Chapter 17
“So where are we going?” Kristy was mounted on Sheba, and Rusty was riding Marco. They trotted long the dusty trail they had been on the other day. The mountains were in the background, and the air was warm and dry, with not a cloud in the sky.
She had been anxiously awaiting Wednesday since Rusty had mentioned the possibility of a getaway, but riding out on horseback wasn’t quite what she’d expected. In fact, she had donned her pink sundress for the afternoon, thinking they were going out to dinner somewhere. At least she had put on her rhinestone-studded cowgirl boots and brought a western hat.
So many gala details were swimming in her brain that it felt good to get out on a summer’s day into the sunshine and view the blue sky and the prairie expanding before them. Didn’t mean she wasn’t second-guessing herself as the sun dropped in the sky. She checked her watch. It was close to four o’clock, so she’d almost put in a full day’s work. Though Ariel had sworn that she had everything under control and there was nothing more to do but set up for the event, Kristy couldn’t help but worry.
Like with a wedding, the big stuff had been done. Food, flowers, scenery, and the band had all been ordered, checked, and rechecked. But the details came next. The committee was taking care of handling the seating charts, since that was often a relationship-type thing. In this case, the executives from the energy companies and any local political figures would get prime spaces. Everyone else would come after that. Still, Kristy couldn’t help but worry that she was forgetting something.
She had sent a press release to the local newspapers, for coverage. She had hired the waitstaff through a temp agency. She’d assigned the volunteer posts, from greeter to maze coordinator to auction ticket counter. Maybe she should just breathe and enjoy the moment. Now that was a different perspective.
She glanced at Rusty. He sat tall in the saddle, reins lose in his hands, cowboy hat covering his auburn hair, and sunglasses hiding his eyes.
“You okay?” he asked. Guess he’d been watching her.
She nodded. “Just trying to decompress from the big to-do list. I’ll need another ride after Boots and Bells is over.”
He smiled that I’ve-got-you-babe smile that made her feel warm inside. This is just for fun , she reminded herself. If she didn’t watch it, she’d be falling for him.
“That’s why we’re doing this. You need some downtime. Everything will still be there when we get back. You did bring a change of clothes, right?”
“I did.” She should have changed into those jeans and T-shirt when she saw the horses. “Are we going swimming or something? Someone said there was a pond on this ranch.”
He frowned. “Not swimming in the pond.” His tone was firm.
“Then why the change of clothes?”
“Just in case. And maybe a surprise.”
“At this stage in my life, surprises are usually bad ones.” The last thing she needed was to be on edge.
“Not a bad surprise. At least I hope you won’t think it is.” He looked off into the sun, which was low in the sky.”
“This is the first time since we’ve, you know, been seeing each other that we’ve really been alone.” That had been another reason she’d agreed. Dining at Smokey’s was hardly being alone, with a roomful of other diners, including his ex-girlfriend, in earshot.
“Hard to believe, considering it’s been over a month since that last ride we went on.”
“We’ve either had family or friends around.” She twisted so she could see him better, as his horse was a few paces back. “I’m glad it’s just us this time.”
He chuckled. “You know I am.”
“Are we almost there? You know I haven’t ridden much lately, and much farther and I’m going to be sore for sure.”
“Just over the ridge there. Then we’re going to have a picnic.”
That sounded sweet. And simple. “Who cooked?”
He put a hand to his heart. “I’m wounded that you didn’t think it was me.”
She had to smile. “I’ve never seen you cook or heard you even talk about cooking.”
“I can grill a tasty steak, but you’re right—my mom cooked. One of the benefits of having her here for the summer.”
“And she knew you were doing this for me?” It was bewildering and a little off-putting to think that his mother thought Kristy would do Rusty wrong. From her perspective, it was more likely she would get hurt, as she had with all her romantic attachments to date. Not that there were many. Just two before Dean. One in high school. One in college. All ending with her in tears.
But that was in the past. When she’d been young and romantic. She hoped she was wiser now. She wasn’t giving her heart to anyone, and certainly not after one month.
“Of course. First off, no one should head off into nature without someone knowing where they’re going.”
“I didn’t tell anyone, because I didn’t know where we’re going. I only told Ariel I would be with you.”
“Well, that should be enough, but I told Ariel what I had in mind.”
“And she didn’t tell me?” Ariel was her cousin and best friend. Where was the loyalty?
“I asked her not to. I wanted it to be a surprise. And I wouldn’t have had to tell my mom it was for you. She would have easily guessed.”
Nice to hear, because that meant Kristy was the only romantic interest in Rusty’s life. She wondered ever since she’d met Tamara. “She’s not my biggest fan.”
“She likes you. She’s just being a mother.”
She could understand being protective. Especially since Kristy did not intend for this to get serious despite the fact that the more time she spent with Rusty, the more time she wanted to spend with him. “ My mother likes you. Not a call goes by that she doesn’t mention you. I think she’s your biggest fan, other than your mother.”
He chuckled. “I was hoping by now you would be my biggest fan.”
She laughed. Rusty often made her laugh. “Don’t want to inflate your ego, Mr. Russell.”
“Duly noted.”
She watched as he took the lead, his body gently rocking in time with the horse’s gait. Her mind went to other forms of rocking. She couldn’t deny she was attracted to him. He was a well-built man, big and strong, and yet he had a vulnerability that made her care about him. That was the part that scared her.
She could easily care too much. And want more.
Her body was sending signals. That funny feeling in her belly. Sweaty palms when she was around him. Blushing when he looked at her. All her senses were on alert. And ready. Even if her heart wasn’t ready, was too bruised and battered, was afraid of getting hurt. And here they were, alone. Finally. With endless prairie stretching before them. And no one in sight.
As their horses climbed the gently sloping ridge, a small cabin came into sight. It was made of logs and slightly larger than a playhouse, with a smokestack rising out the roof and one window.
“Is that where we’re going for our picnic?” It looked interesting but not too inviting. More shack than house.
“Yup.”
“It’s such a nice day… I thought we would be eating outside.” On a blanket. With no one around to see whatever they would be doing.
“We will be. On the other side is a nice stretch of field. I cut down the grasses the other day so we could have a spot to spread the blanket. And there is a tree for shade. And just down the slope, a creek runs by it. Not very deep, but we could dip our toes in.”
“Sounds lovely.” And serene. Just what she needed. And Rusty had somehow sensed that. “It’s certainly hot in the sun.” A cooler spot could be just the ticket.
He nudged his horse into a trot, and she followed him to the solitary cabin.
“What is it doing here in the middle of literally nowhere?” she asked as she slid off her horse. There was a single section of fence, likely put there to tie up horses.
“Comes in handy when you have to ride out to the herd. It can take a half day’s ride to get to some of the places. If a rider can’t get back before dark or hits bad weather, this is the place they’ll come to. No one will be using it today. Weather is nice. Herd is on our old ranch. This is on Cort’s original place.”
“How do you know about it if it’s on Cort’s property?” She set to tethering her horse to the fence rail using a manger tie.
He slid off his horse, the movements of his body both muscular and graceful. “When you’re a young kid looking for a quiet space, you find it, even if it’s on your neighbor’s land. And that’s a pretty good knot you tied.”
“4-H.” She turned toward the lowering sun. A slight breeze teased her hair and brushed her face. Though in the low eighties, there was no humidity, so it didn’t feel oppressive. “Have you brought other women here?” No harm in asking.
“Only one, and that was a decade ago.”
Tamara?
He strode to the fence post closest to her. She fought the urge to wrap her body around his and plant one on him.
Instead, she looked around at the tranquil setting. Grass had been cut to carve out two trails and a small path among the waving grasses. One path, the width of one door, went to a small building, likely the outhouse. The other went all the way to a thin ribbon of water that shimmered in the sunlight, more trickle than stream.
With the cabin behind them, it was secluded and private. The perfect place. But despite the humming of her body, doubts crept in. If something happened, if it happened, it would lead to more complications. Was she ready for those type of complications? Her body was saying yes… Her heart was saying no…
She needed to stifle those types of thoughts.
“Do the cattle water there?” She pointed to the creek.
“When the herd is in the area. Which won’t be until fall. Hopefully, we’ll get more rain by then, because it’s running pretty shallow.”
He tugged on the reins tied to the fence rail and then rechecked the knot she had tied. Satisfied, he turned to her and swept his arm in an exaggerated fashion. “Let’s eat.”
***
Rusty undid the saddle bags on his horse. They were filled with food, human and equine. The saddle bags on Kristy’s horse held the extra clothing, his and hers, and the blanket to spread out on the grass.
If Kristy was agreeable, he hoped to take the relationship to the next level and get out of the friends zone. Better for him to find out sooner than later, so he’d decided to test it. Away from everyone they knew. Alone.
Kristy spread the blanket out over the grass he’d mown on his reconnaissance trip out to the cabin the day before. He’d also brought fresh bedding, swept out the cobwebs and dust bunnies, cleaned the outhouse so it was presentable, and made sure the stove worked. He’d even picked some sunflowers—that Junie planted every year behind the old homestead—and set them in a jar of water on the small table inside. The scene was set, but he wasn’t at all sure about the act.
He set the saddle bags on the blanket and knelt to unpack the food. There was a tub of fried chicken, a loaf of homemade bread, and containers of what looked like green bean salad and coleslaw. A box with apple tarts completed the feast.
He kept his sights on her as she unboxed the haul of eats, setting each container on one side of the blanket after she opened the lid and sniffed. The smile on her pretty face said she was pleased.
It was an impressive spread, and he was hungry, but not for food. She looked up at him from under her lashes, and his insides melted.
God, he hoped she’d be agreeable. He didn’t have a plan B, for the present or the future, if she wasn’t.
“You hungry?” he asked.
She nodded. Too bad. If she had said no, he’d have pitched his plan and, if she’d agreed, picked her up and carried her inside the cabin. But he wanted their first time to be special, and getting all caveman on her would not do that. Some women might like that, but he didn’t think Kristy was one of them.
“Looks like your mother went to a lot of trouble,” she said.
“I’m a grateful son that she likes to cook.”
“I have to tell you, I’m more of a Door Dash gal.”
He laughed. “Then I guess I better learn how to cook more than steaks.” If it meant being with Kristy, he’d take cooking lessons.
She shrugged. “I like cooking, but I usually don’t have time.”
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “All the more reason to enjoy this spread.” He spied in her hand the large spoon his mother had packed. “Are you serving?”
She nodded.
“Serve me up some coleslaw, beans, and two pieces of fried chicken. To start.”
She cocked her head. “Just to start? Not aiming for leftovers, are you?”
“No place to keep them, and I don’t want to attract hungry animals.”
She stiffened and looked around. “Are there bears in this area?”
“We’re close enough to the Black Hills that we can get an occasional mountain lion, which are more likely in these parts. And there are always coyotes. The good news about both is that they don’t want to meet you any more than you want to meet them. Still, hunger is a big motivator, and we certainly don’t want to motivate them.”
“That’s what the rifle is for? I noticed it strapped to your saddle.”
He nodded. “Mostly to scare them off. Of course, if we’re in real danger, I’ll use it on them, but I’m not into trophy hunting.”
“My father is big into trophy hunting.”
“I’ve seen too much killing to be interested.” He’d much rather try to save an animal than kill it.
She placed the items he’d asked for on one of the plastic plates his mother had supplied.
“My father likes the trophy part more than anything else, I think.” She handed him his overflowing plate and began to assemble her own.
She’d never had much complimentary to say about her father. Made him wonder. “You have a good relationship with your dad?”
She sat up, jiggling the plate of food onto her cross-legged lap. “I think he would say so. But…”
“But?” Not much good ever followed a but . He tasted the crispy chicken. His mother was a master chef, in his eyes.
“As I’ve mentioned, he’s very controlling. If he had his way, I’d be working for him so he could program my every move. It’s… suffocating.” She cut a bite-sized piece of chicken and popped it into her mouth. “Hmmm. So good.”
“As I said, Mom’s a good cook.” He took a forkful of coleslaw. The creamy, crunchy salad was perfect. “That why you decided to move here? You wanted some freedom?”
She nodded. “I need some space. He means well, and I know it’s because he wants to protect me, wants the best for me—his version of what’s best. But I’m an adult. If I make a mistake, it’s mine to fix.” She was gobbling down the chicken. He couldn’t blame her.
“That’s why you don’t want me to fix things, isn’t it.” He’d been trying to dial it back, but it was hard. When he saw a need, he wanted to fill it. When he saw a problem, he wanted to solve it. It was what had kept him, and others, alive in more than one precarious situation.
“If I rely on other people to fix things, how will I know how to do it? Or if I can do it?” Having finished one piece of chicken and a dollop of coleslaw, she leaned back on her elbows. The slight breeze caught a strand of her hair, and she brushed it aside.
“I hear you. At least I do now.” He shoved the last spoonful of beans into his mouth. There was still some chicken and bread left. He’d have to put it in the cabin in the small cupboard by the door. He might work up an appetite later.
“I really don’t want to talk about my father. I just want to enjoy sitting here and listening to the creek babble on by.”
“Let me put this food and the rest of the saddle bags inside, and then you want to check out the water?”
“Sure.”
He’d have to find a way to pitch his plan before the light faded, in case she didn’t want to go through with it. The thought was a gut punch.
She packed up the picnic basket with the leftovers while he retrieved the saddle bags, and he took it all to the cabin. Inside, he gave it a quick glance as he put the food containers into the old cupboard and the saddle bags by the bed. It looked decent enough. He just had to hope he was reading her right and hadn’t jumped the gun. The whole thing could blow up.
His mother’s warning sounded in his ear. He didn’t want to get too far down the road to find out she’d only ever wanted to be friends without benefits. With benefits he could handle. But “just friends” would mean he’d be pining after something he couldn’t have. He was too old for that.
He closed the door to the cabin and walked back to her. She’d gathered up the blanket and folded it to be put back on the horse, and stood there watching him. Assessing him. He’d give anything to know what she was thinking.
When he reached for her, she slid her warm hand into his. He gave it a slight squeeze, and together they walked down to the creek. Holding her hand, he felt like a kid again, walking with his girl. It had been a long time since he’d had a relationship in which he held hands. In the air force, it was a lot of one-, maybe two-night stands. Strangers hooking up in the dark, taking the edge off a rough week. No relationship expected, and that was by mutual consent. People trying to survive in unreal conditions, taking each day as it came, not thinking too hard about the future.
“We can take our boots off here.” He pointed to the trunk of a fallen cottonwood tree that was settled on the side of the path. He did a visual sweep to assure there were no critters slithering around, and sat down. They shucked their boots, turning them upside down so no creature could find their way into them.
He grabbed her hand. “Rocks will be slippery. Water’s going to be cold. Best we stay with each other.”
She nodded. Reached up and kissed his cheek. He leaned in, placed a finger under her chin, tilted it up, and opened his mouth wide over hers. Their tongues mated, and she ran her fingers up his neck to tangle with his hair, making his scalp tingle. She let out a lusty moan, kicking up his desire, his yearning, his longing. He slid his mouth to her neck and caressed the soft flesh there with his tongue. She moved her head so that his mouth was once again on her mouth, her tongue once again teasing his tongue. She sighed even as she fed him kisses, hot and wet. He wanted her. With everything he had, he wanted her.
In a heartbeat, she pulled back and looked at him, studying him as if he were some strange being. He pulled her closer, not wanting it to end yet. Or ever.
The scent of fresh laundry and flowers filled his senses. She wrapped her arms around his neck, swept her tongue into his mouth, and he hung on. Their lips were locked for a long, pleasurable moment, blocking out everything but each other. Desire pooled low in his belly as pressure built.
When they came up for air this time, she stepped back. “Well, howdy cowboy.”
He was breathing hard. “Howdy yourself.” Now or never to make his pitch.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught movement in the high grass. Slithering movement. Heading toward the water. Toward Kristy. Without a moment’s thought, he swept her up into his arms, and she let out an ear-splitting shriek of surprise.
The snake slid right where she’d been standing and into the water. Too close for comfort.
“What are you doing?” She gasped.
“Prairie rattler. Heading right for you.” He nodded his head in the direction of the snake, whose body was still visible, but barely, atop the water.
She shrieked again.
His eardrums were definitely getting a clean out. He didn’t blame her. He didn’t like snakes either.
“It’s okay. It’s not interested in you anymore.”
She stared at him, her eyes wide, her mouth agape.
“Guess you don’t want to go in the water now.” He had to chuckle.
She shook her head with vigor.
“I’ve got something in mind that we could do.” Then he bent down and whispered his idea in her ear.