and white stallion, for Aaron to ride. “Well, I guess
you get to ride a colt after all.” She placed an arm around Aaron’s shoulders,
hugging him close, but he wriggled away. His, “Aw, Mom,” told her plainer than
words that he didn’t want to be hugged in front of the men. So be it. He was
growing up much too fast.
Jimmy gave them each a leg up, then mounted his horse in
one smooth movement, a move so natural it almost seemed as though he glided
onto Sherry’s back.
“Where do you want to go?” she asked.
“Can we ride over to the pond? I want to show Jimmy our
swimming hole.”
“You don’t swim in the creek?” Jimmy asked.
“No, we don’t,
but sometimes the wranglers do. You’ll understand when we get to the pond,”
said Melissa.
“Then let’s ride so I can see this swimming hole of yours.”
Aaron led the way, the adults following as they galloped
across the pastures. Jimmy leaned over to unlatch and latch the gates with very
little effort, or so it seemed. He sure looked fine on a horse. Of course, she
already knew that from his bareback stint in town that day, but there was just
something sexy about a man wearing western gear, his muscles bunching and
rippling as he tended the gates.
“How long have you lived here?” he asked.
“Going on seven months. Gramps had a heart attack and
passed away in January.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. Were you close?”
“I loved him, yes. He was a tough old codger, though.” She
smiled at the memory of his gruff countenance and sarcastic wit. “The only time
he softened the least bit was with Aaron. That boy had Grandpa wrapped around
his little finger. I’m so glad we were able to spend Christmas with him last
year.”
“Yes, you and the boy would have good memories of him. Did
you know he had a bad heart?”
“Nope. He never said a word. Kept working the ranch up
until the day he died. Brian said he’d ridden out to check on the horses
because of a storm front moving in. When Gramps was late coming back, he
saddled up, ready to ride out searching for him when he spied Blaze. That horse
walked slowly into the ranch yard with Grandpa’s body slumped over the saddle
horn, as if she knew to bring him home. Gramps loved the horses, but Blaze had
been his favorite. I’m glad she didn’t sell. I’ve decided to keep her.”
Jimmy nodded as if he understood. “Your grandfather sounds
like a fine man. I wish I could’ve known him.” A serious thread laced his
voice. “So he left you the ranch.”
“Yes, he left it to me in trust for Aaron. The title
changes to him when he turns twenty-five.”
“What if he’s not ready to accept the responsibility?” A
thoughtful frown marred his features.
“I don’t know. We’ll cross that bridge if and when we come
to it. He’s taken a real interest in the horses, so I don’t think there will be
any problems. Still, you never know.” She shrugged and smiled in his direction
and their gazes locked, held, for a few seconds only, but it felt like an
eternity. I could so fall for this man .
Nope! Been there,
done that, bought the T-shirt and had it refunded. She and Aaron had a
chance at a new life here and she wasn’t going to muck it up with emotional
garbage. Her hormones could give it a rest. She might be drawn to him…what
woman in their right mind wouldn’t be…but she didn’t have to act on it.
Aaron’s shout drew her attention.
“I think we’ve arrived.” Jimmy glanced toward the sound of
Aaron’s voice.
“Yes, we have.” Melissa raced ahead, the need to put some
physical distance between them a vital necessity . Stick to business, keep Aaron close. That should thwart any
wayward thoughts she might have. Her mind settled, she dismounted at the top of
the hill and waited beside Aaron, wanting to see Jimmy’s face when he saw their
‘pond’ for the first time.
*
* * *
Not unexpectedly, she rode like the wind, at one with her
horse, her golden tresses blowing
you get to ride a colt after all.” She placed an arm around Aaron’s shoulders,
hugging him close, but he wriggled away. His, “Aw, Mom,” told her plainer than
words that he didn’t want to be hugged in front of the men. So be it. He was
growing up much too fast.
Jimmy gave them each a leg up, then mounted his horse in
one smooth movement, a move so natural it almost seemed as though he glided
onto Sherry’s back.
“Where do you want to go?” she asked.
“Can we ride over to the pond? I want to show Jimmy our
swimming hole.”
“You don’t swim in the creek?” Jimmy asked.
“No, we don’t,
but sometimes the wranglers do. You’ll understand when we get to the pond,”
said Melissa.
“Then let’s ride so I can see this swimming hole of yours.”
Aaron led the way, the adults following as they galloped
across the pastures. Jimmy leaned over to unlatch and latch the gates with very
little effort, or so it seemed. He sure looked fine on a horse. Of course, she
already knew that from his bareback stint in town that day, but there was just
something sexy about a man wearing western gear, his muscles bunching and
rippling as he tended the gates.
“How long have you lived here?” he asked.
“Going on seven months. Gramps had a heart attack and
passed away in January.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. Were you close?”
“I loved him, yes. He was a tough old codger, though.” She
smiled at the memory of his gruff countenance and sarcastic wit. “The only time
he softened the least bit was with Aaron. That boy had Grandpa wrapped around
his little finger. I’m so glad we were able to spend Christmas with him last
year.”
“Yes, you and the boy would have good memories of him. Did
you know he had a bad heart?”
“Nope. He never said a word. Kept working the ranch up
until the day he died. Brian said he’d ridden out to check on the horses
because of a storm front moving in. When Gramps was late coming back, he
saddled up, ready to ride out searching for him when he spied Blaze. That horse
walked slowly into the ranch yard with Grandpa’s body slumped over the saddle
horn, as if she knew to bring him home. Gramps loved the horses, but Blaze had
been his favorite. I’m glad she didn’t sell. I’ve decided to keep her.”
Jimmy nodded as if he understood. “Your grandfather sounds
like a fine man. I wish I could’ve known him.” A serious thread laced his
voice. “So he left you the ranch.”
“Yes, he left it to me in trust for Aaron. The title
changes to him when he turns twenty-five.”
“What if he’s not ready to accept the responsibility?” A
thoughtful frown marred his features.
“I don’t know. We’ll cross that bridge if and when we come
to it. He’s taken a real interest in the horses, so I don’t think there will be
any problems. Still, you never know.” She shrugged and smiled in his direction
and their gazes locked, held, for a few seconds only, but it felt like an
eternity. I could so fall for this man .
Nope! Been there,
done that, bought the T-shirt and had it refunded. She and Aaron had a
chance at a new life here and she wasn’t going to muck it up with emotional
garbage. Her hormones could give it a rest. She might be drawn to him…what
woman in their right mind wouldn’t be…but she didn’t have to act on it.
Aaron’s shout drew her attention.
“I think we’ve arrived.” Jimmy glanced toward the sound of
Aaron’s voice.
“Yes, we have.” Melissa raced ahead, the need to put some
physical distance between them a vital necessity . Stick to business, keep Aaron close. That should thwart any
wayward thoughts she might have. Her mind settled, she dismounted at the top of
the hill and waited beside Aaron, wanting to see Jimmy’s face when he saw their
‘pond’ for the first time.
*
* * *
Not unexpectedly, she rode like the wind, at one with her
horse, her golden tresses blowing
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