Chapter 2
Chapter Two
SAM
On a horse?
What a fucking idiot.
Of course she meant take her for a ride on a horse. But fuck me, I couldn’t handle the way Joey grinned at me. I’m cooler than this. Nothing rattles me.
Being a single dad since my wife died meant having to raise a moody teenager on my own. I’m glad those days are behind me. Having been through the worst of it with Lennox means nothing fazes me. Keeping my cool is easy.
Except Joey Andrews.
Why is one woman rattling me?
Probably because she’s your best friend’s daughter.
Fuck.
Grabbing my hat, I toss it onto my desk as I slam the door shut in my office. At least out in the barn, I can get away from her. From the intoxicating smell of her. I don’t know how it’s possible, but she smells like sunshine.
Fuck me. I’m in trouble.
Checking the schedule, there’s a family of five that are heading out onto the trails with me this afternoon.
With it being summer, I have a few high school kids helping me out around here.
It’s nice to have them here. I don’t have to do everything, like tacking the horses.
I’ll have to check their work, but it frees up my time for other things.
Like thinking about Joey.
Fuck.
Glancing at the clock, I still have a few hours before I have to be anywhere. Grabbing my hat, I head into the barn and find one of the guys getting ready to put one of the horses out in the field.
“Are they still ready to ride?” I ask.
“Yes, sir.” He straightens as I walk to him.
I smile. It’s funny these kids treat me this way. Like I’m one of their parents. I guess I’m old enough to be their dad, but a lot of times, I don’t feel that way.
“I’m going out for a ride. I’ll take care of him.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You know you don’t have to call me sir,” I say, placing my booted foot in the stirrup and hoisting myself over Storm.
“Sorry, sir.” He winces.
“It’s okay, Billy.” I tip my hat at him. “Sign your parents raised you right. I’ll be back before the next trip out.”
“Got it, si—” This time he stops himself.
Smiling at him, I head out into the sunshine before kicking my boot into Storm’s side and taking off.
Fuck, this feels good.
There is nothing I love more than being out on a horse. Something I’ve loved since I was a kid. I knew from an early age I wanted to work with horses. Being a farrier meant I never had to stick around long. It worked for me for a while.
Until I met my wife.
Then Pinecrest became home. And after she passed away, it’s the only place I could think of staying. My job always took me and Lennox to different ranches around the state, but no matter where we went, we always came back here.
Must be these damn mountains.
As we head into the pine trees covering the trail, I slow Storm to a gentle walk. The sweet vanilla smell pulls the corner of my mouth up.
It’s one of my favorite things about being out here in the country. I wouldn’t trade this for anything. I’m not built for the city life.
Wide open spaces and horses are what I love.
I duck my head under the low-hanging branches and turn up one of the harder trails. Storm can handle it.
He’s been at the ranch for about as long as I have. He’s one of our older horses, but he’s gentle. Always good for the kids to ride. Doesn’t spook easily.
I’ve claimed him as my own. And seeing as how he knows where I want to go, he takes the lead.
“You know exactly where we want to go, don’t ya?”
I pat his shoulder as the thick trees start to clear. This is one of my favorite spots on the ranch. It’s harder to get to, so I don’t always take our groups out here which means it’s quiet.
The sparkling blue lake comes into view.
Fuck. It really is perfect out here. Hopping off Storm when we reach the shore, I pat his side as I move in front of him.
“You’re a good boy.” I rub my hands over his muzzle. “C’mon.”
I lead him to the lake so he can drink from it. Seeing as how no one comes here, it’s safe for him.
I drop down onto the rocky shore and lean back onto my elbows. It’s not the most comfortable place to rest, but damn, does it ever feel nice.
Now that the ranch is booming, I have even less time to myself. I do whatever I can to help out Kade so he can spend more time with Presley and Poppy. Seeing as how he only recently got back together with her and found out Poppy is his daughter, it’s the least I can do.
I don’t mind the long hours. I can’t complain about getting to work in the field during the day and helping out at the lodge at night.
Because I can relax right now.
And not think about Joey.
Well, fuck.
There goes that idea.
I’ve never thought about a woman this much before in my life. Well, since my wife at least.
So why is Joey the one that is stirring up all these feelings inside of me? She’s twenty years younger than I am.
Maybe I should get on a dating app. Try and find someone. Wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. It could help me get Joey out of my system.
All that gorgeous brown hair that I shouldn’t envision being wrapped around my fist as I fuck her.
What that mouth would feel like wrapped around my cock as she sucks me off. Or how responsive her eyes would be.
“Fuck,” I growl out.
Storm looks back at me from where he’s drinking, casting a judgmental eye.
Can horses even be judgy?
Because if so, he is definitely judging me.
This is not what I need to be thinking about. Joey and judgmental horses.
No. My only focus should be on the ranch and making sure everything goes well this next year to ensure the reopening is successful.
Not pretty brunettes who are so far off-limits, they’re in another universe.
Nope. Not what I need to be thinking about at all.
The Lost Spur.
That’s it.
If only Joey Andrews didn’t work there, my plan would be a fuck ton easier…