arm. "This is my father's life, not mine. He chose not to share it with me."
Beau stole a quick glance at her and agreed with John’s assessment. To hear him talk, this wisp of a woman had fought him tooth and nail when he had insisted that she follow in his footsteps and attend his alma mater, the University of Missouri-Columbia. She had wanted to go to a small, private college, but since he was paying for it, he got his way.
Beau smiled at the memory of the night the old man had asked him to the library for a toast with his finest Scotch. The occasion had been Beth making partner in the law firm.
“It’s not funny,” she hissed, pulling her horse away just far enough that their legs no longer touched.
The smile dissolved from his face. “I’m not laughing.”
She nodded once, a quick acknowledgement of his comment, but she kept her eyes straight ahead.
Yes, John had been proud of his daughter. But that didn’t give him the right to leave Diamond J Ranch to her.
Beau caught himself.
Actually, it did. The old man's blood ran in her veins. Beau was a hired hand and friend, he reminded himself. Wealthy people don’t leave piles of money and valuable property to their friends. They keep it in the family.
Beau knew what the Will said, though. At least he had a chance.
“I can make it,” Beth insisted. She kicked lightly and Dingo picked up the pace. Beau still had to keep Digger on a tight rein to keep him from leaving the older horse behind. Shep ran ahead, then turned and waited for them to catch up.
She glanced at him. “I’m sorry I ruined the ride.”
“You didn't, but you were pale as a ghost and your eyes were as big as saucers! ” Beau suppressed a laugh, then glanced at her, "I'm sorry. Don't mean to laugh."
A reluctant smile lit her face and he felt a flutter in his chest. She seemed nice enough. True, she made a mistake that morning, but people who don’t grow up in the country probably have no idea about closing gates. Maybe he was being too tough on her and expecting too much of her. After all, she’d just gotten here. And she hadn’t thrown her weight around too much.
Yet , a little voice in his head reminded him.
The two continued towards the barn in silence, listening to the soft clip-clop of the horses’ hooves on the path and the creak of the saddle leather. A hawk traced lazy circles across the sky, birds chirped in the trees, and a dog barked in the distance. Shep answered with a soft woof.
They reached the buildings and followed the curve of the path. Beth sucked in a sharp breath. He looked at her. She was staring straight ahead, eyes wide. He followed her gaze and saw a boxy, black Mercedes sedan parked next to his white Silverado.
Beau turned back to Beth, his eyebrows raised. “Friend of yours?”
“Not exactly,” she replied, her eyes narrowed under a furrowed brow. The determined look had returned.
Beau squeezed his legs together and urged his horse towards the barn. Dingo followed. They stopped at the old-fashioned hitching post just outside the barn. Beth waited until Beau dismounted, watching his every move. He could feel her eyes on him.
He tossed his reins over the post, pushed his hat back and looked up at her. "Hold onto the saddle horn and swing your right leg over the back of the saddle."
She swung her leg over then hesitated.
"You're doing fine," he encouraged. "Now slip your left foot out of the stirrup and slide down."
She landed beside him with a thump. She blinked a couple of times, then looked up at him and smiled. "I did it!"
He grinned back at her. "Yes, you did! How'd you like your first ride?"
She shrugged, then rubbed her rear end. "Liked it, but there's not enough padding on that saddle."
"Maybe we'll get you a saddle of your own if you stick around." He took off his hat and wiped his brow with his forearm, then settled the hat back on his head.
She turned back to him and frowned, "What do you mean, IF I stick around?"
"Hey! Beth!"
Beau stole a quick glance at her and agreed with John’s assessment. To hear him talk, this wisp of a woman had fought him tooth and nail when he had insisted that she follow in his footsteps and attend his alma mater, the University of Missouri-Columbia. She had wanted to go to a small, private college, but since he was paying for it, he got his way.
Beau smiled at the memory of the night the old man had asked him to the library for a toast with his finest Scotch. The occasion had been Beth making partner in the law firm.
“It’s not funny,” she hissed, pulling her horse away just far enough that their legs no longer touched.
The smile dissolved from his face. “I’m not laughing.”
She nodded once, a quick acknowledgement of his comment, but she kept her eyes straight ahead.
Yes, John had been proud of his daughter. But that didn’t give him the right to leave Diamond J Ranch to her.
Beau caught himself.
Actually, it did. The old man's blood ran in her veins. Beau was a hired hand and friend, he reminded himself. Wealthy people don’t leave piles of money and valuable property to their friends. They keep it in the family.
Beau knew what the Will said, though. At least he had a chance.
“I can make it,” Beth insisted. She kicked lightly and Dingo picked up the pace. Beau still had to keep Digger on a tight rein to keep him from leaving the older horse behind. Shep ran ahead, then turned and waited for them to catch up.
She glanced at him. “I’m sorry I ruined the ride.”
“You didn't, but you were pale as a ghost and your eyes were as big as saucers! ” Beau suppressed a laugh, then glanced at her, "I'm sorry. Don't mean to laugh."
A reluctant smile lit her face and he felt a flutter in his chest. She seemed nice enough. True, she made a mistake that morning, but people who don’t grow up in the country probably have no idea about closing gates. Maybe he was being too tough on her and expecting too much of her. After all, she’d just gotten here. And she hadn’t thrown her weight around too much.
Yet , a little voice in his head reminded him.
The two continued towards the barn in silence, listening to the soft clip-clop of the horses’ hooves on the path and the creak of the saddle leather. A hawk traced lazy circles across the sky, birds chirped in the trees, and a dog barked in the distance. Shep answered with a soft woof.
They reached the buildings and followed the curve of the path. Beth sucked in a sharp breath. He looked at her. She was staring straight ahead, eyes wide. He followed her gaze and saw a boxy, black Mercedes sedan parked next to his white Silverado.
Beau turned back to Beth, his eyebrows raised. “Friend of yours?”
“Not exactly,” she replied, her eyes narrowed under a furrowed brow. The determined look had returned.
Beau squeezed his legs together and urged his horse towards the barn. Dingo followed. They stopped at the old-fashioned hitching post just outside the barn. Beth waited until Beau dismounted, watching his every move. He could feel her eyes on him.
He tossed his reins over the post, pushed his hat back and looked up at her. "Hold onto the saddle horn and swing your right leg over the back of the saddle."
She swung her leg over then hesitated.
"You're doing fine," he encouraged. "Now slip your left foot out of the stirrup and slide down."
She landed beside him with a thump. She blinked a couple of times, then looked up at him and smiled. "I did it!"
He grinned back at her. "Yes, you did! How'd you like your first ride?"
She shrugged, then rubbed her rear end. "Liked it, but there's not enough padding on that saddle."
"Maybe we'll get you a saddle of your own if you stick around." He took off his hat and wiped his brow with his forearm, then settled the hat back on his head.
She turned back to him and frowned, "What do you mean, IF I stick around?"
"Hey! Beth!"
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