“Are your brothers livestock agents too?”
“They are.” He gathered Lady’s reins. “I’m the oldest. Then Deke, then Case.”
“And your father?”
“Retired from FWP a few years back. Works his ranch now.” He smiled at that, like there was a story behind it. “Come on, let’s ride.”
Blair mounted the horse and watched as Hud checked her stirrups and adjusted them before looking up at her.
“Good?”
“Perfect.”
He walked to Lady, took hold of the pommel andswung up without touching the stirrups. Smooth and easy, like he’d done it ten thousand times.
“Show off,” Blair said.
He laughed. “Been doing it since I was eight.”
“I bet you can dismount while the horse is still moving too.”
He shrugged. “I have.”
She shook her head. “Of course you have.”
“Ready?”
She nudged Toffee with her heels and followed Hud out of the barn into the full morning sun. She let him lead, happy enough just to be along for it. She tilted her face up to the warmth for a moment, then brought her gaze back down and found it settling on Hud’s broad back, the easy way he sat the saddle, the quiet confidence in how he rode.
She didn’t try too hard to look away.
Something he’d said earlier nudged at her as they rode.
“What is FWP?”
“Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. I worked there for a while before switching to MDOL. Got pulled into a big case that changed my direction. Deke and Case eventually followed my lead.”
Hud reined Lady to a stop and turned in the saddle. “Do you fish?”
Blair made a face. “No. Absolutely not.”
“Why not?”
“Worms.”
He laughed. “You’re a nurse.”
“I am aware of that.”
“I’d think a little thing like a worm wouldn’t bother you much.”
“You would think wrong. They’re slimy and horrible and the answer is no.”
“You could use lures.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Fair enough.” He turned back and nudged Lady forward. “Good thing I left the poles at home.”
