Read A Cowboy Firefighter For Christmas (Smokin' Hot Cowboys 1) for Free Online

about it, Trey had the high cheekbones, bronzed skin, and unusual eyes that could mean he was part Native American. Plus, his family had been here a long time, maybe from the beginning. Now he was even more exotic, more exciting to her. She wanted to ask him directly about his heritage, but that wouldn’t do. Still, she was learning a lot.
    “We’re situated between the dry West and the wet East, so we get the best of both worlds. And our timber keeps rainwater deep in the soil.”
    “Are there buffalo?”
    “I run a small herd out on the prairie.” He chuckled as he tapped his fingertips on the dashboard. “More for pleasure than anything else.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I like having them on the ranch. I like looking at them. And I like knowing they’re safe.”
    She nodded, understanding him more all the time. “You really love this land, don’t you?”
    “Can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
    “I feel that way about Dallas. So much to do and so much fun.”
    “City born and bred?”
    “You know it.” She laughed. “And when there’s a fire, a big screaming truck full of hoses and firefighters comes to the rescue, not some stray motorist with towels.”
    He chuckled. “Don’t count us out here. We’ve got rigs and firefighters that fit the bill.”
    She smiled even as she acknowledged that they were worlds apart. Country guy versus city gal. They were too different to ever bridge the gap. Still, she could enjoy the beauty of North Texas. And her cowboy firefighter.
    As she followed the road, golden prairie dotted with black and red cattle spread out around her. Clumps of trees—mostly green live oak—provided shade for animals. A couple of pickups passed them, drivers raising a forefinger in acknowledgment. Soon she saw the bluff up ahead, an imposing chunk that dominated the land below it.
    As she started the drive upward, she passed gnarled trees, dense shrubs, and sandstone outcrops. She felt a sense of danger, as if she were driving back in time. Trey made her feel reckless. She could almost imagine throwing her usual caution to the wind and running wild by the side of a cowboy or Indian.
    As the road continued to wind upward, the land grew increasingly untamed around her. A large bird launched into the air from the side and struggled to gain altitude right in front of her windshield. She stomped on her brakes and swerved to avoid hitting it.
    “What was that?” She started forward again, heart beating fast. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
    “Wild turkey.”
    “Really?” She watched the massive brown-feathered bird settle into a gully and then disappear with a shuffling strut into tall, sheltering grass with the unmistakable gobbling of a turkey.
    “Slow as molasses. Guess I should’ve warned you to look out for them. Deer, too. You don’t want to damage your vehicle.”
    “What about the animals?”
    “Collision doesn’t do them any good either.”
    “I’d think not.” She drove more cautiously as she peered from side to side. “You just introduced me to a whole new issue. And I thought Dallas drivers were dangerous.”
    He chuckled. “Give me a few critters to tussle with any day.”
    Up ahead, the road dead-ended in front of a dense growth of twisted trees and entwined undergrowth. Green, brown, thorny. Surely it was much like the original, impenetrable Cross Timbers.
    She stopped and looked from right to left. “Did I make a wrong turn?”
    “Independent cusses settled Wildcat Bluff. They wanted safety and privacy. They got it.”
    “Do you mean we walk in from here?” She imagined carting her belongings up a narrow trail to a dusty cabin. Despite rave reviews, the spring might be a muddy hole in the ground. Who knew what wild animals shared the water? She sighed. Her day kept getting more complicated the closer she got to Wildcat Bluff.
    “Dogleg right, then back left.”
    She looked at him in exasperation. “If you hadn’t noticed, there’s an