Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Geraldine
I pulled on a fresh shirt and my boots, ran a brush through my hair, and headed downstairs.
The house was still, and the kitchen was empty, but the coffee pot was full and warm.
Someone was up. I poured a mug, took a sip, and stepped onto the porch.
The air was cool, the ground still damp from yesterday’s rain, and the sky was turning pink over the hills.
Christian was out by the barn, hauling a bale of hay, his blond hair sticking out under his hat.
He looked awake, at least. I figured he’d be my best shot at doing something today because Cosmo was probably still snoring, and Damian didn’t strike me as the morning-chat type.
“Hey, Christian,” I called and walked over with my coffee. He glanced up, wiped his hands on his jeans, and gave me a nod.
“Morning,” he said, and tossed the bale into a stack by the barn door. “You’re up early.”
“I couldn’t sleep,” I said, and leaned against the fence. “Too much beer last night, I guess.”
He grinned a little lopsidedly. “Yeah, you and Cosmo were going hard. Feeling it?”
“Little bit,” I said and took another sip. “You’re out here working already?”
“Always,” he said and grabbed a pitchfork from the wall. “Horses don’t wait. You need something?”
“Yeah, actually,” I said and set my mug on the fence post. “You think you could teach me to ride one? I’ve never done it, and I’m stuck here anyway.”
He raised an eyebrow and leaned on the pitchfork. “You serious?”
“Why not?” I said and shrugged. “It looks fun. Unless you’re too busy.”
“Nah, I can swing it,” he said and jerked his head toward the barn. “Come on. We’ll get you set up.”
I followed him inside, and the smell of hay and leather hit me as we walked past the stalls.
The horses shifted and snorted softly, and he stopped at one with a reddish coat.
“This is Rusty,” he said and patted its neck.
“He’s steady. Good for a beginner. I’ll take Dusty because she’s got more kick, but I can handle her. ”
“Sounds good,” I said and watched him grab saddles from a rack. He moved easily, like he’d done this a thousand times, and I stepped closer as he tossed a blanket over Rusty’s back.
“Stand here,” he said, and pointed to the horse’s side. “Hold the reins like this, loose but firm. I’ll get him saddled, then you’re up.”
I took the reins, and the leather felt rough in my hands. He cinched the saddle tight and explained each step. “Foot in the stirrup, swing your leg over, sit tall,” he said and stepped back. “Go for it.”
I nodded, grabbed the saddle horn, and hoisted myself up. It was awkward, and my boot slipped once, but I made it and settled into the seat. Rusty shifted under me, and I gripped the reins tighter. “Whoa,” I said. “He’s big.”
“You’re fine,” Christian said and checked the straps.
“He’s chill. Just don’t yank too hard because he’ll listen.
” He saddled Dusty quickly, swung up onto her, and led us out of the barn.
The yard was muddy, but he guided us toward a trail cutting through the pasture, and the horses’ hooves sank a little in the soft ground.
“Keep your heels down,” he said as we started moving. “Lean forward a bit. Let him know you’re in charge.”
“Got it,” I said and adjusted my grip. Rusty plodded along and stayed steady like Christian promised, and I relaxed as we hit the open field. The air was crisp, the hills rolled out green and gold, and I could see cattle grazing in the distance. It was pretty and quiet in a way the city never was.
“You’re a natural,” Christian said and pulled Dusty up beside me. “Not bad for a city girl.”
“Thanks,” I said and smirked. “So, how’d you guys end up with this place? Red Rock’s huge.”
He tipped his hat back and squinted at the horizon. “It wasn’t always ours. It started with Damian’s family because his dad ran it back in the day. He grew up here and learned the ropes young. When his old man passed, he took over.”
“Just him?” I asked and nudged Rusty to keep up.
“Nah,” he said, “and Cosmo came in later. I met Damian at a rodeo years back and broke my arm trying to ride a bull, and he dragged me to the bar after to laugh about it. We’ve been tight since.
Cosmo showed up a couple of years later, some slick-talking guy from town looking for work.
Damian hired him to deal with suppliers, and we just clicked. ”
“So, you built it up together?” I said and glanced at him.
“Pretty much,” he said and nodded. “Damian had the land, but it was rough with old fences and half the herd sold off. I brought the cowboy know-how, fixing stock and breaking horses. Cosmo’s the one who got us deals and talked up the ranch to buyers. It took a few years, but we made it work.”
“That’s cool,” I said. “It sounds like a lot of sweat.”
“It was,” he said and grinned. “It still is. But it’s ours. We’ve got fifty thousand acres now, good cattle, and solid horses. It took some fights and long nights, but we’re steady.”
I nodded and let Rusty pick his way around a muddy patch. “Do you ever think about doing something else?”
“Nope,” he said and shook his head. “This is it for me. Land’s in my blood. Damian’s the same. Cosmo might run off to charm the world someday, but he sticks for now.”
“Guess that makes sense,” I said. “You all fit together.”
“Yeah,” he said and looked at me. “What about you? Is boutique life all you want?”
“Mostly,” I said and shrugged. “It’s mine, you know? I built it from scratch. But days like this make me wonder what I’m missing.”
“Stick around,” he said and smirked. “We’ll show you.”
I laughed and nudged Rusty to speed up a little. “Maybe. Let’s see if I can keep up first.”
“Kick him gently,” he said and demonstrated with Dusty. “He’ll trot. Hold on.”
I tapped Rusty’s sides, and he picked up the pace and bounced me in the saddle. I gripped the horn and laughed as the wind hit my face. “Okay, this is fun,” I said. “Why didn’t I try this sooner?”
“City’s fault,” he said, and kept Dusty alongside me. “There are no horses there.”
“True,” I said. “Do you think I could handle one of these back home?”
“Start with this,” he said and nodded at Rusty. “You’re doing good. We’ll go around the pasture, then head back.”
We rode out farther, and the trail wound past a creek swollen from the rain, then up a low hill where I could see the whole ranch sprawled out with barns, fences, and the house tucked against the trees.
Christian pointed out spots as we went. “That’s where we fixed the fence last spring,” he said.
“A storm took it out, same as yesterday. Over there’s the calf pen because Cosmo fell in the mud chasing one once. ”
“No way,” I said and laughed. “He told me that story last night.”
“It’s all true,” he said and grinned. “I yanked him out. He was pissed.”
We circled back slowly, the horses steady under us, and I felt the ache in my legs starting to creep in. “Guess I’ll be sore tomorrow,” I said as we neared the barn.
“Yep,” he said and swung off Dusty. “It’s worth it, though. You did solid.”
“Thanks,” I said and slid down and wobbled a little when my boots hit the ground. He took Rusty’s reins, and I stretched and grabbed my coffee mug from the fence. “I appreciate the lesson.”
“Anytime,” he said and led the horses inside. “You’re not half bad.”
I smiled and headed for the house, sipping the cold coffee.
The ride was a rush, and Christian’s story stuck with me about three friends turning a beat-up ranch into something real.
Maybe Hazel was right about enjoying this place.
I’d figure that out later. For now, I needed more coffee and a shower.