Chapter One

He couldn't help the smile that crossed his mouth. He'd taken great pleasure in marking her. He wanted everyone to know she was taken. He might be considered old fashioned, but he figured he'd laid claim to her and the sooner everybody realized it, the better off they'd be because he wouldn't have anyone else trying to stake a claim on what he considered his.

"What I know is that you'd better watch your mouth, darlin'. That's no way for a lady to be talking."

"Oh, go screw yourself, cowboy. I've never pretended to be a lady and sure as hell don't look like one with this damned thing on my neck." She must be pissed, Clay thought. He'd never heard her use foul language.

"I won't warn you again, Bobbie. If you can't curb your tongue I'm sure I can find something for it to do."

The look on her face had been comical until he'd added, "I told you everyone would know you belong to me. There's no mistaking it now so you might as well get used to it."

Without further words or action, Bobbie had turned and left the room and hadn't looked his way since. Clay meant to remedy that problem today if he had to track her down and drag her back kicking and screaming. Since Bobbie was spending most of her time outside or closed up in her room in order to avoid him, Clay knew he'd have to go in search of her.

It was almost an hour later when Clay walked into the dimly lit interior of the stables. The pleasantly familiar scent of hay, leather and horse wafted around him, assaulting his senses.

A horse neighed behind its stall door. It was then that Clay heard it, Bobbie's soft, crooning voice. She'd been spending a lot o

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