Page 5 of A Cowboy Takes A Chance

choose any one you’d like. Once you’re in the saddle, the ranch hands will adjust the stirrups for you.”

“I might need a leg up,” the blonde said.

Of course, she did.Jaxon took a deep breath and strolled over to her. Clasping his fingers together, he leaned down, and she put her foot in them and her hands on his shoulders. A little more caressing than necessary, but he was used to this. Women came on to him and Devin all the time. He lifted her onto the saddle.

“There you go,” he said and put his fingers to his hat.

“Bett,” she said.

“Excuse me?”

“My name is Bett, Jaxon.” She winked.

“Yes, ma’am,” Jaxon muttered under his breath as he walked to his horse. Vaulting onto the saddle, he looked over the group. That’s when he spotted her. She sat a horse well, and she was looking at him. Smiling at him, she shrugged, making him bite back a grin and shake his head. She’d seen the blonde all over him.

“Whenever you’re ready, Chip,” Jaxon called out to him and stayed behind to watch them all walk their horses out. Bett remained at the rear. He knew she would, but she could think again if she thought she was going to get anywhere with him. He wasn’t interested. At least, not in her. His eyes moved ahead to see Presley Reynolds. She wore a white spaghetti strap T-shirt tucked into tight jeans that were tucked into her cowboy boots. Too bad she hadn’t stayed at the back. Shaking his head, he knew it didn’t matter since he never got involved with the guests, and she had seen him at his worst. He could barely remember the emergency room he’d been in so much pain. Absentmindedly, he rubbed his left hip. They’d done a hip replacement on him. When the car hadslammed into the tree from the force of the head-on collision, Jaxon’s bone had been crushed and his femur broken in two places. The scar he had ran from the outside of his hip to just above his knee. Learning to live with that was nothing compared to learning to live without Bethany.

Adjusting his hat low onto his forehead, he sighed as he followed behind the line of horses and riders. Chip led them through the barn and out into the bright sunshine. Jaxon reached for his sunglasses in the pocket of his T-shirt, put them on, and noticed that just about everyone did the same. He was also glad to see they all wore cowboy hats. He always changed his black felt one for his white straw one in the summer.

It was hot already and only seven. The sun baked the ground under them, and it would feel good when they reached a higher elevation. Little puffs of dust rose under the horse’s hooves until they reached the pasture. Then the tall grass swooshed as they walked through it to get to the path they’d follow. They stayed in a line and walked in a smooth gait. Leather creaked under Jaxon as he turned to look behind him. When he turned to the front, Bett was twisted in her saddle looking at him. He had a feeling she was going to be a problem.

“Are you wishing we were heading in instead of out?” she asked him, smiling.

“No, ma’am. Just looking around.”

“Please call me Bett. Ma’am makes me feel old.”

“Sorry. I don’t mean to offend you, just being polite.”

“And calling me Bett wouldn’t be polite?”

“If you insist…Bett.” He almost choked. She was pretty, but his eyes moved past her to Presley, and his heart skipped a beat. She was a beautiful woman. Why was she here alone? A woman who looked like her should be married and have kids. Jaxon had rarely seen women here alone, unless they were in a group, and that seemed to be happening more and more often. How did she even know about the place? Did she look for him for some reason? It seemed strange that the nurse from the ER in Idaho Falls would show up in Spring City, Montana. Shaking his head, he was sure it was just a coincidence. Funny, though, he didn’t believe in coincidences. He’d find out why she was here if he got any time with her. Looking back to Bett, he jerked his chin.

“You’re falling behind,” he told her.

Frowning at him, she nudged the horse to catch up. Jaxon blew out a breath. What was it going to take to get her to leave him alone? He had to be helpful since she was a guest,but that didn’t mean letting her get the idea she could sleep with him. He snorted. She sure as hell didn’t have sleep on her mind. Nudging Zander, he caught up with the group. It would take them almost three hours to get to the site, and he wanted to get a good fire going and help set the tents up. Although no children under the age of eighteen were allowed on the ranch, he’d brought marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers. Who didn’t like some tasty S’mores? Hot dogs and pre-made hamburgers for dinner and he’d scramble eggs in the morning. Of course, he had coffee along with tea, water, and a variety of sodas.

Reining Zander to a stop when Chip raised his hand and turned in the saddle, Jaxon knew the spiel. Chip was going to let the group know they were going down an embankment and remember what Jaxon had told them about how to sit on the horse. Jaxon stayed above to watch them ride their horses down to the stream and cross it. Everyone did as they were told then started the horses up the other side. He heard feminine laughter and frowned when he saw one of the single men talking with Presley Reynolds.

Jaxon rolled his shoulders, nudged Zander to head down the embankment, across the creek, and run him up the otherside. He rode alongside the man until he glanced over to him.

“Single file,” he said a little more sharply than he needed to. The young man looked startled then pulled his horse ahead of Presley’s.

“Got a burr under your saddle, Mr. Callahan?” she asked him.

Jaxon narrowed his eyes behind his sunglasses. “No. It’s the rules, Miss Reynolds. They haven’t changed since we left the barn.” Tugging on Zander’s reins, he road to the back of the line again.

****

Jaxon Callahan was a pain. A sexy, handsome pain. Why had he jumped all over Rodney? Just because they weren’t in a single file for a second? Then it hit her that Jaxon had called her by her name. How had he known? Had he asked someone? Shaking her head at the thought he’d asked about her, she glanced back, and saw him watching her and had to bite her tongue to keep from sticking it out at him.You’re twenty-eight years old!

“Like that makes a difference,” she muttered as she faced forward.

“Did you say something?” the man behind her asked.

“Just talking to myself.” Presley threw a smile over her shoulder and recognized himas one of the married ones. His wife rode behind him and smiled at Presley.

“I do that too.”

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