Chapter 10 Kacey
Kacey
Jessie
What are you doing today? I have the day off. Want to annoy Carson until he snaps?
Kacey
No, you’re mean. But come to the ranch, I’m at the barn.
Jessie
Coming. I still plan to annoy him, with or without you.
Kacey
Whatever, I’ll saddle a couple of horses.
Knox has been working with Buck for five days. So naturally, I’ve been discreetly watching him for five days. He’s good with him—great, actually. Not to mention the way his biceps flex has my mind imagining things I never knew biceps could make me imagine.
I really need to charge my vibrator. Apparently, it’s been too long since I’ve used it if biceps alone are about to push me over the edge.
Knox is quiet and patient with him, more patient than I’ve seen anyone be with a horse.
He has a way of getting Buck to understand what he’s asking of him, so he doesn’t freak out about every new thing.
On day two, he spent the entire afternoon desensitizing him to the saddle blanket.
He’d toss it onto his back, pull it off, toss it under his belly, then onto his butt and repeat.
Every time Buck would freak out, Knox would wait for him to calm down, rub his forehead and neck, then start the process over again until Buck no longer cared.
I’m standing in the barn door watching Knox and Buck in the round pen when Jessie pulls in the drive. I immediately recognize my mistake: she’s going to see him.
This is about to get interesting. At least I’m saving Carson—now she’ll be annoying me.
I head to her SUV, hoping to cut her off and redirect her toward the barn, but she climbs out too fast and turns to look right at the round pen. She starts walking that way.
What the hell? Why is she walking over there?
“Jessie, come into the barn. I have Hooch and Bear saddled. We’ll go for a ride and find Carson,” I call out. Now I have no problem using him as my scapegoat; I’ll annoy him with her if it gets me out of this situation.
“In a minute,” she hollers back and keeps walking. Her dark red ponytail sways to the rhythm of her hips.
“Hey, I’m Jessie. I haven’t seen you around before. You new on the ranch?” I hear her say once she reaches the fence. I watch Knox turn away from Buck to look at her.
Here we go. Jessie is every guy’s dream girl. With long, dark red hair, a curvy body and the sass to match. I’ve never really cared much that most guys go for her over me, but for some reason, her trying for Knox’s attention doesn’t sit right with me.
“Hi, I’m Knox. Not new here, just working with Buck.” He turns back to the horse. Jessie’s head whips around to me so fast it has to hurt her neck. And he didn’t even check her out.
Is he blind or dead?
“Knox, you say? I’ve heard of you. Kacey said—”
I walk up just in time to kick her in the back of the calf and cut her off. “Sorry about her. We won’t bother you; we’re just heading out for a ride.” I drag her away by the arm.
Knox turns around with a smirk on his face. “I’d kind of like to hear what you say about me.” He winks at me.
What is with this man and winking? It makes my cheeks flush red, and I hate that.
Jessie, also known as The World’s Worst Best Friend, hollers back, “Come with us and I’ll tell you!”
I’m going to kill her. I bet Carson would help me bury her. There are plenty of places to bury a body on a ranch.
“I don’t think Buck’s quite up to it yet, but thanks anyway. Maybe some other time.” He laughs and goes back to work.
I have a feeling this is going to be a long ride.
Jessie at least has the courtesy to wait until we’ve ridden out of earshot to lay into me.
“You lying little bitch! And I quote, ‘He’s ugly.’”
“No, I did not lie. You said, ‘he must be ugly,’ and I just never disagreed. That’s not lying.”
“Semantics. God took extra time making that man and you know it. What is going on between you two? I saw him wink at you and your face turned bright red, so spill it. Now.”
I was afraid she saw that. “Nothing is going on. He’s flirted with me a few times and may have asked me to dinner, but I said no. End of story.”
We turn the horses toward the mare pasture.
“Uh no, not end of story. Kacey, why did you say no?” Her tone has changed, and she looks at me like I’m a puppy someone just kicked.
I hate that look and it’s part of the reason I don’t even try to date anymore. After Garrett stomped all over my heart, everyone treated me like I was made of glass for months. I’m not made of glass; I just have no interest in repeating that particular experience.
I sigh. “You know why. My situation hasn’t changed and I’m not going through that again.
” And by situation, I mean the ranch. I’m grateful my dad owns the largest and most successful ranch in the state, but it makes dating and making friends difficult.
It’s hard to know who likes me for me, and who likes me because of the fact that I stand to inherit all of this.
Most people say I won’t be inheriting a ranch, I’ll be inheriting an empire.
Jessie looks straight ahead while we ride in silence for a few minutes.
“You know I love you,” she says, breaking the silence.
“When Garrett did what he did, I wanted to kill him. In fact, if I saw him crossing the street today, I would hit him with my car. But honey, you have to move on. Maybe this Knox guy is the perfect opportunity to get back in the game. He’s only in town for a few weeks, right?
You’ll probably never see him again. What’s the harm in going out and having some fun?
No pressure, no expectations, just get back out there and knock the rust off.
Figuratively speaking. Or not . . . I wouldn’t blame you if you climbed that man like a tree. ”
My eyes are watering, but I can’t help but laugh.
“I know you get lonely,” she continues, her words hitting me right in the chest. “You may be an introvert, but you’ve always wanted to find love.
You, Kacey Hart, are not the woman who dies an old bachelorette with fifty cats.
I won’t allow it. You want and deserve to find love.
Maybe spending time with Knox will help you get back out there to find that. ”
Jessie might be wild, but she can make people feel loved and understood like no one else I’ve ever met.
And she’s right, I’ve always wanted that.
True love, a partner, even kids someday.
It wasn’t until Garrett that I gave up on that dream.
Maybe I let him steal more than my trust, maybe he stole my hope.
“Thanks, Jessie. I think I needed to hear that. I’m not sure I’m ready to go all in, but maybe spending some time with Knox couldn’t hurt.
That’s if he’s even interested.” Just because he’s flirted with me a couple times doesn’t mean he actually wants to spend time with me.
He looks like a Greek god and he’s a professional bull rider—most women would walk across hot coals for a chance with him.
She smirks at me. “Oh, he’s interested, trust me. I’m also now invested and expect daily updates.”
“Ha, of course you do.”
“Oh, did you get his last name? Is he any good at riding bulls?”
“Yeah, about that.” I hesitate to tell her. It only helps her prove her point. My family has money, but from what I read, Knox doesn’t need it. He has a very successful career and huge sponsors.
“Do tell, do tell.”
“Oddly enough, Dad knew exactly who he was. I guess he sees him on TV all the time. I looked him up after I found out and he’s sixth in the world. He’s been to the finals like four times. So, safe to say he doesn’t suck.”
Jessie’s eyes go wide. “Wow . . . that just made him even hotter.”
I burst out laughing, because she’s not wrong.
When we get back from our ride, I see Knox putting Buck away like he’s done for the day.
I look at Jessie. “Hey, I’m gonna—”
“Yeah, yeah, ditch me for the world’s hottest cowboy. I’m going to stop by Gran’s on my way home anyway.” She dismounts and hands me Bear’s reins.
“Sounds good. Tell her I said hello.”
She heads for her SUV as I steer Hooch in Knox’s direction, bringing Bear along with me.
“Hey, want a tour of the ranch?” I ask and he looks at me like I’ve grown two heads. That’s fair, I haven’t exactly reciprocated his interest. In fact, I’ve avoided him the last few days.
“Yeah, that would be great.”
I figured now was as good a time as any to get to know him a little better. I’m always more comfortable on horseback and this way, I don’t have time to chicken out.
Knox rubs his palm down Bear’s neck, adjusts the stirrups and climbs on. “So, where to first, tour guide?”
“Let’s head for the working facility. I think Carson’s doctoring some cows.”
As we ride toward the working facility, you can see part of the broodmare and foal pasture.
“It seems like you handle a lot of the horses here,” he says.
“Yeah, I’ve always loved horses, and it came naturally. We’ve always had horses, but I started our breeding program ten years ago and typically keep thirty to thirty-five broodmares on the property. So, if you ever want more broodmares to trim, just let me know,” I say jokingly.
That makes him laugh. “Well thanks, if I start falling off and need entry fee money, I’ll give you a call.”
After our stop at the working facility to check on a grumpy Carson, we head for the feyard.
While we ride, I give him the rundown on the ranch—how many head of cattle and horses, the feedyard, plus the hay ground production.
I tell him how we train the young horses we breed and then sell them as finished horses after using them on the ranch for a couple of years.
I’d rather bring it all up now and gauge his response. I heard what he said to my dad about the ranch, but that could’ve been a normal compliment. He wouldn’t be the first to say it. I’m probably just paranoid.
“Originally, Dad bought calves to fill the feed
yard but once he and Grandpa brought in new genetics to the herd, we started producing super high-quality meat. That allowed him to open a locker and sell directly to high-end restaurants and ski resorts around Denver. We might have lost the ranch if Dad hadn’t started that program.”
“Wow, you all have a lot going on. Where is the locker?”
“It’s on the far side of the yard. We can’t see it from the side we were on.
” I turn toward my favorite pasture at the base of a mountain, and we ride in silence for a while.
I’ve been so busy on the ranch and with roping, I don’t remember the last time I rode this pasture.
The grass is that bright green you only get in the spring and wildflowers are starting to sprout in the fence lines and under trees.
Knox clears his throat and looks a little nervous.
I’m starting to wonder if he’s going to ask me to dinner again when he says, “So I could use a second set of hands with Buck for the next few days. I want to get him used to another person and get some weight in the saddle. Do you think you could help me?”
Oh, that wasn’t what I was expecting. “Yeah, of course.” I’ve seen him working with Buck, and I actually have a few questions about his training method. “Just let me know what time you think you’ll be over tomorrow, and I’ll make sure I’m around.”
He gives me a crooked smile. “Great, will do.”
I point out a few more things about the ranch, but for the most part, we settle into silence the rest of the ride. I expected it to be awkward, but it’s not. I’ve always been more of the quiet, introverted type. Maybe he is too—the silence doesn’t seem to bother him.
He hasn’t made me uncomfortable with any of his questions about the ranch, he never asked about money, or even how many employees we have. He seems more interested in my role on the ranch and what I enjoy about it.
Maybe Jessie is right, and this will work.
Knox seems relaxed around me and hasn’t flirted or asked me out again on our ride.
Maybe we could be friends. I could do that.
We can work with Buck and shoe horses, maybe I can even convince Carson to give the guy a chance and we can go rope some steers. I remember Jack said he can rope.
Once we return to the main barn, Knox helps me unsaddle the horses, and I walk him out to his truck.
“Thanks for the tour,” he says.
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“You bet. Have a good night, Kace.” He smiles, and as I watch him walk away, I notice I’m biting my lower lip. He called me Kace, and I like the sound of the nickname on his lips.
Friends. Just friends, Kacey, I remind myself.
No chance of heartbreak with a friend.