Aubrey #2
“Not to sound as if I’m trying to sway Hoyt into putting down roots but he pines for his horse.
” Jesse nodded sadly. “Most of his works deal with red roan ponies, which is his release for the loss of his friend. To that end he mentioned who he sold Adobe to one night and I’ve done some snooping online.
” Glancing over my shoulder I saw no one coming with coffee and pie yet so I put my forearms on the table to mimic Jesse.
“He sold him to a fellow cowboy by the name of Ken Langdon. This man has a spread in Oklahoma, Red Horizons Ranch. If you’d be willing to reach out to this man to offer for Adobe I would be happy to pay for the cost of the horse and its transport back to Snow Creek.
My grandmother left me some money when she passed with the stipulation that I was to follow my dreams and do good deeds with the windfall.
” I pushed my glasses up my nose. “I’m living my dream of owning a bookstore and have fallen in…
fallen into caring deeply for a wonderful man.
I cannot think of a better good deed than to reunite this wonderful man with his cherished horse. ”
Jesse stared at me long and hard then his hand came down on my forearm. He gave my arm a squeeze as his eyes grew warm. “I’ll be happy to reach out and set it up.”
I grinned widely, eyes going misty.
“But how would you feel if we go half on the cost of the horse? Not to steal your thunder, but I’d love to be part of this for him.” He appeared shy, and it reminded me of Hoyt. “And if it tempts him to stay home for good, then so much the better. We have a lot of years to make up for, you know?”
“I do, and I would be happy to share the cost.” I patted his hand. The clink of spoons tickling coffee mugs reached us before Lucas and Hoyt did, so we sat back, smiling the smiles of two men who had a wonderful secret.
The pie-bearers entered. After the pie was passed out, Hoyt sat beside me, his knee touching mine under the table.
“Want to go for a walk after we eat our pie?” His question took me by surprise.
“Yes, that sounds nice. I could stand to work off some of that pasta, and this pie! Would you two like to join us?”
“No, they would like to stay here.” I blinked at Hoyt.
“Yeah, we would. We don’t like walking on warm summer nights when the moon is full and the nightbirds are crooning,” Lucas commented.
“See, told you. They’re staying here.” Hoyt gave his brother a stern look and got a smirk and a shrug in return. “Stay put, little brother.”
Jesse never did reply to that warning but when we headed out hand-in-hand it was just Hoyt and me.
And the crickets singing to the little frog in the bubbling creek that ran through Snow Creek lands.
We strolled past barns, a riding arena, and a few buildings that he explained were a guest house and a staff building.
“So this is Snow Creek,” Hoyt informed me as we made our way to a small bridge that spanned the gurgling creek.
“We crossed Ten Mile Creek when we turned off Stonewall Road. If we go on up we’ll find the dude ranch cabins.
Those are probably pretty full with city folks now but they’re pretty.
Things have been fixed up a lot since I left as a kid. Nice to see things going well.”
“It’s quite lovely here,” I came to a slow stall on the bridge, turning my face into the cool night to breathe in the countryside.
Clean, rich air filled my lungs. I felt a hand sliding into my hair to work my untidy bun free.
I shot him a sideways look that he chuckled at before turning me to face him.
Oh yes, that full moon did marvelous things for him.
“Can I kiss you? I’ve wanted to all through dinner but didn’t feel it was…I didn’t know if you’d be okay with making out in front of my brother.”
“Well, a kiss is fine. Tonsil hockey is something else,” I replied as my arms went around his waist.
“You’re the prettiest man in Colorado.”
“And you, sir, have a way with words,” I teased, stepping into his arms.
“That feels right. Like a ship coming into dock.” He lowered his mouth to mine, his hands buried in my hair, his lips moving insistently.
Opening to him was as natural as breathing.
He tasted of rich red sauce. Tummy full, I felt a hunger igniting inside that had nothing to do with garlic or pasta.
This man made me crave his possession. I kissed him back, hard, hoping he would pick up how much I yearned for him.
“God above, Aubrey,” he panted when we broke for air. “That kiss was…”
“I want you. I want you to lay me down in my bed and love me. Will you do that? Will you take me home and love me through the night?”
“Hell yeah.” He covered my mouth with his.
His hands cupped my ass, lifting me slightly from the bridge.
How long we lingered under that bright, warm spring moon, I couldn’t say but my lips were puffy from our kisses when we made our way back to the ranch.
“I can’t wait to get you home. You, me, that soft bed of yours. Heaven.”
My dick was still half hard from the make out session on the bridge. I was about to reply with something scandalous when the front door of the big house came open as the porch light flared to life.
Lucas raced down the front steps, his handsome face a mask of worry, to grab Hoyt by the right arm. “We’ve been trying to text you but you didn’t reply.”
“My phone is off. What’s wrong?” Hoyt glanced at me. I had no clue but something had happened during our little stroll.
“It’s Abel. He’s…he’s dead. Jesse is…We have to go to town.”
Hoyt stood there in the path, face blank, gripping my fingers as a thousand and one emotions raced over him. Micro expressions that ran the gamut of every feeling a man could feel played out on his face.
“Hoyt?” I whispered. His grip grew tighter. “Hoyt, how can I help?”
He peered down at me with zero emotion. “I don’t know. Just stay close?”
“Always.”
They would have to use a crowbar to pry me loose from his side.