“No, I don’t want to bother Cash at night, especially with Tracy being pregnant. And he mentioned the Lodge being full. I’ll stay here at the cabin.”
“What if Vaughn comes back tonight, Charley?”
“I don’t know.” She grimaced. “Maybe he won’t.”
“Let’s ride to my ranch.”
“How far away is your ranch?”
“On the path through the pine trees, ten minutes.”
“Do you have a car?”
“Yes.” He chuckled. “I have a truck and a Jeep.”
“Can you give me a ride into town?”
“Absolutely. Do you have a way back out here in the morning?”
“Well…no.” She let out a frustrated hiss. “But I can call an Uber or a cab.”
“We can figure it out at my ranch.” Sully turned and gave her a wave. “Come on.” He mounted Storm and then took his foot out of the stirrup. “Saddle up, city slicker.”
“I don’t see how this issaddlingup when I don’t have a saddle.” But with a playful huff, Charley slipped her foot into the stirrup, caught hold of his hand, and with a hop was behind him on Storm.
“We’ll have to get you one.” Not only did Sully like the feel of her arms sliding around him, he liked her soft breasts pressing against his back.
“One what?”
“A saddle.” Sully nudged Storm, and the stallion headed for home.
“I don’t have a horse.”
“You’ll need one out here.”
“I don’t know how to take care of a horse, and where would I keep it? In the barn next to the cabin?”
“Or a stable.”
“A stable like my cousin Cash has?”
“Not as big, since he has thirty-some dude ranch horses, but yes.”
They rode in silence, and Sully figured she was pondering the slashed tires, the cabin, and having her own horse. Ten minutes later, light flickered across the trail and Storm had them at Sully’s stables. With the floodlight shining over the top of the stable doors, Sully let Charley dismount and then slid off Storm behind her. He opened a door, flipped on the inside lights, and led Storm into the stable. Taking Storm toward his stall, he noticed Charley looking around.
“How many horses do you have?” she asked.
“Half dozen,” he replied just as the backdoor opened. “Randy Custis, come meet our new neighbor, Charley Cooper.”
“Hello,” Randy said with a nod and a smile. He was thirty and a great friend in addition to being a cousin. Sully noted the appreciation for Charley’s beauty and her figure in his eyes. Giving Storm’s hindquarters a pat, Randy said, “Nice to meet you, Charley.”
“Hi, Randy. It’s nice to meet you too.”
“My cousins, Randy and his older brother, Roy, both work for me and live in the bunkhouse beside the stables,” Sully told her.
“For now.” With a nod at Sully, Randy explained to Charley, “Roy just got engaged and will eventually move in with Mindy, his fiancée. But he’ll still work with us.” With a clap to Sully’sshoulder, he said, “Roy and I wrangled good deals when Sully hired us.”
“I’m the one who got a good deal,” Sully said. “You guys are the best.”
