.

Sheila had broken up with Wymon, telling him she couldn’t imagine living on a ranch with him for the rest of her life. He knew she hadn’t intended to be cruel about it, just honest, but it had hurt him badly. Her honesty had broken his heart, but it also taught him a lesson. Before he knew it, Sheila had married the guy she met in Italy and moved to California, excited to embrace a brand-new way of life.

Since then he’d dated his fair share of women. But he didn’t like it that after all this time he once again found himself attracted to a woman who’d purposely put herself in a position to embrace an exciting life far away from Montana with a man of prominence and means.

Though Wymon didn’t have an idea of the perfect woman, he hoped one day to meet someone who wanted the same basic things from life that he did. So far she hadn’t come along. And if she never did?

He wheeled around and bounded back down the stairs, setting the half-empty bottle on the kitchen counter before leaving the house. Needing to channel his frustration, he raced up to the barn and saddled his quarter horse.

“Let’s get out of here, Titus. We both need a workout,” he said and headed off into the mountains to clear his head.

Chapter Three

By midafternoon Jasmine’s parents had arrived at the hospital. She told them everything that had happened, leaving out the part about Rob proposing to her. Dr. Turner had transferred her to a room on the second floor and ordered her to rest. Her folks would be coming back in the morning to pick her up and drive her back to Philipsburg.

At six that evening, Rob’s parents showed up and asked her to walk with them to his room, which was four doors down the hall. Jasmine had met them on several occasions and was comfortable being in their company.

While the three of them congregated around Rob, their dinners were brought in and they ate. His folks shed tears and were overjoyed that they’d both survived the crash. She doubted Rob had told them about what had happened in the cockpit before the hawk had flown into the propeller.

They treated her as if she’d be a member of their family one day soon, adding to her consternation. Rob lay there with his head bandaged. A plastic surgeon had put in the three stitches needed. They’d given him pain medication after monitoring his condition all afternoon.

Hard as it was, Jasmine had to pretend everything was all right between them in front of his parents. “Rob? How are you feeling?” she asked him.

“Rocky—dizzy—” The way he stared at her between narrowed lids made it clear to her that he wanted to say, How the hell do you think I feel after you rejected me?

Guilt stabbed at her. “I’m so sorry you were hurt. Just remember that you saved our lives because of the miraculous way you landed the plane. What will happen to it now?”

“I’ll take care of it,” his father answered for him. “We just want him to get well and back on track as fast as possible for the big rally in three weeks.”

You couldn’t keep a Farnsworth down. “I want that for you, too.”

Rob grimaced at her remark. She knew how much emotional pain he was in. But she was in pain, too, because she knew in her heart she wouldn’t be changing her mind about him. He was a good man, but marriage to him wouldn’t work.

His mother turned to her. “Tell us about Mr. Clayton—I hear he came to your rescue after the crash landing.”

Jasmine didn’t dare look at Rob, knowing both men were political foes over the grizzly issue. “I undid the latch the way Rob told me to and tried to pull him out of the cockpit, but he was trapped. That’s when Mr. Clayton saw us. He carried me to the trees, then ran back to help Rob.”

“What an amazing coincidence that he would be there at that precise moment,” Rob’s mother murmured.

“I know. It was like he appeared out of the blue. Apparently he’d seen the plane go down and called 911. After he lifted Rob from the wreckage, he brought him over by me and gave him CPR. He was amazing. While I was sitting there in a daze, he brought me a cola and covered us with blankets. It wasn’t long after that that the paramedics arrived.”

Mr. Farnsworth cleared his throat. “We’ll have to thank him for helping save your lives.”

Jasmine noticed Rob didn’t say anything. She decided to leave it to his parents to ask the doctor how to get in touch with Wymon Clayton. Just the thought of him made her heart race, followed by more guilt that she would still be thinking about him.

She didn’t want to be reminded of the way it felt when he’d placed the blanket around her shoulders at the crash site. When his chin had brushed her hair and she’d smelled the soap he used in the shower, she’d felt his presence in every atom of her body.

Fearing this conversation was bothering Rob, she didn’t dare volunteer any more information about the man who’d rescued them. Their son didn’t need to know that they’d eaten lunch together in the hospital cafeteria and had talked about their families. Already, she was thinking ahead to the rodeo next weekend in Philipsburg, wondering if he’d be there. Forbidden thoughts she shouldn’t be having continued to bombard her.

A nurse came in the room to check Rob’s vital signs. She told them visiting hours were over and that Jasmine needed to get back to her room to be checked. Jasmine was so relieved for the interruption, she could have cried. This was one time Rob couldn’t object.

She said good-night to his parents and squeezed Rob’s hand. “Get a good sleep. I’ll call you on the phone tomorrow after my parents drive me home.” He gave her a wounded stare before she left the room and hurried down the hall.

After getting ready for bed, Jasmine lay there with the TV on, not watching anything. Because she’d slept all afternoon, she was wide-awake now. At ten o’clock the news came on.

Their accident was the lead story. To her relief there were no pictures, just the statement that Representative Robert Farnsworth and a companion had survived a crash in the Sapphires, with Mr. Farnsworth suffering a concussion. More news to come later.

She imagined Rob’s campaign manager, Buzz Hendricks, had made certain to keep the details to a minimum. If news had leaked out that it was Wymon Clayton of all people who’d come to the rescue, that wouldn’t have been the kind of information Rob would care to have taking the spotlight away from him.

With her thoughts less than charitable, she turned off the TV, refusing to think any more about it tonight. Every time someone came in her room, she secretly hoped it might be the charismatic rancher just wanting to check up on her. But why would he do that when he knew she’d been on her way to Seattle with Rob? She was delusional to think he’d be interested in her.

What a pathetic fool she was to wish that he might want to see her again. Wymon was so attractive, he could have any woman he wanted and was probably living with one right now. During their conversation earlier, neither of them had talked about their personal lives. Those feelings of hers were all one-sided, and she needed to put them away.

Before she finally went to sleep, she came to a conclusion. In a few days when Rob was well, she would tell him emphatically that she couldn’t envision a life with him. They had different temperaments, and it was better that they stop seeing each other.

She couldn’t possibly go to the rally with him feeling the way she did. Even if she’d promised him several weeks ago, surely he couldn’t want her there now that she’d turned down his proposal.

Jasmine did like him for many reasons, but it wasn’t love. He deserved to find a woman who adored him heart and soul, who was compatible with him and wanted everything he had to offer.

In the morning, Dr. Turner did his rounds and released her, pronouncing her fit and ready to go home. Before he left the room she had a question to ask him.

“Would you by any chance know the directions to the Clayton ranch business office? Since I’m here in Stevensville, now would be the perfect time to drive there and thank Mr. Clayton in person for all he did for me and Rob yesterday.”

“That’s easy. Travel five miles out on Highway 93. The ranch is clearly marked on the right. You’ll find the main ranch house about a mile up the road.”

“Thank you so much.”

“You bet.”

“I have one more question. Do you know of a store here that carries Western gear and blankets, that sort of thing?”

“Sure. Frost’s Western Saddlery on Main Street.”

“Wonderful. Thanks again.”

“Best of luck to you and Representative Farnsworth.”

One of the orderlies wheeled her out of the hospital to the car where her parents were waiting. She thanked him and hugged her parents. Once she’d gotten in back and her dad had put her bag in the trunk, she leaned forward.

“If you don’t mind, I want to buy a gift for Mr. Clayton and take it to him before we drive home.”

Her mom turned around. “What did you have in mind?”

“A saddle blanket. He used some blankets from his truck to keep us from going into shock. I think it would be a nice reminder.”

“I think that’s a lovely idea.”

“Dr. Turner said I could find one at Frost’s Western Saddlery on Main Street.”

Her dad nodded, and he drove there, parking in front.

“I won’t be long,” she told her parents as she hurried into the store and approached the middle-aged man who asked if he could help her.

“I’m looking for a Nez Perce saddle blanket,” she said. She had one herself and loved it.

“I have several. Come over this way.” The man led her to another part of the store where he brought out four different samples. Her eye was drawn to a black-and-beige blanket with a distinctive indigenous design. For some reason she could see Mr. Clayton using it.

“I like this one.”

“That’s an excellent choice. It’s a heavy-duty wool blanket. Perfect for our Montana weather, especially in the winter.”

“How much is it?”

“Two hundred dollars.”

There wasn’t enough money in the world to pay Wymon back for what he’d done for her and Rob. “I’ll take it. Could you wrap it as a gift for a man?”

“Of course.”

She handed him her credit card and walked around the shop. When she saw a beautiful, long-sleeved ivory Western blouse with snap closures, she lifted it off the rack. Delighted to discover it was her size, she rushed over to the counter with it. “I’d like this, too, but it doesn’t need to be wrapped.”

Before long the salesman had bagged her purchases and handed her card back to her. “Come and visit us again,” he said.

“I will. Thank you.”

She hurried outside to her family. “The Clayton Ranch is only five miles from here. The doctor gave me directions. Mr. Clayton might not be in his office, but it doesn’t matter. I’d just like to drop this off to let him know how much I appreciate what he did for us.”

“We’d like to thank him ourselves,” her dad said. “Tell me the directions.”

It wasn’t long before they arrived at the ranch with its arch of antlers welcoming them to the property. They drove up the road. The setting was like something out of a storybook with the gorgeous mountains in the background. Around a curve sat a fabulous two-story ranch house that had to have been built before the turn of the last century.

They pulled up to the office parking area. “I’ll run in and see if he’s there. If he is, I’ll phone you to come in. Otherwise I’ll just leave my gift.”

She pulled the wrapped package out of its sack and walked up on the porch. There was a sign to ring the bell. After a minute, a pretty Hispanic woman opened the door. “Yes?”

“I’ve come to see Mr. Clayton. Is he here?”

“He’s just leaving. Did you have an appointment?”

“No.”

“May I tell him who’s calling?”

“Jasmine Telford.”

“Come in.” Jasmine followed her through the entry hall to the living room. “Wait here. I’ll get him.”

Jasmine looked around the beautifully decorated room. It was straight out of the pages of True West magazine.

“Ms. Telford?”

Wymon’s deep voice set her heart racing before she turned around to see the handsome rancher enter the room, wearing his cowboy hat. She’d been told she’d caught him on his way out. It was pure luck that he was still there.

“I know I’m the last person you ever expected to see again, and I don’t want to hold you up. But I was just released from the hospital and wanted to thank you again before I left for Philipsburg. This is for you,” she said, handing him the gift.

He took it from her. “You shouldn’t be giving me anything.”

She smiled. “Let’s agree not to argue about it. You and I both know what you did. Please, accept this with my heartfelt gratitude.”

Their eyes held for a moment before he took off the wrapping. When he let the blanket unfold, she knew she’d picked the right one for him. She could see the pleasure in his silvery eyes.

“You have excellent taste. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Well, I’d better be going.”

He studied her face. “Give Mr. Farnsworth my best. I’m sure you’ll both be happy to get home and put that plane crash behind you.”

It already was behind her. She’d hoped Mr. Clayton would want to talk to her for a few more minutes, but he was on his way out with other things on his mind. Worse, he assumed she and Rob were still a couple.

Mr. Clayton didn’t know anything about her relationship with Rob. At this point she didn’t dare blurt out that they wouldn’t be seeing each other anymore. As if Mr. Clayton cared...

“Thanks again,” she said and gave him a wave before exiting the door. Once in the car she told her parents she’d given him the gift. “He’s a busy man and was on his way out. That’s why I didn’t invite you in to meet him.”

Her mom smiled at her. “I’m sure he appreciated the gift.”

“I think he did. Thanks for bringing me here.”

On the way back to Philipsburg she unloaded about Rob. “Right before the crash he asked me to marry him, but I had to turn him down. Right after I told him that, the hawk hit the propeller. It was awful!”

Her emotions got the best of her, and tears started running down her cheeks.

“Oh, darling,” her mother said sympathetically, turning around in her seat.

“Sorry. I really don’t want to think about it anymore. As for Rob, I do like him a lot, but I’m not in love with him. I know he’ll meet someone someday who wants the same things in life and will jump at the chance to be his wife. I’m just not that person.”

“It’s better you found out now, honey,” her mother said.

“I didn’t know how strongly I felt until we took off in his new plane. He couldn’t stop talking about his work. I thought we were going on a mini vacation to get away from his deadlines, but he told me he had business in Seattle. That’s when I realized his work is like an obsession with him.”

“Some people are made that way,” her father stated.

“Some people aren’t! I’m afraid I’m one of those.” Her dad laughed and she continued, “All I know is, I can’t live with his energy and won’t be attending his rally. He’s hoping I’ll change my mind, but I won’t. I know you two like him a lot and are probably disappointed.”

Her mother looked back at her. “You’re the one who has to live with him. If he isn’t your be-all, end-all, then the last thing we’d want is to condemn you to an unhappy marriage. One day the right man will show up when you least expect it.”

With that statement, Jasmine felt chills run up and down her spine.

* * *

WYMON STOOD THERE holding the blanket in his hands. How he wished Jasmine Telford hadn’t come by the ranch house just now! If he hadn’t stopped to eat breakfast first, he would have missed her. To see her again this soon hadn’t given him enough time to get over his feelings for her. Now this!

He examined the elegant blanket she’d handpicked for him. His gut told him this hadn’t been Representative Farnsworth’s idea.

Wymon figured the other man didn’t have a clue that she’d bought him a present, certainly not one that suited him so perfectly. Her parents must have driven her to the ranch before taking her home because her boyfriend was still in the hospital recovering from his concussion.

After wadding up the wrapping paper, Wymon left through the front door and headed for his truck. He put the blanket and paper on the seat next to him and drove to the pasture to join the stockmen. But the whole way there he was haunted by the woman who’d come to mean so much to him in such a short time. He could feel the depth of her gratitude down to his bones. Damn, damn, damn.

For the rest of the week he divided his time between ranch work and his talks with various members of the coalition. To his chagrin, no matter how hard he worked, Jasmine Telford kept invading his thoughts until he was just about driven out of his mind.

A big mistake was putting the new blanket on Titus. Now there was a connection with her he could feel every time he mounted his horse. It reminded him of putting one of his blankets around her at the crash site. Had that been the reason she’d chosen this particular gift for him? Somehow he had to throw this off, but heaven help him, he didn’t know how.

* * *

THE DAY OF the rodeo, Wymon had ranch business in Missoula and was going to be late if he didn’t hurry. When he got in his truck, he reached behind the visor before realizing the really good sunglasses he used for driving long distances weren’t there.

Where had they gone?

He didn’t have time to stop in town for another pair and would have to purchase new ones later.

After the morning meeting with the president of the Cattlemen’s Association, he swung by the veterinary hospital. Roce was waiting for him so they could drive together for the hour-and-a-half trip to Philipsburg to meet up with Toly for the rodeo.

“What happened at the meeting?”

“The committee wants to put up my name as president elect of the association.”

“Congratulations, bro.”

“Save it, Roce. I told them no.”

“Why? You’d be a breath of fresh air.”

He shook his head. “Since the grizzly decision was put off a month, I need this time to rally more support and donors before our next meeting with the governor. I don’t have time to think about the Cattlemen’s Association right now.”

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