“That made it sound crazy. I think he invited me over to show me his land on horseback.”
“You think?” Rayna has one eyebrow raised as she waits for me to explain.
“Yeah. He asked me how long it’s been since I’ve been on a horse, then offered to show me part of Cole County that I’ve never seen.”
“Well holy shit...”
Before she can say more, the exam room door opens, and heavy footfalls grow louder with each step. I turn in to see Tate walking in my direction… or in the direction of the door. Either way, I take the opportunity to look from his scuffed boots to the broken-in jeans, long-sleeved shirt, and finally his almost too-perfect face. Somehow, his beard looks both scruffy and neatly trimmed. His hat is back in place, with enough hair showing beneath to remind me it’s long enough to run my fingers through.
When Tate’s gaze meets mine, he tips his hat and flashes me a smile that nearly melts my panties. “I’ll see you later, Joy.”
And then he casually walks out the door, leaving me staring behind him. I’m going to need to give myself one hell of a pep talk if I’m going to survive the night. I’ve already spent time with him. I can do this. I know my way around a man. I’m Joy fucking Anderson.
“Yeah,” I say, agreeing with Rayna’s unspoken words. “He’s crazy hot. Maybe I’ll save a horse tonight.”
Rayna’s burst of laughter is exactly what I needed. Relaxed, I finally begin to look forward to the evening ahead. I didn’t need a pep talk. I just needed a reminder of who I am. Even if I don’t really intend to “save a horse” tonight.
Chapter 9
Tate
Pullingmyphonefrommy back pocket, I glance at the time for the hundredth time. I clearly have no filter when it comes to Joy. Did I plan to invite her over? Absolutely not. I’ve got so much shit to catch up on around the ranch, the last thing I have time to do is entertain a guest. And not just any guest. The only person I’ve ever given a shit about impressing.
Glancing at the row of fencing that must be fixed, I hope I’ll be finished before Joy gets here. At least I’m along the private road leading to my ranch so I’ll be able to see her coming. I already had one steer get loose, I can’t afford to have another one get out this close to the road.
Just as I’m finishing up the last section of fence that can’t wait to be repaired, I hear the sound of tires crunching across gravel. She’s here. The last section of fence will hold until I get to it. She slows as she reaches my truck, and I tip my hat before making my way over.
“You found me,” I say as I pull off my gloves, tucking them into my back pocket. “Have any trouble?”
“Nope. Just like you told me, keep driving past Boulder Ranch and to the next private drive. I didn’t realize you basically live next door to the place.”
I give her a shrug. “Yeah. Our land borders, but I’d hardly call it neighbors when the only way I can really get there is using my truck or on horseback. I’m just finishing up, want to follow me up to the ranch?”
Smiling, she nods as she rolls up the window. I glance up at the gray clouds beginning to accumulate. It’s supposed to rain tonight, but if we hurry, we should be back before the rain starts. Instead of leading her directly to the house, I pull into the gravel parking area between the barn and the house.
“It’s supposed to rain later,” I say as means of explanation. “We need to get started if we want to beat it. My plan was to get Cupcake ready for you, but the fences took longer than I expected.”
“Awe, Cupcake is the one I get to ride?” she asks excitedly. “And I know how to tack up a horse.”
I place a hand at the small of her back, leading her into the barn. I know she knows how to tack up, but in my head, I would have everything ready, and it would be like the perfect date of movies. It’s hard to keep from laughing at how ridiculous my thoughts are getting. I show her where everything is, and she almost has Cupcake ready before I have my own horse set. Henry isn’t exactly helpful as he spends the time trying to get to my pockets, in search of treats.
Once I lead Henry toward the trail that covers the perimeter of my property, he moves on auto pilot, setting an easy trot. Joy’s smile is radiant when I glance over to check on her. Cupcake also knows the way and keeps in step. I haven’t planned out anything I want to say to Joy, so I’m relieved when we fall into a comfortable silence. I point out landmarks as we pass, but she seems content to enjoy the ride.
“Your property is beautiful. It’s so peaceful here,” she says when we arrive at the pasture where the cattle are currently grazing.
“You like it?”
She turns to look at me, a genuine smile on her face. “I love it. Seriously, it’s beautiful.”
“Sometimes, if I’m having a bad day, I come out here to clear my head,” I admit. “Out here it feels like there’s no one else in the world. You can’t see any houses. Can’t see the road. Can’t hear traffic. It’s the perfect place to be alone.”
“That sounds sad. And lonely.”
“It’s possible to be alone without being lonely.” I look up and see the heavy clouds getting closer. “We’d better get back.”
Shifting my weight, I take the reins, and Henry leads the way back to the ranch. The air is thick, warning of the impending rain. It isn’t supposed to rain until much later, but I’ve been caught in shit weather enough times to know it won’t hold off for much longer. The occasional raindrops hit my face as we make our way back at a steady cantor. As we get closer, the drops become more consistent, and I urge Henry to speed it up a bit, making sure Joy is okay when Cupcake follows suit.
We get back to the barn ahead of the rain, working quickly to untack the horses. It may have been a while since she’s ridden, but she knows what she’s doing. We brush them down, make sure they have plenty of water, then head outside. As soon as we get about halfway between the barn and the house, the sky opens up.
