Chapter 8 Knox
Knox
Idrive under the steel Diamond Hart Ranch brand sign above the entry gate, then follow a long gravel driveway lined with redbud trees on both sides.
I didn’t pay much attention last time, but I do today.
The driveway is over a mile long, with pastures and hay fields on both sides of the drive.
The ranch is situated in a valley with mountains surrounding it on three sides.
I drive past what looks like the main house on my way to the horse barn, but I can see two other houses off to the side and what looks like a bunk house attached to an older barn.
Everything is brown and white, even the ranch trucks are white with brown DHR logos on the sides.
It’s all perfectly maintained—this ranch is clearly extremely successful and probably one of the largest in Colorado.
As I back my truck up to the same spot where I parked last week, I take my last swig of my morning coffee. I step out and drop the tailgate. When I reach for my hoof stand, I spot Kacey and Carson walking up with four brood mares.
I watched the two of them at the roping. They never acted like a couple, but Carson didn’t like it when I invited Kacey to Estes, that’s for sure. There is a clear age gap between them, and I’ve wondered for the past three days what their relationship is. I’d concluded he must work on the ranch.
To be honest, I’m not sure why I keep flirting with her. Yeah, she’s beautiful, and it’s been a while since I’ve been with anyone, but she doesn’t seem like the type for one night stands. I don’t know her at all, but I can just tell she’s a relationship girl and I’m the last thing she needs.
But I can’t help myself.
“Morning,” I say, looking toward Kacey. She’s wearing those damn jeans that fit her like a glove again, with a three-quarter zip sweatshirt and a Kimes ball cap on, her blonde hair pulled back. I remind myself not to check her out with Carson nearby.
Damn, she’s beautiful.
“Morning, Knox.” She smiles.
Carson walks past with two of the horses to put them in the barn. Instead of saying hi or good morning, he just grunts.
What is this guy’s problem with me? Or is he like this to everyone?
“Well, isn’t he just Mr. Sunshine this morning?” I can’t help but mumble once he’s out of earshot.
Kacey smirks. “He’ll warm up to you. He just doesn’t know you.”
I hear his spurs jingle behind me as he walks back toward the truck. Behind Kacey, I see a big man approaching from the direction of the main house.
“You must be the stand-in farrier for Jack,” he says gruffly through a thick beard.
“Yes sir, I’m—”
“Knox Ward,” the man cuts me off. “I know exactly who you are, I watch you ride on TV all the time. You’re a damn handy bull rider. Looks like you’re heading back to the finals again this year.”
The look on Kacey’s face is pure shock and confusion. Her eyes flick back and forth between the man and me.
The man extends a hand to shake mine. “Cody Hart, nice to meet you.”
Hart. This must be her dad.
I shake his hand. “You, too. This is a nice spread you have here.” I glance at Kacey and her face has just gone from shock to something else . . . annoyance maybe? That’s weird.
“Thanks, I think my grandad picked a pretty nice spot when he started this ranch.”
I turn back to Cody, and I think I can make out a smile behind his beard. He clearly hasn’t noticed the change in Kacey’s body language.
Carson clears his throat from behind me. “So, I guess you must be the windshield more than the bug? At least you’re modest.”
I just give him a nod.
His eyes have a look to them, like he has some sort of plan running through his head.
Kacey hasn’t said a word.
He looks past me to Cody. “Boss, that three-year-old gelding isn’t coming around. We’ve wasted enough time with him, he needs to go to town.”
Yep, he definitely works here.
Kacey’s head snaps around to look at him. “No way, we aren’t taking him to the sale barn. I know Chet worked with him, but he’s an idiot. Can’t you spend a little more time with him?”
“I’ve spent time with him, more time than I have for him. And you will not be spending time with him,” he says sternly. “This is the same horse that ran you down and took three grown men to halter at weaning. He bucks every time you saddle him. He’s a liability and needs to go. I’m sorry, Kacey.”
Her face falls, I can tell she knows he’s probably right.
“Think he’d make a bucking horse?” Cody asks. “I could call that stock contractor over by Denver.”
“Well, there’s one way to find out. What if Mr. Bull Rider hops on him?” He looks at me with a challenge in his eyes.
“You do realize this kid’s sitting at the top of the standings right now, and he’s trying to make his fifth trip to the finals, right? He doesn’t want to get hurt climbing aboard an outlaw. Do you, Knox?” Cody looks at me, giving me an out.
My eyes shift to Kacey; she looks crushed about this horse.
Out of the corner of my eye I can see Carson, with a big smirk on his face.
I’d think he was an asshole if I didn’t agree with him.
It sounds like Kacey shouldn’t be anywhere near this horse until he’s calmed down.
He probably thinks my ego’s big enough I’d actually say yes to this stupid endeavor, but I wasn’t born yesterday.
Not that I can’t ride the horse through whatever he throws, but that won’t really teach it anything.
“Well, sir, I’m not much for the old bronc-busting ways.
I do have an idea though. How about you let me work with him for a few weeks and we’ll see if I can straighten him out?
I could use a project while I’m in town.
” Honestly, starting an outlaw colt is the last thing I need—I’m busy enough with Jack’s clients and trying to get in the gym before the season starts.
But something about the sadness I can see in her eyes has me offering to at least give the colt a chance.
First the broodmares and now a bucker. This girl might actually be the death of me.
Kacey looks at me like I’m an interesting artifact.
“Are you sure you have the time?” Cody asks, giving me another out.
This colt must be a handful.
I nod. “Yeah, I’ve got time.”
“I guess it doesn’t hurt to try. What’s a few more weeks of feed when I’ve been feeding him for three years? You get these mares done, then Kacey can show you where he is. I’m off to check the feedyard—y’all have fun. Carson, play nice.” He gives the ranch hand a look.
The joke is on Carson though; I’ve been training horses for a long time. I’ll get him calmed down.
I’ll be spending a lot more time around The Diamond Hart Ranch.
And Kacey Hart.
It’s taken me most of the day to fight through the heavy old broodmares. It’s late in the afternoon now—their feet were long, so it wasn’t a fast job. I’m sure the ol’ girls feel a lot better now.
It’s safe to say I’m definitely not going to the gym today, my lower back and legs were starting to shake on that last one. I stand and straighten my back out.
Carson unhooks the crossties. “Well, Champ, I guess now you know why no one likes trimming these mares.” He chuckles, but I can tell I’ve earned a little respect from him. “You’re a go-getter, I’ll give you that much.” He almost cracks a smile and leads the mare toward the barn door.
I’m calling that a win for the day.
“You ready to see what this outlaw is all about?” Kacey announces as she walks up, halter in hand. I lean against a stall, trying to give my legs a break without letting her see how tired I am. “Sure, let me pack up real quick and we can go see him.”
“You probably just want the hell out of here after doing those ol’ nags.” She half laughs but is also serious.
“Ah, they weren’t that bad. At least I never got kicked or bit.” I grin, even though one of them didn’t want me working with her back feet and did in fact try to kick me. I thought she was going to get me a few times.
Out in the round pen is a big, stout, 15.3-hand buckskin colored gelding. He has a wild look in his eye, and I already know he’s going to be a fun one.
“He’ll let you catch him, but he throws a fit if you do much else.
Carson’s been working with him on and off since he was two, and I’m pretty sure Chet’s dumbass has been throwing a saddle on him and trying to ride him, although he spends more time in the dirt.
Now that he has size to him, he can put up a pretty good fight.
Got any bright ideas on how to go about him?
” She raises a brow, and I get the feeling this is some kind of test.
“The same way I’ve gone about every horse I’ve trained.” I unlatch the gate and walk in.
I walk up slowly and halter the big three-year-old. I slowly reach toward his forelock, he bobs his head up like he’s going to fly backwards. But after a second, he lowers his head, realizing my hand isn’t that scary and I rub his forehead for a few minutes.
I lead him around the round pen, making sure I do both directions, and walk on each side of him. Most people don’t realize that a horse sees out of each eye separately, so you have to work both sides for them to be comfortable on each side.
Next, I step around him, smooching to him, letting him know to start lunging. He quickly takes off at a lope, hitting the end of my rope but keeping pressure off me.
Okay, so he’s done this before.
I turn him around and he goes the other direction perfectly. After that, I tie him to the big post in the center of the round pen—“the thinking post” I like to call them—and I start patting my hand on his back. He flies backwards, shaking his head when he hits the end of his lead rope.
“Woah, woah,” I say calm, deep, and slow, but loud enough he can hear me.
He quits and stands straight. I repeat my same action, but this time I’m moving at a snail’s pace.
He jumps a little but doesn’t freak out this time.
I do this for the next few minutes, just patting him everywhere.
His chest, neck, belly, and rump. After I can pat him anywhere and he doesn’t flinch, I untie him and turn him loose again.
“That’s all you’re doing with him today?” I was so focused on the horse, I completely forgot Kacey was watching. That’s one reason I like training horses—I can tune everything out and focus. I don’t have to talk to anyone. It’s just me and the horse.
“Yep, it’s not a race. I need him to trust me. Once he does that, he’ll want to start learning.”
She smiles. “Sure you don’t just want to cowboy him?”
“I think he’ll learn a lot more a lot faster this way.” I smile back at her, unlatching the gate to leave his pen.
I can’t explain it, but I really want to get to know her better. Yes, she’s beautiful, but there is something else about her I can’t seem to put my finger on. She’s quiet and reserved, but I can tell there is more to her . . . she just won’t let me see it yet.
“Want to go get some dinner? I’m starving.” I blurt without thinking.
“Uh.” Her eyes go wide. I caught her off guard. “I think I’ll take a rain check. I still have some things I need to do around here before I can call it a day. Thanks for the offer, though.” She seems sincere.
I’m slightly relieved at her answer. I didn’t think before asking her. Flirting is one thing, dinner is another. I don’t date, and I don’t want to give her the impression that I do.
I bend to pet the little red dog who just showed up to greet us. Rein had been in and out of the barn all day while I trimmed the mares. “Alright, no worries. Bye, Rein. You’re a good girl.” I give her one more pet and her owner a smile before walking to my truck, calling, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” she questions.
“Yeah, tomorrow. I’ve got Buck here to work with.” I can see the moment it clicks in her brain. I’ll be at the ranch almost every day now.
A shy smile comes to her lips before she heads back into the barn.
I barely know her, but I can already tell Kacey is an amazing woman. One I need to keep my distance from, and distance is the opposite of what I just signed up for.
Fuck.