5. Ramona #2
He steps closer, moving slowly enough that I can turn away. I don’t.
“I know.” He rests his hand against my arm. “I got caught up, and you paid for it. I’m sorry.”
“You keep getting caught up.” I look back at him. “I need you to notice before I’m standing in a barn looking stupid.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. He waits until I unfold my arms before taking my hand.
“Come riding with me.” He brings my knuckles to his mouth. “I’ve wasted enough of our day.”
“You’re catching both horses.” I let him draw me closer. “I already did it once.”
“I’ll saddle them, too.” He brushes his thumb beneath my cuff.
***
Pearl gets ahead of Cash before Julius can draw alongside us. I lean forward and let her run along the clear stretch, laughing when he calls after me.
I slow near the creek, giving her time to settle before turning toward the trail. Julius comes around the bend with his hat pushed back and a smile I can see before he reaches me.
“You’re not arguing.” I rest my hands against the saddle while he stops beside us. “That’s suspicious.”
“I’m enjoying the view.” He keeps his eyes on me instead of the creek.
“You slowed down.” I point at Cash, who has already spotted grass near the bank. “Don’t pretend he couldn’t have caught us.”
“I thought you might kiss me again if you were in a good mood.” Julius dismounts and takes the reins over Cash’s head.
“You’re admitting to cheating now?” I watch him secure his horse at the rail.
“I’m admitting I’d like another kiss.” He comes back to Pearl’s side and looks up at me. “You can decide how much paperwork that requires.”
I try not to smile while he checks my stirrup. The leather has twisted against my boot, and he straightens it with careful fingers.
“You don’t have to let me win to get that.” I lift my foot so he can finish.
“I’ll remember you said that.” His hand settles around my ankle, staying after the stirrup is fixed.
I glance down at it, then at his face.
“Are you planning to let me get off?” I shift my boot against his palm.
“I’m happy here.” He rests his free arm against the saddle. “My wife’s smiling at me again.”
“She’s wondering how long you’re going to hold her foot.” I lean forward enough to put my face closer to his.
“As long as it keeps her talking to me.” He brushes his thumb over the leather before letting go.
I turn to dismount. Julius holds my waist as I slide down, and I keep my hands on his shoulders after my boots reach the ground.
He is close enough that I can see a bead of sweat beside his temple. I push his hat back, trying to flatten the hair beneath it.
“You look ridiculous.” I smooth a stubborn piece with my fingers.
“You’ve been staring at me since I got here.” He pulls me closer by my waist. “I assumed it was going well.”
“I’m checking for damage.” I let my hands settle against his neck. “You took losing better when you were seventeen.”
“I remember you being less concerned about my feelings.” He tilts his head beneath my touch.
“You used to try harder to impress me.” I lift my chin as his eyes move to my mouth.
“I brought you a horse today.” He bends until his lips brush mine.
“You were already mine.” I smile against his mouth before kissing him.
His arm tightens around me. I step closer, my fingers sliding into his hair while his hand moves slowly over my back.
When he draws away, I follow far enough to make him laugh.
“There she is.” He kisses my cheek, then the corner of my mouth.
“Don’t start getting smug.” I pull his hat off and hold it behind his back so he can’t reach it.
“That’s my good hat.” He makes no attempt to take it.
“Then behave.” I rise onto my toes for another kiss.
He turns us carefully, settling his hand against the rail before my back reaches it. I feel him check the wood for rough edges, and I bring him closer by his collar.
He still remembers to do that.
His mouth slows against mine. For a while, neither of us tries to turn it into a joke.
“I missed this.” He rests his forehead against mine, his hand warm at the back of my neck.
“You can have it more often.” I keep my free hand flat against his chest. “I’m not asking you to plan a whole day every time. Come find me before you’re too tired to talk.”
“I can do that.” He kisses the inside of my wrist when I lift my hand to his face. “I want to.”
I put his hat back on him, deliberately crooked.
“We’ll start with visiting Dad on the way in.” I adjust the brim before he can fix it. “He asked me to bring you by.”
“He wants me to look at that gate, doesn’t he?” Julius catches my hand against his chest.
“He wants to see you. The gate will probably come up afterward.”
“I’ll bring my gloves.” He smiles and kisses my forehead before letting me go.
***
We give the horses time at the water before heading back. Julius offers to help me mount, and I put a hand against his chest when he gets too close.
“You’ve had your kiss.” I keep my face straight while he rests his hands at my waist.
“I thought we were improving our marriage.” He looks offended until I start laughing.
“You can improve it by holding the horse.” I turn toward the saddle, but he kisses my shoulder before stepping aside.
On the trail, Cash keeps trying to get ahead. Julius brings him back beside Pearl until their heads are nearly even.
“You’ve trained him to expect a race.” I glance over as Cash pulls forward again.
“He’s spent too much time with you.” Julius steadies him, then reaches across the space between us.
I give him my hand. His fingers close around mine, and he rubs his thumb over my wedding ring while we ride.
The path widens. I settle deeper into the saddle and let my shoulder relax.
“June’s been jumpy this week.” I watch Pearl step around a stone. “Yesterday she wouldn’t go near the trough. I checked all around it and couldn’t see what was bothering her.”
“Was somebody using tools nearby?” Julius turns toward me. “She still doesn’t like the noise.”
“Nobody was there.” I squeeze his hand once. “I thought she might be sore, but she let me check her legs. This morning, she wouldn’t even…”
His phone vibrates. He lets go of my hand and reaches into his jacket. I lower my arm slowly while he reads the screen.
“It’s Dakota.” He glances up. “She wants to know which horses we’re starting with tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow sounds like a good time to tell her.” I keep my tone even, watching his thumb move toward the screen.
“I’ll just tell her where the list is.” He types while Cash starts edging ahead. “Otherwise, she’ll keep looking for it.”
I bring Pearl alongside them again. Julius finishes the message and lowers the phone.
“You were saying June wouldn’t…” He stops when another message arrives.
I look at his face while he reads it, and his mouth curves before he types a reply.
“What’s funny?” I shift the reins in my hands.
“She says she already found three lists, and apparently none of them are the one I mean.” He shakes his head, still smiling at the screen. “I know where I left it.”
“You could let her wait.” I watch him open another message.
“She’s got it now.” He taps a final reply and puts the phone away. “Sorry. That should be everything.”
His hand reaches across to mine again. I give it to him, but keep my eyes on the path.
“June was spooking.” He rubs his thumb over my knuckles. “Did you want me to come look at her?”
“I wanted to finish telling you about it.” I turn toward him.
His smile goes. He looks at our hands, then back at my face.
“You’re right. Go on.” He shifts closer in the saddle, giving me his attention.
I open my mouth, and his phone vibrates again. His eyes drop to his pocket before he catches himself.
I take my hand back before he has to let go.