Chapter 21
Caden
Snow crunches under our boots as we step down from the porch and head to the stables, and I wrap my arm around Winter’s shoulders as she adjusts her new hat.
I glance down at the Hartstrings Ranch brand as she fiddles with the soft brown brim, and my chest swells on a quiet inhale, loving the sight of her wearing it.
I tuck her baby pink scarf a little tighter around her nape and she slips her arm around my waist, beneath the heavy fabric of my black ranch jacket.
“Ponies first?” I ask, my voice deep as she leans into my side.
She smiles up at me as I play with her curls. “Ponies first.”
We’re making the turn toward the stables when the sound of tires has me glancing back, and I stop dead for half a second before exhaling quietly and taking Winter’s hand.
She peeks up at me in confusion before looking over my shoulder, an arch to her brow.
“Is that…?” she asks slowly.
I nod my head. “Yeah, it is.”
One glance at the personalised plates and we both know that it’s Nash’s truck.
“What’s he doing here?” she asks softly, and I squeeze her palm, holding her tighter.
Most likely, he’s on route to family and he thought he’d stop by to piss me off, but our ranch rivalry isn’t that deep so honestly who the hell knows.
We might talk a little smack but it’s generally harmless.
But showing up here on Christmas? That takes some balls.
“Want me to find you in the stables?” I ask, glancing down at her to gauge her reaction, and offering her a get-out because she doesn’t need to see a stand-off with Nash.
But she shakes her head, looking up at me with those beautiful eyes. “I should come with you.”
I swipe my tongue over my lower lip, searching her gaze for a long moment, and then I just think fuck it and lead the way to Nash’s truck.
Winter’s right. It is a good thing if she comes with me. Because this way I’ll be less inclined to punch my fist through his windshield.
We reach the driver’s side of Nash’s truck and he rolls down the window, idling the gas as he looks at my girlfriend.
Winter glances back at him, looking stop-and-stare pretty, and I can tell that Nash is dazzled by the way that he starts shuffling around in there.
I keep my fingers leashed through Winter’s and step in front of her, blocking his view.
“Nash,” I rumble in greeting, leaning my free arm on the roof of his truck. “Merry Christmas, man, but what the fuck are you doing at our ranch?”
He huffs out a laugh and leans back in his seat. “Merry Christmas, Caden. I’m picking up my folks in the town square. Just thought I’d check on the competition as I passed through your land.”
Then he hesitates for a moment, as if considering something, and bites the bullet.
“Heard about Carter. That sucks, man.”
A frown creases my brow, but I nod my head. “Yeah, it does.”
“He’s okay, though, right?”
I watch him carefully. “He’s alright.”
“And that horse isn’t giving you any more trouble?”
I almost breathe out a laugh. If only you knew.
I can feel Winter’s interest perk up at the mention of Carter’s Quarter Horse, so I give her hand a firm squeeze, fighting back a smile as I glance down at her.
The guys at Nash’s ranch have no idea that she’s training Carter’s horse, and I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces when Winter wins at the rodeo in two months’ time.
Nash glances around me, leaning forward so that he can look at Winter, and he rests his tan forearms over the steering wheel as he jerks his chin at my girl.
“Heard a rumour about you,” he tells her, his rough voice taking on a gentler edge.
I narrow my eyes at that.
Then he rips the Band-Aid.
“Heard that you’re their new competitor.”
Great. That’s great. And I wonder where that rumour came from.
I make a mental note to go to the bunkhouse and remind those fuckers to stop running their mouths when they go to the bar.
Winter watches him silently, and my shoulders swell when her eyes meet mine – a silent cue asking for help with wrapping up this conversation.
I lick my lower lip and tug her closer, flicking my gaze down to Nash as he glances between us.
“So am I right?” he asks. “Is she barrel racing or something?”
My jaw tics as I stare down at him. “Go home, Nash.”
He nods his head, an intrigued smile on his mouth. “So she is barrel racing.”
“Your rider’s a dude,” I remind him. “Winter’s race is completely separate.”
Because with the barrel racing circuit being only for women, Winter’s ride won’t affect their ranch’s competitor. And there sure as shit is no need for a rivalry when we aren’t even riding each other’s races.
“Our rider?” Nash repeats, an inside joke flickering in his eyes.
I watch him steadily, not sure what he’s hinting at. “You do remember that August is your rider, right?” I ask drily.
Nash thumb-taps the wheel, his big shoulders rising. “He fucked his ankle,” he admits. “He isn’t riding in the February rodeo.”
Well, fuck. My brow rises. “Didn’t know that, man. So who is?”
Nash’s eyes flash to mine.
“You’re looking at him.”
Surprise lifts my brow, catching me off guard as he gauges my reaction.
Nash is riding the circuit?
I did not see that coming.
I push my fingers through my hair, nodding in support as he looks between us.
“Good for you, man,” I tell him honestly. Then a wry smile tugs at my lips. “At least they found somethin’ that you’re good at.”
He laughs loudly and flips me the bird. “Bull riding, dude. I’m bull riding.”
“Yeah? I’d have thought lasting eight seconds was too long for you.”
He barks out a laugh, grinning up at me as he shakes his head.
“You know, we’ve got a nice dinner planned with one of the judges this weekend. Wade Hauser, you might remember him. A little pre-rodeo bonding. He’ll be down here in Texas while you’re in the mountains, playing hockey.”
I breathe out a laugh of disbelief. Does he even hear himself when he talks?
He may as well have WE’RE TRYING TO brIBE THE JUDGES written across his forehead.
“Pity y’all won’t be there. Maybe I’ll drop your name into the conversation,” he says tauntingly.
“Make sure you do. Mention it loud and often. He won’t pay you any attention otherwise,” I tell him with an easy grin.
Nash shoves his tongue in his cheek, fighting back a smile. “You’re such a wise-ass, Caden.”
I shrug a shoulder. “Yeah.” Then I jerk my chin at him. “We’re going to dip. You might want to hit the road before someone sees your fancy alloys and decides it’s a good day for target practice.”
He shakes his head, smirking up at me. “Wise-ass,” he repeats.
I pat his roof and turn around, taking Winter’s hand in mine. Then I press a kiss to the backs of her knuckles and start walking us toward the stables.
Her dark lashes flutter as she looks up at me beneath the brim of her hat, and I gather her a little closer against my side as the snow reflects in her beautiful irises.
“Well, that wasn’t a total disaster,” she admits, and I chuckle quietly as I squeeze her palm with mine. “But I don’t really know those guys. Do we have anything to worry about with their ranch?”
I smile softly and shake my head. “We don’t have to worry about a damn thing.”
*
I move the third and final barrel into position, making the clover pattern in the centre of the barn, and then I head back over to where Winter is waiting, stroking her hands over the Quarter Horse as he waits patiently by her side.
The Quarter Horse who previously bucked a man into hospital, and is now wearing festive plaid bows in his mane.
Winter gives me a gorgeous smile as I wrap my arms around her waist, and I lean down to kiss her lips, ignoring the huff from the horse beside us.
I kiss her slow and gentle, holding her against me to keep her warm, and I breathe out a laugh as the horse nudges my shoulder, lifting my bicep to shove him back.
“He’s obsessed with you,” I growl, and Winter smiles playfully as she strokes my chest.
“That makes two of you,” she whispers, and I smirk wryly before leaning back in.
I capture her bottom lip between my teeth and tug it firmly as she grips my hair, and then I’m kissing my way down her throat and sucking her skin as she holds me tighter.
“Let’s just do this for the rest of the day,” I mumble, and Winter laughs raspily as she caresses my nape, giving me the minute to get lost in her until I’m standing back at my full height.
I grab her cheeks in my warm palms and haul her up for a final kiss, making her laugh like crazy as she smacks my shoulders, her eyes sparkling when I put her down.
“I love it when you kiss me like that,” she whispers, stroking my biceps as I rub her jaw.
“I love it, too,” I admit, before exhaling gruffly and staring at her horse.
We spent a good hour with the ponies after Nash left earlier, taking them for a run around the snow-covered pens and tiring them out.
Winter’s riding lessons won’t start up again with the kids until after the New Year, so we’re keeping the ponies social and healthy while they’re on break from their scheduled work.
Then we took Gratitude and Sunset for a long ride up the snow-dusted valley, giving them fresh air and a little bonding time before a thorough brush-down in the stables.
And now that our horses are settled, we’ve reached the final thing on Winter’s to-do list.
To see if this Quarter Horse has what it takes to ride the barrels.
We’ve spent every morning of winter break in this barn so Winter can ride him, getting faster by the day, until she decided that he’s ready to try.
I gave him a little coaxing before I set up the barrels, guiding his turns while he was carrying Winter in the saddle, and even though he’s not my biggest fan, his desire to impress my girlfriend outweighs that tenfold.
He’s been cantering around, innocent as hell, while side-eyeing me all darn morning.
My palms slide down to Winter’s waist, squeezing protectively, as she lifts off her hat, exposing her soft blown-out curls, shimmering lightly in the snow-lit barn.
Even if she isn’t planning on going full-speed, her hat could still fly off into the dust, so I take it in my hand, hanging onto it for now.
“I’ll go slow,” she promises, and I nod down at her, trusting her judgement, stepping back a couple of inches as she moves to the side to mount the horse.
I fold my arms over my chest, my biceps bunching against the seams, and I watch as she gets into position, ready to take the Quarter Horse around the barrels.
“Ready, baby?” I ask, my voice deep in the empty barn, and she looks back at me over her shoulder with a pretty flutter to her long dark lashes.
“Ready,” she breathes out, my chest expanding as I nod in support.
She swishes her hair as she turns back around.
And then, they’re riding.
Dust kicks up in the air as they race seamlessly toward the first barrel, Winter arching in the saddle as she steers him, in total control.
They manoeuvre around the bend faster than I was expecting for their first ride, and my brow shoots up as he pounds toward the second one, angling quickly as he runs the loop.
I don’t blink as he makes the third one, riding faster than a trained pro, and then Winter’s beaming as she races toward me, whoaing the horse when I start jogging forward.
“He was made for this!” Winter exclaims, laughing softly as I envelop her waist in both of my forearms, and she strokes my hair as I rest my chin on her thigh, my heart thundering in my chest after what I just witnessed.
“I thought you said that you were going to go slow,” I rasp, groaning softly as she caresses my stubble.
“That was slow,” she whispers happily. “I didn’t have to nudge him once to get him into gear.”
I stare up at her, my heart stuttering. “That was him going slow?”
“We should do it again,” she breathes excitedly, “and actually go fast this time.”
My hands flex on her hips. That sounds really fucking dangerous.
“You don’t have to rush into it,” I say warily, and she leans closer, pulling me in.
And my lashes flutter closed, chest pumping hard as she kisses my jaw.
“Just one more loop,” she whispers gently, and I lick my lower lip as I nod my head.
“Okay,” I rumble quietly, swallowing back a groan as she plays with my hair.
“Okay,” she whispers back to me, before shifting her weight to signal the horse.
I step backwards, giving them space, holding her hat in my fist as my eyes rake over her.
“Want me to time you?” I ask, and she looks back at me as she rides into position.
“You think that I’ll be that fast?” she asks breathlessly, pushing back her curls as I unlock my phone.
My dimples flex as I open the timer. “I know you’ll be that fast.”
She laughs happily and nods her head. “Okay.”
I can’t help but grin. “Whenever you’re ready, baby.”
The barn is snow-silent for one long moment.
And then she takes off like a shot.
I slam my thumb down on the button as they pound the dirt toward the first barrel, and then they’re flying around the curve, already laser-focused on the next one.
Winter arches in the saddle, upping the pace as they head from the second barrel to the third, and they whip around it race-car fast, her dimples popping the second they make it.
They fly through the dust, back to where they began, and Winter laughs excitedly as she slows him down, leaning forward against his body.
“Who’s a good boy?!” she coos, rubbing him roughly as he flicks his tail.
And when I glance down at the stop-watch, my chest heaves with pride.
Yeah – Winter’s fast.
Faster than she’s ever even dreamed.
I take a screenshot, pocket my phone, and she laughs playfully as I make my way over to her, jumping safely down from the saddle just in time for me to pick her up.
“That was amazing!” she says breathlessly, vibrating with excitement as I squeeze her ass. “Did you time it? How did it go?”
“Grab my phone and see for yourself.”
She blushes hard, laughing excitedly as she reaches into my back pocket and slips out my phone, and then she unlocks it using my passcode, her brow skyrocketing when she sees the screen.
She blinks down at it in shock as I balance her on my forearm, smiling at her dazzled expression as I ease her hat back over her hair.
“We’re this fast?” she rasps, and I smile up at her, rubbing her waist.
“Yeah, baby, you’re that fast. And this is your first time taking him around the barrels.”
“I can’t believe it,” she admits.
I press a kiss to her cheek. “I can.”
She giggles breathlessly as she meets my gaze, still holding my phone as she envelops my nape, and then we’re kissing in a frenzy, her heartbeat thundering against mine.
The adrenaline from her ride pounds through her body, and I caress my palms around her hips, lost in the feel of her.
But then I remember what I needed to tell her and I pull back with a grunt, before I forget.
“Baby,” I tell her roughly, “I thought of the name for your horse.”
“Tell me,” she whispers breathlessly.
And I kiss her again.
“Lightning.”