Chapter 18
CHARLIE
Breakfast was served in my mama’s kitchen just like it had been every morning since I’d been born, but everything felt a little lighter and brighter today. The pancakes were fluffier, the bacon crispier, and the fruit crunchier.
Olivia sat next to me at the well-polished wooden table that had been right here for over fifty years, and she seemed to be having trouble keeping a grin off her own face. I was struggling with the same thing.
Cody looked between the two of us, a glint of trouble in his eyes. He leaned forward and tried to keep a straight face. “The thunder was extra loud on your side of the house last night. I heard lots of booms over there. How did you get any sleep?”
On instinct, my foot shot forward and I kicked him in the shin, relishing the wince that crumbled his features before he fell back against his chair. I arched my eyebrows at him. “I don’t know what you think you heard, but there were no booms. I slept like a baby.”
Olivia’s smile widened as she nodded her agreement with me. “There’s nothing quite like a thunderstorm when you’re trying to fall asleep. I always find them so soothing.”
I glanced at my dad, but he seemed clueless, which had been the goal. He smiled at Liv. “How did our storm compare to what you’re used to? I’m glad it didn’t scare you away.”
“Never,” she promised, sending me another discreet smile before looking back at him. “It was magnificent. All of it.”
Satisfaction surged through me, so powerful that I nearly started purring. It was bizarre but I couldn’t help it.
Dad chuckled. “Well, you’re welcome to come stay any time if you’d like to experience it again.”
“Absolutely,” I agreed, open to a repeat performance any time.
Dad turned to me. “So, what have you got planned for Olivia’s last official day on the ranch?”
The reminder that she was leaving was a gut punch. I’d only just gotten used to having her here, and after last night, I wouldn’t have minded having her around for a few more weeks. But that was why what we’d done had been so darn dangerous.
Instead of moping about her impending departure, I schooled my features and kept my expression neutral. “Well, she’s seen all the important stuff around here, so I thought I’d take her riding. Show her around the old-fashioned way.”
“That’s a great idea,” Mom said, sending Olivia a fond smile. “You’ll never see the real ranch from a car. The best parts are only accessible on horseback.”
“You can ride, right?” Wyatt asked. “If not, you’re welcome to hop on with me.”
“She can ride.” I was not watching her on a horse with my brother all damn day. If she didn’t manage on her own, the only person she’d be riding with was me. “I’ll make sure we take it slow.”
Amusement lit up Wyatt’s eyes. “Slow seems to be the only way you know how to go, brother.”
I scowled at him and he knocked it off, averting his gaze while his shoulders shook with silent laughter. Olivia seemed pretty amused herself, but she tucked into her food heartily instead of letting it show.
Sighing softly, I shoveled in the rest of my breakfast. Then I pushed my chair back with a scrape of its wooden legs against the tile. “We’ll see you all later.”
Olivia had only just finished chewing, but she swallowed her last bite and downed her juice, then smiled at my mom. “Thank you for another delicious meal. You’re an incredible cook.”
Mom chuckled. “With six men to keep fed, I had to learn fast, but thank you. Enjoy your ride, Liv. See you later.”
Motioning for her to precede me, I grabbed my hat, fitted it on my head, and strode out into the sunshine. As soon as we stepped out of the house, she turned to smile at me. “Just so you know, I don’t actually know how to ride a horse.”
I glanced at her, smirking. “Really? You did just fine last night.”
Her elbow came out of nowhere, connecting hard with my ribs. A jolt of pain shot through me and I grunted. “What was that for?”
“You are not a horse, Mr. Anderson.”
I shrugged and winked at her. “But I’m hung like one.”
Olivia let out an exasperated groan but chuckled under her breath. She slid her sunglasses onto her face. Keeping pace beside me, she looked out at the wind rustling through the long grass and sighed.
“It’s so pretty out here. You’re lucky to call this place home.”
“Don’t I know it, but you also haven’t seen anything yet. That’s what today is all about.” I led her to the stables and inhaled the scent of hay, manure, and wood shavings.
As far as I was concerned, it was one of the best smells in the world, but I noticed her nose wrinkling a little. She followed me into the barn and looked around with a much keener interest than she had before—and a flicker of apprehension in her eyes.
“Which one am I going to ride?” she asked, her gaze moving from one stall to the next.
I nodded at the two horses already saddled up and waiting outside at the other end of the structure. “Do you remember Cutie?”
Olivia perked up, smiling softly as she nodded. “I liked her. She seemed sweet.”
“Well, like I said, she can be feisty too, but she’ll take good care of you.” Olivia was also the only other person I would let on that mare’s back, but I didn’t tell her that. “Do you want me to give you a leg up?”
“No.” She strode past me and walked out to Cutie, all smiles and cooing. She held her hand out to my horse. “Hello, you gorgeous girl. It’s nice to see you again. I’m going to need you to take it easy on me today, alright?”
Cutie sniffed and shuffled closer to Olivia.
My heart pounded as I watched them together.
Liv’s dark blonde hair was pulled up into a high, smooth ponytail, her sunglasses covered her eyes, and her skintight jeans hugged her ass.
There was a smile on her lips and her hand was on Cutie’s face.
Her head was bent close to the mare as if they were sharing a moment.
It was easily one of the most beautiful moments I’d ever had the privilege of witnessing, and the fact that I was even thinking that meant it was time to get a move on. “Alright. Are you going to be able to get on her by yourself? Do you even know how to set the stirrups?”
“The what?” She sounded slightly dazed and pulled her lower lip between her teeth. A moment later, she shook her head. “No, I don’t, but I’m sure I can figure it out.”
I arched an eyebrow at her but didn’t argue.
I walked over to Nairobi, one of our new colts, instead.
We were still working on taming the beast that lived inside him, but I’d found he responded well to me.
Since I’d decided to let her have my regular mount, I figured this was a good opportunity to take him under my wing for the day.
As I made sure my own tack was ready, I watched Liv’s fiddle with her stirrups. She finally lifted her foot and didn’t get it anywhere near where it had to be. She grabbed the saddle and tried again. Cutie shifted her feet and Liv landed on her ass in the dirt. I suppressed a laugh.
Liv huffed out a breath and I waited for her to ask for help, but she didn’t. She simply tried again. This try, she almost lifted her foot high enough but, in doing so, had let go of the saddle. I bit my lips to keep from letting her hear my amusement.
It was adorable. Frustrating, since we could’ve been underway by now, but fucking adorable. Part of me was really starting to admire this girl’s tenacity. She was so far out of her depth on the ranch but she hadn’t let that hold her back at all, nor had she ever given up.
“Are you sure you don’t want any help?” I asked, needing her to know I was still right there and perfectly willing.
She shot me a glare over her shoulder. “I can do things on my own, you know? Just be patient. I think I’ve almost got it.”
She absolutely did not almost have it, but I kept letting her try. I slid my phone out of my back pocket and recorded a few of her attempts at failing miserably.
“What are you doing?” she snapped when she caught sight of the camera. “Are you filming this?”
“Yep,” I said cheerfully, then tapped the screen to end the video and shoved the phone back into my pocket. “I’m getting back at you for filming me all the time at my worst moments. It’s not fun, is it?”
She blew out a sharp breath. “It’s still authentic, but I’m not the subject of this campaign.”
“Perhaps not, but you are a part of it.” I went over and took her hands, firmly placing them in the correct position before grabbing her hips and lifting her onto the saddle. “There you are. See, it’s not so difficult. All you need to do is ask for help.”
“I didn’t need it,” she fumed quietly but stroked her hand along Cutie’s golden neck. To my surprise, her attitude changed almost immediately, the anger fading from her features as she collected the reins. “Okay, Cowboy. Are you coming, or am I doing this by myself?”
I chuckled, striding back over to Nairobi and quickly mounting him. I walked over to her, careful to stay right beside her and Cutie as we started away from the stables. Although we wouldn’t cover much of the ranch in just one day, let alone at this pace, I was looking forward to taking her around.
For the first couple miles, Olivia was obviously nervous, sitting like she had a rod in place of a spine with her head constantly jerking this way and that. I shot her a pointed look. “Relax, Liv. I’m right here if anything happens, but it’s not going to.”
She sighed, not looking at me but clearly trying to relax her muscles. “How did Cutie get her name? You told me we’d talk about it later, but we never got around to it.”
“Cody,” I said as if that was all the explanation she’d needed, and her answering chuckle told me that she did, in fact, understand.
“What happened?” she asked.
“I lost a bet,” I admitted. “When we made it, he told me he didn’t want my money. He said he wanted naming privileges on my next horse, and unfortunately for Cutie, she was that horse.”
“She’s yours?” I could see the surprise furrowing Olivia’s brow even if I couldn’t see her eyes. “You’re letting me ride your horse?”
“It’s not such a big deal,” I lied. We came to a stream with a grand old water oak growing beside it. I pointed at it. “Do you see that spot under the tree right there?”
“Yeah?”
“That’s where my mom and dad got engaged.” I smiled. “They still picnic there every year on their anniversary.”
“Wow.” Olivia stared at the spot as we passed it, lapsing into silence.
As much as I hated to admit it, I loved watching her experiencing all of it for the first time. Our property was the most beautiful place in the world to me. My whole life had been spent building this ranch and all the others we’d based off it.
It was my pride and joy, my livelihood, the place where I’d been born and where I would eventually be buried. I’d never shared it this way with any woman before, and I suddenly found myself wondering if I ever would again.
There was something about doing this with Olivia that made it feel like somehow I’d been reserving this experience only for her—and I had no idea what to do with that feeling.