Chapter Two
Jaxon stood inside the barn alongside Devin and watched as everyone entered then stopped and looked at them expectantly. Devin stepped forward.
“Good morning. I’m Devin Callahan, this is my brother, Jaxon, and this is the manager, Ken. Those of you who are going on the trail ride will follow me. If you’re working the ranch, good luck with that by the way, you’ll follow Ken. The rest of you will go with Jax on the camping trip.”
He gave them a nod and walked from the barn with his group following him.
Ken stepped forward. “As Dev said, I’m the manager, and I run the ranch. I oversee all the work done here. It’s not going to be easy. Those of you, who have signed up for this, follow me and we’ll get started.”
Ken strode from the barn with his group following him.
Jaxon took a deep breath and faced his group of eleven. “Good morning. We’ll be going up through the north pasture toward the Glaciers. It will be a little cooler up there, so you all have blankets in your bedrolls, along with your tent. I’m not sure how many of you know how to ride, but anytime you go down a steep embankment, lean back. Otherwise, you’ll go over the head of the horse. Going up an embankment, lean forward. The horses are trained to follow each other, just let them do their job. Single file. This is Chip Clayton. He’ll be leading the horses—”
“I thought you were taking us?”
A buxom blonde asked him.
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be following to make sure you all stay in line and leading the pack horse.”
She smiled at him. “Good. You can follow me anywhere.”
Jaxon cleared his throat as the group laughed. “Let’s get going. The horses are ready. You can
choose any one you’d like. Once you’re in the saddle, the ranch hands will adjust the stirrups for you.”
“I might need a leg up,”
the blonde said.
Of course, she did. Jaxon took a deep breath and strolled over to her. Clasping his fingers together, he leaned down, and she put her foot in them and her hands on his shoulders. A little more caressing than necessary, but he was used to this. Women came on to him and Devin all the time. He lifted her onto the saddle .
“There you go,”
he said and put his fingers to his hat.
“Bett,” she said.
“Excuse me?”
“My name is Bett, Jaxon.”
She winked.
“Yes, ma’am,”
Jaxon muttered under his breath as he walked to his horse.
Vaulting onto the saddle, he looked over the group.
That’s when he spotted her.
She sat a horse well, and she was looking at him.
Smiling at him, she shrugged, making him bite back a grin and shake his head.
She’d seen the blonde all over him.
“Whenever you’re ready, Chip,”
Jaxon called out to him and stayed behind to watch them all walk their horses out.
Bett remained at the rear.
He knew she would, but she could think again if she thought she was going to get anywhere with him.
He wasn’t interested.
At least, not in her.
His eyes moved ahead to see Presley Reynolds.
She wore a white spaghetti strap T-shirt tucked into tight jeans that were tucked into her cowboy boots.
Too bad she hadn’t stayed at the back. Shaking his head, he knew it didn’t matter since he never got involved with the guests, and she had seen him at his worst. He could barely remember the emergency room he’d been in so much pain. Absentmindedly, he rubbed his left hip. They’d done a hip replacement on him. When the car had slammed into the tree from the force of the head-on collision, Jaxon’s bone had been crushed and his femur broken in two places. The scar he had ran from the outside of his hip to just above his knee. Learning to live with that was nothing compared to learning to live without Bethany.
Adjusting his hat low onto his forehead, he sighed as he followed behind the line of horses and riders.
Chip led them through the barn and out into the bright sunshine.
Jaxon reached for his sunglasses in the pocket of his T-shirt, put them on, and noticed that just about everyone did the same.
He was also glad to see they all wore cowboy hats.
He always changed his black felt one for his white straw one in the summer.
It was hot already and only seven.
The sun baked the ground under them, and it would feel good when they reached a higher elevation.
Little puffs of dust rose under the horse’s hooves until they reached the pasture.
Then the tall grass swooshed as they walked through it to get to the path they’d follow.
They stayed in a line and walked in a smooth gait.
Leather creaked under Jaxon as he turned to look behind him.
When he turned to the front, Bett was twisted in her saddle looking at him.
He had a feeling she was going to be a problem .
“Are you wishing we were heading in instead of out?”
she asked him, smiling.
“No, ma’am. Just looking around.”
“Please call me Bett. Ma’am makes me feel old.”
“Sorry. I don’t mean to offend you, just being polite.”
“And calling me Bett wouldn’t be polite?”
“If you insist…Bett.”
He almost choked. She was pretty, but his eyes moved past her to Presley, and his heart skipped a beat. She was a beautiful woman. Why was she here alone? A woman who looked like her should be married and have kids. Jaxon had rarely seen women here alone, unless they were in a group, and that seemed to be happening more and more often. How did she even know about the place? Did she look for him for some reason? It seemed strange that the nurse from the ER in Idaho Falls would show up in Spring City, Montana. Shaking his head, he was sure it was just a coincidence. Funny, though, he didn’t believe in coincidences. He’d find out why she was here if he got any time with her. Looking back to Bett, he jerked his chin.
“You’re falling behind,”
he told her.
Frowning at him, she nudged the horse to catch up. Jaxon blew out a breath. What was it going to take to get her to leave him alone? He had to be helpful since she was a guest, but that didn’t mean letting her get the idea she could sleep with him. He snorted. She sure as hell didn’t have sleep on her mind. Nudging Zander, he caught up with the group. It would take them almost three hours to get to the site, and he wanted to get a good fire going and help set the tents up. Although no children under the age of eighteen were allowed on the ranch, he’d brought marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers. Who didn’t like some tasty S’mores? Hot dogs and pre-made hamburgers for dinner and he’d scramble eggs in the morning. Of course, he had coffee along with tea, water, and a variety of sodas.
Reining Zander to a stop when Chip raised his hand and turned in the saddle, Jaxon knew the spiel. Chip was going to let the group know they were going down an embankment and remember what Jaxon had told them about how to sit on the horse. Jaxon stayed above to watch them ride their horses down to the stream and cross it. Everyone did as they were told then started the horses up the other side. He heard feminine laughter and frowned when he saw one of the single men talking with Presley Reynolds.
Jaxon rolled his shoulders, nudged Zander to head down the embankment, across the creek, and run him up the other side. He rode alongside the man until he glanced over to him.
“Single file,”
he said a little more sharply than he needed to. The young man looked startled then pulled his horse ahead of Presley’s.
“Got a burr under your saddle, Mr. Callahan?”
she asked him.
Jaxon narrowed his eyes behind his sunglasses. “No. It’s the rules, Miss Reynolds. They haven’t changed since we left the barn.”
Tugging on Zander’s reins, he road to the back of the line again.
****
Jaxon Callahan was a pain. A sexy, handsome pain. Why had he jumped all over Rodney? Just because they weren’t in a single file for a second? Then it hit her that Jaxon had called her by her name. How had he known? Had he asked someone? Shaking her head at the thought he’d asked about her, she glanced back, and saw him watching her and had to bite her tongue to keep from sticking it out at him. You’re twenty-eight years old!
“Like that makes a difference,”
she muttered as she faced forward.
“Did you say something?”
the man behind her asked.
“Just talking to myself.”
Presley threw a smile over her shoulder and recognized him as one of the married ones. His wife rode behind him and smiled at Presley.
“I do that too.”
“She does, and I never know whether to ask if she’s talking to me or not.”
Presley laughed. “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”
“Exactly. Is this your first time here?”
“Yes. A friend of mine was here last year and loved it. When it was time for a vacation, I decided to come here.”
“We come every year,”
the woman told her.
“Wow. You must love it.”
“We do. We never do the ranch work. Well, Theo did it once, and swore never again.”
“I learned my lesson. That is some demanding work.”
“I’m Gina Lynch, and this is my husband, Theo.”
“Presley Reynolds. It’s nice to meet you.”
Not able to stop herself, she glanced behind her to see Jaxon leaning forward in the saddle with his forearms crossed on the pommel, looking so at home on the big black and white horse. He was a gorgeous animal, and the horse wasn’t bad either, she thought as she smiled to herself.
As the morning sun beat down on them, Presley pulled the front of her shirt out and blew a refreshing breath down onto her chest. The sweat trickled between her breasts and down between her shoulder blades. Taking her hat off, she fanned herself with it. When she reached for her water, she dropped it and was about to dismount to get it when she heard hoof beats and Jaxon spoke to her.
“I’ll get it. Sit tight.”
Stopping by her horse, he leaned over to pick it up without getting out of the saddle then handed it to her.
“Thank you. If I would have tried that, I’d be flat on my face in the grass.”
She smiled.
“Then I’d have to pick you up too.”
They stared at each other until he frowned at her.
“Yeah, I know. Get in line.”
She nudged her horse to catch up with the others. Damn man.
****
Jaxon didn’t know what his problem was with her. Other than, he was attracted to her but didn’t want to be. Damn, she was beautiful, though. It took every ounce of willpower he had not to look at the front of her T-shirt. It was sweat-stained, and he could tell she wasn’t wearing a bra since he could clearly see her nipples, just as any other man here on the ride could. Fuck! Watching as she lifted her hair off her neck, he was angry that he wanted to place his lips there.
While he watched her, she stood in the stirrups and pulled something from her jeans pocket and began pulling her hair into a ponytail. She stretched the band around her hair, and he was glad when she placed her hat back on her head and nudged the horse to get back in line. Wonderful. Now she was at the back with him. Looking over her shoulder at him, she quickly faced the front when their eyes met.
“We won’t be out in this much longer,”
he said then could have bit his tongue for even speaking.
“I hope it’s cooler like you said.”
She spoke without turning around.
“There’s a creek you can cool off in. It’s not real deep, but you can at least get in. The cooler temps won’t be until tonight, once the sun sets. It may be August but this close to the Glaciers it can get into the mid to upper forties.”
“Wow. Really?”
“Yep. That’s why you have blankets. The tent will keep your body heat in, but it will still be chilly.”
“How much further?”
“Just over that rise. A few more minutes.”
He glanced at his watch to see it was almost ten. Once the tents were set up, he’d get busy on making lunch.
“I’ll be glad to see that creek. It is so hot out.”
She raised her face to the sun.
“You did wear sunscreen, right?”
“Yes. I’ve seen enough bad sunburns not to use protection.”
“How did you end up here?”
“My friend was here last year. She loved it and suggested it to me when I said I was taking a vacation, and I needed this.”
She glanced at him. “How is your hip and leg?”
“How the hell do you even remember that? It was two years ago, and I’m sure you’ve had a lot of patients who come through there.”
“Some just stick out more than others.”
She shrugged.
“I’m sure they do,”
he murmured as he wondered if she remembered that his wife had died that night too.
“I’m glad to see you’re doing better, and you have a job you seem to love.”
“A job?”
“Yes. Here at Bur Oak. I’m sure you’re a real asset here.”
Jaxon reached over and grabbed the reins of her horse. She looked at him with a frown on her beautiful face.
“Miss Reynolds, this isn’t just a job. Devin and I own it. ”
“What? Why didn’t you say so?”
“Didn’t you read the brochures? It’s in there about Dev and me owning it.”
“Apparently not that one. I’m so embarrassed. You brought me the towels.”
“Ah, I see. No owner would do that?”
“That isn’t what I meant. You had to be busy in the middle of the day, and you just dropped what you were doing to bring me towels.”
“Josie caught me walking from the lodge and asked me to handle it.”
He shrugged. “We all pitch in for whatever reason. I didn’t mind doing it.”
“You sure acted like it.”
“I was shocked to see you. I knew you looked familiar, but I couldn’t remember from where or if you’d been here before,”
he said, frowning at her.
“Well, now you know,”
she muttered before nudging her horse into a gallop.
Five minutes later, Chip stopped the group, and told them they had reached the campsite, and to dismount. Jaxon listened as he told them he’d take care of the horses.
“We’ll get the tents set up then we’ll start lunch. The creek is through there.”
Jaxon pointed toward some brush. “Be careful because there are snakes here. As hot as it is, they will be looking for water to drink. If you see one, do not anger it. Just move away from it slowly. It’s more afraid of you than you are of it.”
“I find that hard to believe,”
one of the women said drawing laughter from the group.
“Get your bedrolls off the saddles and pick your sites. You all have two-man dome tents. Put them in a circle around here.”
He pointed around the area. “I’ll be building a fire here.”
“So, where are you pitching your tent, Jaxon?”
Bett asked him.
“I don’t sleep in a tent. I’ll be sleeping by the fire, the same as Chip.”
“Oh,”
she said and stuck out her bottom lip.
It never appealed to him when a woman did that. He wasn’t sure what a woman thought it did to a man but for him, it did nothing. Pulling his bedroll down, he set it beside a log.
“I’ll get us some wood, Jax,”
Chip said as he walked away toward the woods.
“Can I go with you?”
a young woman shouted after him. Chip turned to her.
“Unpack your stuff. Maybe later when we need more,”
Chip said then entered the woods.
Jaxon dug out old ashes from inside the circle of large rocks then carried the ashes to a metal barrel and dumped them .
“Jaxon? Could you help me for a minute?”
Bett called to him.
He blew out a frustrated breath.
Every time, there seemed to be some woman after him on their vacation, but he wasn’t interested in a fling with any guest.
Maybe he should start wearing a wedding band, but he knew that didn’t deter some women.
Devin was hit on all the time too.
His eyes roamed the area, and he saw Presley struggling with her tent, but she didn’t ask for his help.
She did it on her own.
Looking around, he saw Bett talking with one other woman.
He didn’t know who was with whom on these trips unless they told him.
All he knew was there were six single women and nine single men at the ranch for vacation, and he did know he had two married couples on this trip along with three single women and four single men.
Devin had six couples with him on the trail ride along with the other single men and women.
Four couples had wanted to work the ranch.
Jaxon grinned as he bet they were ready to call it a day already.
It amazed him that people always thought they could work a ranch, until Ken put them to work.
If they felt the need to quit, he’d let them.
Ken never pressured anyone.
The rest of the guests were probably relaxing around the pool, playing tennis, or taking hikes.
Jaxon strode over to where Bett was struggling with her tent, took the poles from her, and helped her assemble the tent.
She beamed at him when he got it set up for her.
“Get your bedroll and clothes inside. It’s best to lay the sleeping bags and blankets out now, so you don’t have to worry about it once it gets dark.”
“Thank you,”
Bett said to him.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Walking back to the fire pit, he then helped Chip when he saw him coming with an armload of wood.
“I’ll get more after you get that started. I’m sure everyone is getting hungry.”
Chip glanced around. “I think she needs some help.”
He jerked his chin in Presley’s direction.
Jaxon glanced over toward her. “If she does, she’ll ask.”
Then he went about making a fire.
He was sure Presley would get the tent set up since she seemed so determined.
Until he saw the same guy who had talked to her earlier on the trail heading her way.
Jaxon clenched his jaw.
No way was he interfering.
If she wanted the guy’s help, she could have it. What the hell is wrong with you? You’re not interested, remember? No one could replace Bethany. Ever .
Jaxon put kindling in the pit then added wood and lit a match.
The flames took off, and the wood crackled and snapped as the flames wrapped around the logs.
Sparks lifted toward the sky but died before getting much momentum.
After he moved the firewood around a little bit with a poker, he added more logs and looked up when he heard Presley laughing then she hugged the guy who had helped her.
Jaxon grit his teeth so hard, he was surprised they didn’t shatter.
Son of a bitch! He did not need this shit. Standing quickly, he strode off into the woods. The more wood for tonight, the better .