Chapter Six
Ryan smiled when Cull pulled the mud-spattered UTV up to the barn’s weathered double doors.
She climbed in, the vinyl seat cool against her, and buckled her seatbelt with a metallic click before grasping the sun-warmed handle above the door.
Cull backed the vehicle up with a spray of gravel, then drove them toward the cornfield.
She snorted out a laugh that turned into a cascade of tears rolling down her flushed cheeks. She heard Cull’s deep chuckle beside her and glanced over, catching the crinkles at the corners of his eyes.
“Is he for real?” Cull asked, his hands steady on the wheel.
“He’s as fake as they come. He had the balls to tell Seth we used to be an item, and he broke up with me.
No, he did not. We work at the magazine together, but he’s an ass.
But, when Seth and I rode up and I saw him in that ridiculous hat perched on his city-boy haircut and the scruff shaved off just along his jawline.
..” She laughed again, wiping her damp cheeks.
“I think his boots hurt his feet. He was wincing with every step.” Cull shook his head.
“He thinks looking the part means he fits in. He’d only fit in with a den of snakes.” Her voice hardened.
“I take it that relationship didn’t end well.” Cull navigated around a fallen branch.
Ryan sighed, her shoulders slumping against the seat. “It seems most of mine don’t.”
Cull glanced at her. “You’re talking about Seth now, right?”
“Yes. It can’t work, Cull. He knows it and I know it. We’re heading for heartbreak.” Her fingers twisted in her lap.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly, the words hanging in the air between them.
“Me too. I should just stay away from him. He’s right, it won’t end well.” Ryan hugged her arms, watching her breath drift in tiny clouds.
“He’s not happy about it either,” came Cull’s quiet reply.
“I know.” She exhaled sharply, the cool air stinging her lungs.
Cull coasted to a stop beside the rippling cornfield, where stalks had already grown. He cut the UTV’s engine with a soft click, and they climbed out onto the packed dirt. The scent of damp earth and green leaves around them, mingling with the faint tang of metal from the machine.
“You can get some photos if you want,” Cull said, slipping into the rows. He knelt to inspect the irrigation lines, his boots crunching on stray pebbles.
Ryan lifted her camera, cold against her fingertips, and trained the lens on the sunlit stalks.
The corn had already grown, the leaves green and healthy.
She felt a pang of melancholy, she’d be leaving soon, and it hurt to think how quickly she’d grown attached.
Worse, how deeply she’d fallen for Seth in that short time.
After thirty minutes, Cull emerged, dust clinging to the knees of his jeans from kneeling in the dirt. Ryan brushed away an errant tear, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yes. Damn, I don’t know if it’s just me, but it feels like it’s getting cold again.”
“The temps have dropped. Let’s head back. I have some fencing I have to get repaired.”
“Okay, but it’s April,” she said, shaking her head. “The weather in Valencia is very comfortable this time of the year.”
Cull stared at her and shrugged. She supposed he was used to this. They climbed into the UTV, Cull hit the starter and the engine rumbled to life. Dust kicked up behind them as they roared toward the barn, the sun slanting through the trees.
Cull parked at the barn door. Ryan hopped out. “See you later.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, pulling away.
She entered through the open doors and stepped inside, into the dim aisle scented with hay and aged wood. Shafts of light cut through gaps in the walls, illuminating drifting dust. She paused, wondering where Seth might be, and whether Sean was still here.
Her question was answered when Sean walked toward her, well, limping toward her and she bit her lip to keep from laughing.
“You think this is funny?” Sean asked, arms folded.
She smirked. “What? You suffering? Yes.”
Sean shook his head. “Damn, Ryan. That’s not nice.”
She stepped close, bootheels clicking on the cement. “You sure weren’t nice to me, screwing every woman you could while you were seeing me.”
He shrugged. “I’m sorry.”
“Excuse me? What?”
“I’m sorry. Maybe we could talk.”
“We are talking, and this is as far as it goes.” She turned just in time to see Seth’s broad silhouette pass beyond the open doors. He paused for a moment, his hat rim cutting across his face, then moved on out of sight. Ryan faced Sean again.
He glanced over his shoulder, then leaned in with a cruel half-smile. “Oh, I get it. You like that cowboy.”
“Whether I do or not is none of your business. He’s more of a man than you’ll ever be.”
Sean laughed. “Please. He’s a cowboy. They like to get dirty.”
Ryan’s lips curled in a laugh. “Oh, yes they do.”
“Are you telling me you slept with him?”
“I’m not telling you anything. But let’s say I did. I knew you were bad in bed, Sean, but I didn’t realize how selfish you were until Seth.” She turned on her heel and started away.
He sneered after her. “I can get you fired over that.”
Ryan whirled, anger flashing in her eyes. “Try it. Doris likes me a hell of a lot more than she likes you, you fake jerk.”
Sean opened his mouth to say something, but when he looked behind her, she glanced over her shoulder to see Seth approaching through the dusty afternoon light, his tall frame casting a long shadow across the floor of the barn.
“You were going to say something?” She smirked.
He leaned closer to her, close enough that she could smell his cologne mingling with leather and horse. “This conversation isn’t over.”
“Oh, trust me, it is. You should soak your feet. You can barely walk.” Her eyes dropped to his gleaming black boots; the leather creased with fresh wear.
“No wonder they hurt. Did you have to buy a pair with those pointed toes that look like miniature daggers? I bet you wanted them because you think they’re more stylish than anything practical for ranch work. ”
“I thought they were sharp looking,” he said, shifting his weight uncomfortably.
Ryan laughed. “Oh, they’re definitely sharp looking. In more ways than one.”
“Roach killer boots,” Seth said as he reached them, wiping his hands on his worn jeans.
“Roach killer boots?” Sean’s forehead wrinkled in confusion.
“Yeah, the name comes from the idea that the boots’ needle-sharp toes could be used to kill a roach if it ran into a corner.” Seth smirked.
Ryan burst out laughing, her shoulders shaking. “Perfect. Roach killer boots,” she said, laughing as she moved around him.
****
Seth folded his arms across his chest, shoulders blocking out the sun. He cocked his head, eyes narrowed and studied Hayes under the barn’s dusty eaves.
Hayes shifted his weight, smoothing the crease in his crisp shirt. “I hope to get in some good questions today, Seth,” he said against the low murmur of restless horses.
At the formal use of his name, Seth’s brows shot up. He glanced down at Hayes’ polished boots, then shook his head.
“Are you sure you’re up to it?” Seth’s tone was low.
Hayes forced a grin. “Yes. I’m a professional. Nothing’s going to interfere with my work.” His smile faltered, revealing anxiety.
“Alright,” Seth said. “But it’ll have to be from horseback.” He almost laughed when Hayes’ face went pale.
“I’d rather not.”
“No? You said you’d ridden before.”
“It was a long time ago,” Hayes admitted, voice barely above a whisper.
Seth nodded. “I see. Well, if you won’t, I’ll have to have the magazine send someone else. I do a lot of riding when I check the fields and fences.”
Hayes’s jaw clenched. “Couldn’t you use one of those four-wheelers you have?”
“I could,” Seth said, inhaling the sweet, dusty scent of hay, “but there are areas they can’t get through, whereas horses can slip through nearly anywhere. I need to inspect the fence lines.”
Hayes’ voice dropped. “Can’t you send someone else?”
Stepping closer, Seth’s boots crunched on straw. “I could. But I do my part on this ranch. So, either let me saddle you up, or you call your boss to get someone else here. I’m not trying to be a prick about it, but as I said, I do my part and it’s my turn to check the fence.” He stared at Hayes.
“We could do it this evening.”
“Look, Mr. Hayes, I work from dawn to sometimes long after the sun sets. When I get done for the day, I sure as hell don’t feel like doing an interview that late.”
Hayes exhaled sharply. “Fine. But please, no mean horses.”
Seth smirked as he shook his head. “I don’t have mean horses. I’ll get Clover for you. She’ll follow my lead. Once we hit the north ridge fence, you can dismount and rest.”
“It’s just a horse ride. I won’t need to get down.”
“Mr. Hayes, riding works muscles you didn’t know existed. Since it’s been a while since you’ve ridden, you don’t want to stay in the saddle too long.”
“Shit,” Hayes muttered. Then, resigned, “Alright.”
Without another word, Seth strode to a nearby stall, grabbed a lead rope, and clipped it to a calm bay mare’s halter. The animal sniffed the air, nickered, and stamped her hoof.
Hayes remained rooted to the spot. Seth turned, eyebrow raised. “You can’t bond with her from over there. Come closer, let her hear your voice. Hell, grow some balls and touch her. Let her feel your hands on her.”
Hayes swallowed and edged forward. He reached out, fingertips brushing the horse’s velvet muzzle. She leaned into the touch, nickered again.
“Good,” Seth said, stepping back. “I’ll be right back.”
“You’re leaving me with her?” Hayes’ voice trembled.
“Just need to saddle her. I’ll fetch the tack.” He ducked into the shadowed tack room.
Moments later, he returned with a blanket, saddle, and cinch. Hayes stood beside the horse, murmuring encouragement to the horse. The animal turned its head, lips curling in what looked like a grin. Hayes jerked his hand away.
“Is she going to bite me?”