King Creek Cowboys Box Set 1

Chapter 12

Humming to herself, Kit stuffed four sandwiches into an insulated bag with icepacks for the horseback ride with Carter. He had cancelled the tour of the ranch earlier in the week, but this morning had said they were on for today’s ride.

She wore a worn pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and Haylee’s well-broken in boots. They were a tad too big, so Carter had given her two pairs of his socks so that the boots fit better. She wasn’t used to wearing boots, and it felt a little odd and clunky as she moved around the kitchen. This definitely wasn’t an ordinary day in the office.

Your office is a kitchen.

The day they were supposed to tour the ranch, one of his mares had gone into labor and had a breech birth. Carter had almost lost both of them, but the vet came through and both mare and filly were now fine. It was the second time that month he’d almost lost a mare and baby while the horses gave birth.

Kit added a couple of baggies of handmade potato chips to the sack, along with six each of the snickerdoodle and toffeedoodle cookies she’d made. She’d also filled two large thermoses with cold water—since this was the desert, they couldn’t have too much water with them no matter the time of year.

It had rained last night, but it was clear this morning. It hadn’t seemed that muddy, even early that morning. She assumed that the desert sun and thirsty desert plants had made short work of most of the moisture left in the ground.

Whether intentional or not, he had sent her senses into overdrive every time he was around. He frequently came into the kitchen and spent time with her when they were alone, usually a little before breakfast and lunch.

She paused in her motions and closed her eyes.

Carter had come into the kitchen and talked with her so many times this week, that it felt as if she had been working at the ranch for weeks. He was intense, but easy to talk with, and he liked to tease and could take it in return. He made her smile and laugh every time he was around.

Half way through her first week, she had a full-blown adult “crush” on her boss. She knew she shouldn’t let herself get close to him, but everything about him drew her in. His smile, his sexy grin, his intelligence, his great sense of humor, and every other thing about him she could think of.

She opened her eyes and smiled. She was almost giddy with excitement, something she shouldn’t allow herself to feel. A sigh slipped out. Did she want to stop whatever it was that was happening between her and Carter?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Whatever the case, she was too far gone as it was.

For dinner she had been eating on her own in the guest house. She had offered to make Carter dinner in the evenings, but he had insisted she was off work and the last thing he was going to let her do was cook for him.

The first night had been different because of the birthday party. Carter had teased that it had been her “trial by fire,” something Belle had decided to do. He hadn’t known it ahead of time, but had gone along with her.

“There’s no stopping Belle, once she has her mind set.” He said she might be brusque, but she was fair in all matters and well-intentioned.

Boot steps sounded on the back porch, bringing Kit out of her thoughts and she swung her gaze to the door.

It opened and Carter walked in. Her stomach did that silly little twisty-swishy thing again.

Swoon.

Damn, she had it bad.

Just one look at this guy seemed to turn her into a teenager again, one that just met her celebrity crush.

Today he looked as good as he always did. Something about him went beyond his hard, masculine cowboy looks that made him even sexier. He wore a western shirt and a straw Stetson. Faded Wrangler jeans fit him perfectly, and he wore a crafted leather belt with a silver buckle that had a longhorn steer head imprinted on it. His dusty boots made him look somehow rougher.

He approached and she steadied herself by bracing a hand on the countertop.

“Ready to head out on that ride?” He had a slight drawl that many of the Arizona cowboys he employed had.

She wanted to sigh and melt every time he spoke.

“I’ve been looking forward to it all week.” She gestured to the sack of food and the two thermoses. “I think I have enough.”

He got so close to her she could smell his sun-warmed flesh and the masculine scent she’d come to associate with him. His body heat warmed her even though no part of them were touching.

The fact that he was regularly in her “personal space” made her certain he had some kind of feelings for her too, whether sexual or more. He would get close enough that all she had to do was lean forward just a bit and she could kiss him. She hadn’t, of course, but she had wanted to.

She was pretty sure he wanted to as well. Like now.

“Guess we should go,” he murmured before he picked up the bag with their lunch in one hand and grasped both handles of the thermoses with his other. “Let’s head on out.” He turned and strode toward the back door.

She followed. He paused and she almost ran into him. “Do you have a hat?” he asked.

“No.” She shook her head. “I didn’t even think about it.”

He glanced at the hat rack. “Down at the bottom is one of my sisters’ hats. I think it’s Leeann’s. Go ahead and grab it. You can’t go out into the sun without something covering your head. You’ll burn.”

Kit bent and snagged the small straw western hat that had a leather hat band decorated with Conchos.

He nodded as she straightened and set it on her head. “That’s better.” He gave her a quick grin. “You look cute in a hat.”

She laughed. “So do you.”

He shook his head and smiled as he turned to go out the back door. “First time I’ve been called cute since I was a kid.”

“Ha.” She stepped through the doorway as he held the door open. “I bet all the girls called you cute in high school.”

He snorted. “That doesn’t count.”

They walked out into the cool morning, onto the soft ground that was a little damp from last night’s downpour.

“I love the smell of rain.” She inhaled deeply and looked up to see a few wisps of white across the blue. “Not much in the way of clouds.”

He eyed the sky before shaking his head. “Doesn’t look like rain.” He nodded to the barn as they neared it. “I packed waterproof ponchos in the saddlebags in case those storm clouds do come on back.”

“A little rain won’t hurt.” She pushed her hair over her shoulder. “I haven’t been out to your barn yet.”

“Sorry about missing our date to tour the ranch.” He reached the barn, flipped a latch, and opened the door. “Sasha came into the world earlier than expected.”

Date. He’d called it a date again.

She almost rolled her eyes at her silly schoolgirl thoughts.

“Apologies definitely not needed.” She walked into the cool recesses of the barn and blinked to get used to the dimmer light. The whinny of a horse and a calf’s bawl greeted her.

“Hold on.” Carter put his hand on her arm. “Don’t step in the cow patty.”

Kit glanced down at a pile of fresh cow manure.

“Not sure who missed this one,” he said. “I’ll grab a shovel.” He set the insulated bag and the thermoses on a hay bale before heading to the back of the barn.

While she waited for him, she let her gaze drift over the stacks of baled alfalfa hay and straw, sacks of grain, and a wall of well-kept tack.

The barn smelled of dirt, hay, and livestock, all familiar smells that reminded Kit of her grandparents’ much smaller barn. It took her back to happier times when she was a kid. They didn’t have anything this big, or so many animals, but it was the kind of place that she loved to be. And probably part of the reason she loved this place so much. It felt right in a way she couldn’t really explain.

After Carter took care of the cow patty, he gestured for her to follow him. He started toward the aisle that ran down the center of the barn, between the stalls. “I’d like you to meet Little Joe.”

Kit joined him and they came to a stop in front of one of the stalls. A huge black and white horse put his head over the stall door.

Carter stroked the horse’s face. “This here is Little Joe.”

“Hi, handsome.” Kit reached out to touch the horse, and felt the short, coarse hair of his nose against her fingertips. She glanced at Carter. “I hate to be the one to break it to you, but there’s nothing little about this guy.”

Carter smiled. “Mom named him after ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright on that old show Bonanza. I grew up watching reruns.”

“I was wondering if that’s who he was named after.” Kit smiled. “Since your dad’s name is Joe, I guess it could have gone either way.” Carter laughed as Kit looked over the horse. “Is he a Pinto?”

“Yep. Sounds like you know something about horses,” he said.

“A little.” She shrugged one shoulder. “No actual experience, but when I was a kid I was fascinated with horses. I was an obsessive reader, and I read a lot about them.”

Carter patted Joe’s neck. “He’s a great ride for a first timer like you.”

She pointed to herself. “Me? On a horse this big?”

He nodded, an amused smile on his lips. “Little Joe is gentle and easy to ride.”

She looked from the horse to the dirt beneath her feet. “Yeah, but there’s a lot of distance between his back and the ground.”

“True.” Carter pushed up the brim of his hat. “Trust me. He’s a nice, solid, comfortable ride and doesn’t spook easy.”

“Sounds like my Lexus, other than the spook easy part. They both have horsepower, too.” She ran a hand along the horse’s neck. His coat was short and smooth beneath her palm. “I’ll trust you this time. But if I end up on the ground, I’m coming after you.”

He grinned. “Promise?”

“Ha.” She shook her head but had to hold back a smile. “Men.” She gave Little Joe one more pat. “I’m going to call you LJ.”

“LJ?” Carter raised a brow.

She dug a hair band out of her pocket as she spoke and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. “Sounds manlier than Little Joe.”

“If you say so.” He moved to the next stall and she stayed close to him. “This is Heidi.”

“Aren’t you a beautiful girl.” Kit brushed the horse’s soft muzzle. “I bet you’re spoiled.” Kit didn’t look at Carter as she added, “I bet he spoils all his women.” She bit her lip as her face warmed. She couldn’t believe she’d just said that out loud.

His laugh was so close behind her that hair prickled with awareness at her nape. “I aim to please.”

When had he gotten that close?

She could feel the heat coming off of him. She thought the barn was just warm. Nope. It was him. All him.

“I’m sure you do.” She scratched behind Heidi’s ear, her skin tingling with awareness of how close Carter was behind her. She didn’t dare turn around, because he might just see in her eyes what he was doing to her.

Kit cleared her throat as she looked at the distinctive coloring on the horse. “She’s an Appaloosa, isn’t she?”

“Yep.” Carter moved back to the Pinto’s stall and Kit nearly sagged with relief because the intensity of his presence had nearly been too much. He reached for a bridle and slid it over the horse’s head. “Let’s saddle up Little Joe.”

She grinned as he brought the huge Pinto out of the stall. “You mean LJ.”

“Of course.” He winked before he gathered up tack and started saddling the horse.

She helped him by following his instructions, still wondering how on earth she was supposed to ride LJ. She didn’t know the first thing about getting on an animal this big, much less avoiding falling off. Guess she was going to learn.

Carter saddled both horses with deliberate moves, making sure everything was cinched tightly and on securely. He slid the insulated bag into one saddlebag, and shoved one thermos into LJ’s saddlebag and the other into Heidi’s.

When it was time to get settled into LJ’s saddle, Kit felt like tumbleweeds bounced around in her belly. Carter gave her instructions on what she needed to do.

After he’d gone through everything, he helped her up and into the saddle on the left side. The leather creaked beneath her as she grasped the pommel and slid her booted feet into the stirrups.

LJ remained steadfast and solidly in place as she adjusted herself in the seat and tried to get comfortable. She was surprised at how much she was shaking. She held onto the pommel with a death grip.

Carter put a hand on her thigh and she shot a look at him. “It’s okay, Kit. You’re safe and you’ll do just fine.”

She barely heard him because all she could do was feel the heat of his touch through her jeans. His palm was big and warm and it sent thoughts through her mind that involved no clothes and lots of skin sliding against skin.

“Kit?” Carter’s voice cut into her thoughts. “You all right?”

Not in the least. She gripped the pommel tighter. “Yes. Ready to get going.”

Carter gave a slow nod. “Before we leave, I’m going to go through some things so you’ll feel more comfortable on the ride.”

She was all for that.

He spent time showing her the proper way to use the reins, the cues and commands LJ responded to, how to sit in the saddle, and how to use her knees.

When she was confident she could handle riding on her own, she said, “I’m ready.”

He patted her thigh and the intensity of his gaze made her entire body shiver with desire.

She didn’t know if she could handle having him touch her without losing her mind from the need to have him. To be with him.

He slid his hand down her knee, sending more electricity through her, before he moved to Heidi and mounted the Appaloosa.

Once they started off, Kit stopped worrying about how Carter was making her feel and focused on riding the horse. Even though LJ was smooth and solid beneath her, she still felt like she was going to slide off the horse and end up being dragged across the desert. She hadn’t expected it to feel so strange. Like nothing she had ever felt before.

“You’re doing fine.” Carter coaxed her from her perch on the ledge without her even saying how she was feeling out loud. “You aren’t going to fall off.”

“I hope you’re right.” She gripped the reins tighter. “Because I’m a lot more scared than I thought I’d be. He’s big, he’s moving, and there’s no seatbelt.”

“Maybe you need a booster seat.” His voice was teasing. “I can arrange for that.”

She shot him a look. “Very funny. If you don’t behave, you won’t get any of the treat I brought for you.”

He looked like he was pretending to think hard. “If I’m good do I get gummy bears? Cheerios?” Or how about ice cream?”

“Taking ice cream with us would be a neat trick as we ride out into the desert.” She laughed and realized he’d gotten her mind off of riding LJ, if only for a moment.

She looked ahead of them at the valley and the Superstition Mountains crouched in front of them. The mountains were tall, standing somewhat alone and separate from the other ranges in the area.

“Lots of history and tales about the Superstitions.” Carter nodded in the direction of the mountains. “The tales they could tell.”

“Isn’t there a legend about a miner or something?” she asked.

“There are quite a few legends involving the Superstitions.” He was so relaxed and at home in the saddle that she was envious. “The Lost Dutchman Mine is one of the most popular of them all. You’ll find dozens of books and plenty of stories involving a prospector named Jacob Walz. He wasn’t actually a Dutchman, he was born in Germany in the early 1800s.”

Carter went on to tell her the tale about the mine, or a version of one, since there were so many. Listening to him took her mind off of her fear of riding because the way he told the story made it so fascinating. She desperately wanted to hear more of it.

She took a mental note to research more about that mine. Who knew? Maybe she would be the one to find the hidden gold someday.

He told her a few popular tales of the Superstitions, which was a range with a collection of rough terrain that included thousands of mesas, plains, peaks, cliffs, bluffs, and plateaus. The elevation was over 5,000 feet. Many had gone into the mountain never to be seen or heard from again, and much of the area remained unexplored.

Kit let her gaze drift over the land. I could learn to love this land. She glanced at Carter. I think I already do.