The Beginning?

Dan & Libby

"Dammit!" Libby looked down at herself, covered in mud, after falling into the stream. She was on the Wades' ranch, probably a couple of miles away from their stables. She'd been wandering around, getting some pictures of the property.

Cal had given her the assignment of getting a story on each of the three families who had a ranch in the Glen--the Meridius family, the McGees, and the Wades. She'd chosen to begin with the Wades, telling herself it was because their property was closest to the newspaper office and that it had nothing to do with Dan Evans working there.

Having spoken with Ben Wade on the phone and gotten his permission, Libby had arrived at their stables early this morning. Charlie Prince, their foreman had offered her a horse, but Libby wasn't much of a rider. She'd told him that she'd like to walk around on foot, get some pictures, before talking to the Wades. She'd been anxious to get started too. Something about Charlie Prince gave her the creeps.

Having seen some beautiful ferns on the opposite bank of the stream, she'd been determined to get a few pictures of them, just for herself. And now-

As she stood in the shallow water cursing at herself, Libby heard laughter. Looking up quickly, she saw Dan leaning against a tree, his gaze full of amusement as he looked her up and down. Libby's temper flared.

"Oh, this is really funny, isn't it?" she demanded impatiently, remembering that he'd seen her wet and muddy before, that night during the floods when he'd come to check on her. Remembering how that night had turned out didn't improve her mood.

"Before you die laughing, would you mind helping me up this damn bank?! How'd you come to be here anyway?"

Dan was strolling toward the bank of the stream, a wide grin still on his face. "I was down at the stables and Charlie told me you'd headed off this way. Thought maybe I'd check on you. You always seem to be gettin' into some sort of trouble," he told her.

Libby had never seen him laugh before. It fascinated her. He looked younger, not so grim, she thought to herself. As Dan reached his hand down to her and she grasped it, she felt a thrill go through her, despite the current circumstances.

Pulling hard, Dan hauled her up the bank. She came up more easily than he'd thought. He fell, Libby landing on top of him hard. The breath was momentarily jarred out of him and, by the time he had it back, something else had taken it from him.

The feel of Libby's body lying against him, her face so close to his, her eyes looking into his, took more than Dan's breath. All of it together finally took away the control he'd been holding onto around her. One hand on the back of her head, he pulled her lips down to his own, crushing her mouth and, at the same time, rolling over to crush her body underneath his.

Libby didn't know how or why it happened, but she felt that Dan had finally given in to what was between them. They were right out in the open, but she had no intention of protesting about it. Wrapping her arms around him, she held on tightly, pressing herself hard against him.

Dan didn't realize he was doing it, but suddenly Libby's blouse was open, her breasts enticing him even more. His first taste of them let him know he'd been starving for her. Although it seemed to take forever, the rest of her clothes and his own were off within minutes.

Her desire having taken over, Libby felt nothing but the pleasure of finally being with this man. She ignored everything else. Luckily, the horse Dan had ridden and tied out a few yards away was the only witness to their passion.