Chapter Five
CHAPTER FIVE
The following day at Three Oaks Ranch things were just as busy as always. But it was a Saturday, and on the weekends the ranch had help from Billy Bentley, a young man hoping to follow in the footsteps of the cowboys in the community. Doug had liked him on sight. He was strong, willing, and most of all he had common sense. After cleaning and feeding, they led the horses out into their paddocks, then set about doing the many other chores.
The clients began arriving late morning and continued coming and going throughout the day. Though Doug didn’t teach, he was there to lend a hand if anyone needed help.
Billy was allowed to ride Big Ben during Blake’s absence, and late in the afternoon Doug watched him put the horse through his paces. The kid had natural talent, and Doug could see how relaxed the horse was with Billy in the saddle. As the last of the clients left, Billy finished his ride and was about to climb off when he suddenly pointed at the gate.
“What the hell is that girl doin’ ridin’ down the road?”
Darting his eyes around Doug stared in disbelief as Katy turned into the driveway sitting on a dark bay horse.
“Who is that?” Billy continued, still staring in shock.
“I don’t know the answer to the first question, but I intend to find out,” Doug exclaimed. “As to the second, her name is Katy Miller.”
Striding towards her Doug could see she was grinning happily, and in spite of his deep concern he found himself smiling back.
“Hi, I hope I’m not too late,” she exclaimed. “It took longer to get here than I thought it would.”
“What the blazes were you thinkin’?” he asked, his grin fading as he frowned up at her.
“About?”
“Ridin’ over here! You said you were bringin’ your horse in a trailer.”
“I was, but I knew this would be more fun, and it was so much easier than going to all the trouble of hooking up my truck.”
“Damn, girl, whatever the reasons it wasn’t the smartest idea in the world.”
“There was plenty of space on the grass edge. Is there still time to hit the trail. Can you get away?”
“Yep. See that young guy on the big chestnut? His name is Billy. He volunteers on the weekends and I can trust him to babysit the place while I’m gone. The horse he’s on is the one I’ll be ridin’ so I don’t have to take any time tackin’ up. Come on, I’ll introduce you. But, Katy, you won’t be ridin’ back down that road. I’ll hook up the trailer here and take you.”
“I don’t want to be any trouble.”
“And I don’t want you on that road on horseback.”
* * *
Katy had anticipated Doug’s disapproval, but she hadn’t expected his reprimand to be such a turn-on. Following him as he marched down the driveway, butterflies fluttered in her stomach and refused to settle.
“Katy, this is Billy. He’s here on the weekends,” Doug declared as the young man climbed down and Doug swung himself into the saddle.
“Hi, Billy, good to meet you,” Katy said, barely managing to pull her eyes away from Doug’s muscled physique.
“Good to meet you too. Wasn’t it a bit nerve-rackin’ ridin’ on the road?”
“Um, only when I went around a bend. But there really wasn’t much traffic to speak of. And Mindy here is bombproof.”
“She sure is pretty. And I love that diamond on her forehead. What’s her breed?”
“She’s a Morgan.”
“Ah, right. Morgan’s can do anything and everything, and they’ve got good brains.”
“You know about them?”
“Sure do. My mom loves Morgans. She claims they’re the most sensible of all the breeds.”
“Okay, you two,” Doug interjected. “It’s time we left or we’ll run out of light.”
“Have fun. The mist is great right now,” Billy remarked, staring up at the hill.
“Wow, look at that. It’s so dramatic,” Katy exclaimed as she and Doug started off. “It looks like something out of a movie.”
“Wait until you reach the top. It’s…I can’t think of the word…surreal. That’s it.”
“Thanks so much for this.”
“Hey, it’s the least I can do,” he replied, softening his voice. “The way you stood by me…there are no words, Katy.”
“I knew you hadn’t done it. Don’t ask me how, I just did. My mom always said, don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe , and I always have, but who’s this?” she abruptly asked as Butch suddenly ran past them.
“That’s Butch. You never have to worry if he’s around. He belongs to Blake Coleman, the guy who owns the ranch, though I always say Blake belongs to him.”
“That’s funny. He’s gorgeous.”
“And smarter than both of us put together. Okay, we’re about to go into the trees. Stay close. There are wolves, though I’ve never known them to bother anyone. In fact, a while back one of them saved someone’s life. But that’s another story.”
“Yes, I know. It was Annie, and she told me all about it.”
“Of course, I should have realized. You’re keepin’ your mare at her place.”
“Yes, and she asked me to stay as well, but I didn’t want to be a bother. She’s so busy with her new album. Besides, I love the Moonshine Campground. I have the cutest cabin. It’s totally private and close to the forest.”
“There’s somethin’ about bein’ in and around trees,” he murmured. “It just feels right.”
“I agree, though there isn’t anything like Smoky Hill around Danville.”
“More’s the pity. Maybe folks would be a bit nicer if they were closer to nature.”
“Wow, this fog is incredible,” she exclaimed as the mist suddenly grew thicker.
“Yep. The trail starts to get a bit narrower up ahead, but stay at my side. If for any reason we get separated call Butch. He’ll take me to you. Though I can’t imagine how that would happen.”
“I just got goosebumps.”
“Good.”
“Why good?”
“I have a feelin’ you tend to do what you want, and in a place like this that’s a bad idea. Those goosebumps are tellin’ you to listen, that’s why.”
Katy could think of nothing to say, and a fresh bevy of butterflies began fluttering in her stomach. Doug was the sexiest man she’d ever met, and she didn’t quite know what to make of him.