“Why?”
Before I could answer, Bodhi butted in. “Hawk, you need me?”
Hawk waved his brother off and Bodhi made a precision turn and walked away without a word. Hawk never even looked his way. I had to admit, I liked being the center of Hawk’s attention. Then again, I liked it when I was the center ofanyone’sattention. I liked it even better when I could make someone the full focus ofmyattention.
“Answer the question, Carter.”
And because he said my name, and I loved the way it sounded from his lips, I did. “I needed a change. A big one. And since you’re here and so is Ramona, I am too. How else are you going to make a cowboy out of me if I’m not here?”
“That’s not—” He cut himself off with a frustrated growl. I watched him breathe for a moment, the inhalations as measured as the exhalations. It took him a minute, maybe two, before he got himself under control again. Then he said, voice quiet, “Do you know how to ride?”
The horny part of me wanted to leer and tell him I definitely knew how to ride. But I knew he wouldn’t appreciate theimplication. My ego wanted to insist I was better than I was and downplay my novice status. But I knew that could be dangerous, so I answered truthfully.
“I’ve been trail riding a few times. You know, like the group things? So I know how to sit on a horse.”
He didn’t say anything for a long moment. Then he sighed and gestured for me to follow him. “Come on. Since you’re playing dress up, might as well see what we’ve got to work with.”
“Hey,” I snapped, the tight control on my emotions breaking just a little. “It isn’t ‘dress up’. It’s dressing for the day’s activities. Because even though that addition to your message was snarky, you weren’t wrong. I need appropriate clothes and footwear.”
Hawk dropped his gaze to my boots again, and I swear he rolled his eyes. But when he met my gaze, there was a hell of a lot less sass there. He nodded and started walking. I followed along. He didn’t say a word as we trekked across the property. It was a fair walk and it took at least fifteen minutes before the other barns came into view. He beelined straight for the biggest one and I kept pace.
“Wy!” He called the moment we set foot inside. A redheaded woman poked her head out of a stall, and her face lit up.
“Hey! What brings you slumming?” The twinkle in her eye made it clear she was teasing.
“Where’s Niko?”
“Turned out with his herd. Want me to get him?”
Hawk shook his head. “I’ll fetch him. Wyanne, this is Carter Cahill, one of my clients. Wy is the barn manager in this barn.”
Since she hadn’t come closer, I offered her a wave. “Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah. You, too,” she responded, sounding like she only half meant it. She sized me up, shook her head, and finally left the stall. “I’ll get Niko’s tack ready.”
Hawk nodded then gestured with his head. “Come on.”
“You just expect me to follow you all over the property?” I couldn’t quite keep the grumble out of my voice.
“Yep.”
“Hawk,” I said, trying for patience. “Explain what’s going on.”
He gave me a side eye and kept walking, through one… paddock I thought it was called and then to another gate. He removed a chain, draped it over the top railing, and then undid the latch. He raised his fingers to his mouth and let out a shrill whistle.
It took a minute but then I heard thundering hooves. A few seconds later, at least five horses came barreling toward us. I stood my ground, but I couldn’t deny my heart rate picked up a little. If this group decided to charge into us, we’d be toast. But I needn’t have worried. They all slowed before they reached us and pushed each other in an effort to get to Hawk.
He handed out pats and scratches, shoved some heads out of his way, and sent some horses off with a firm slap to the rump. Then only one horse was left, a big brown one, and Hawk had a grip on his mane.
“Shoulda grabbed a halter. But he’s a good boy, aren’t you?” He rubbed the horse’s nose. “This is Niko. He’s the best for beginner riders. Unspookable. You’re going to ride him.”
He was bigger than Ramona. Not only taller by a bit, but way beefier. This boy was solid, that was for sure. But he had nice eyes, and when I held out a hand, he didn’t hesitate to nuzzle my palm. His lips worked against my skin, which honestly tickled.
“He doesn’t have any treats for you, boy,” Hawk chided affectionately. “But we’ll get you some. Let’s go, Carter.”
We headed back the way we came, only pausing to make sure the gate was secure. Once we were back in the barn, Wy was nowhere to be seen, but a saddle, pad, and bridle were sittingon a rack. Hawk led Niko there, put the bridle on gently, then clipped him to some rope.
“Niko doesn’t need the crossties to be saddled. He’s the best boy. But it’s a good habit to have. Always tack and untack your horse in the crossties, so that you have control.”
