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ranch as a string of frustrating little skirmishes, and she wanted more. At the lodge he’d stood beside her too long and stepped away too soon. She felt like a coiled spring. She knew Colt was the reason she walked over to the barn. Every time she saw Colt McCord, he got sexier. His sensuality wrapped around her, its grip growing stronger each time he spoke.
    Fearing her desire was obvious, she tried to make it seem like she was merely curious about the problem in the stables. “You rode up on the trail today because of what is going on in the barn didn’t you?”
    Colt looked at her expectantly. His lips were unusually full for such a rugged-featured, masculine man, striking her as sensual yet firm. He gave Graysen a small smile. “I didn’t figure you for someone who would be so interested in our ranch after barely one day here.” Colt took her hand and led her inside. “C’mon, I’ll show you.”
    Graysen gasped. Her hand cradled in his strong grip gave birth to a tingling sensation that began at the tips of her fingers and grew slowly, travelling up the length of her arm until it reached her shoulder, and skated to her heart, causing it to beat wildly. The memory of how tightly he held the reins of the wild horse in the corral last night and how tenderly he held her hand when he introduced himself whirled through her mind. She tried not to lose herself in the moment. She willed herself to ignore the growing flutter in her belly. Don’t be beguiled , she warned herself.
    He led her over to the stall where he had knelt moments earlier. A young foal lay in a bed of hay. It was almost entirely chestnut, but had a large white splotch on its belly. From the position it was in, Graysen thought it was sleeping, but then she caught a glimpse of the forlorn look in its eyes. She noticed its leg was outstretched and wrapped in bandages, and her heart caught in her throat.
    “Her leg became trapped in a snake hole when she was out running the fields today. We freed her, but her leg was broken. This morning on the trail we were looking for White Pine’s vet, Jack Evans.” Colt’s voice was pained.
    Seeing the young horse, injured and helpless, wounded Graysen. “Will she be okay?”
    “As young as she is, it presents a problem. She needs to be able to run every day and give her legs the exercise they need so they can develop properly. She is in real bad shape. We don’t know if she will ever walk again. We might have to put her out of her misery. Jack thinks we shouldn’t let her suffer any longer, but I just can’t bring myself to do it, not yet. I have to give her a chance.” His green eyes welled with sadness.
    Graysen was overcome with emotion. Unable to hold her feelings back any longer, a tear slowly trickled along the curve of her cheek. Colt looked at her with genuine concern. She looked down at the floor of the barn, scraping the toe of her wedge sandal through the scattered hay on the barn floor. As she tried to collect herself, a rough thumb came to her cheek and lightly brushed away a tear. Colt’s hand cupped her chin, bringing her head up so that her eyes met his. He was no longer the cocky cowboy, playfully teasing her, but gentle and warm.
    “You’re full of surprises, Iowa.” The husky tone of his voice betrayed his thoughts. His pet name for her dripped from his tongue like honey in his pitch-perfect southern timbre. “It’s getting late. I’ll walk you back to your cabin.”
    Graysen gave him a small smile and nodded. She looked back at the stall where the foal was resting, feeling a wave of sorrow crush her. She shook her head, trying to release herself from the sadness that flooded her thoughts. She reminded herself: Colt is standing right next to you. He is actually walking you back to the cabin .
    As they walked across the ranch, Colt started up the conversation again. As if sensing her mood, he tried to lighten it by teasing her. “So, only twenty, huh?”
    Dryly she responded,