Page 17 of Saddle and Bound

Alex nods, but he doesn't seem convinced. "You know," he says after a moment, "sometimes the best thing to do when you're stressed is to completely distract yourself. How about giving me a hand with the horses?"

I look at him, surprised. "Me? But I know nothing about horses."

"Exactly," he replies with a grin. "So you'll have to focus completely on what you're doing, with no room for other thoughts."

I hesitate for a moment, then nod. "Okay, why not?"

As I follow Alex into the stables, I feel a strange inner conflict. I'm still troubled by all my thoughts, but... surely I imagined it, or I'm going crazy, or I need to make this thing disappear from my head before it even manifests because what I felt when Alex caught sight of me... seemed very similar to relief. It's surely because I'm going crazy. I'm definitely tired. That damn rooster keeps me from sleeping, and I've been working too much lately. Yes, that's definitely it.

But then it all disappears. My inner conflicts no longer exist. Los Angeles, fatigue, lack of sleep no longer exist.

As I start learning how to brush a horse, I feel the weight on my chest lighten a bit.

Alex makes no comments about how out of place I am in my fuchsia heels.

Chapter 10

Rosie

With a deep breath, I make my entrance to the barbecue evening. Nervousness makes my hands tremble slightly as I adjust my flowing green dress, the most country-like thing I managed to find in my city wardrobe. My high heels sink slightly into the soft ground, making me wobble for a moment.

The scene before me is a whirlwind of colors, sounds, and scents that momentarily takes my breath away. My father is at the barbecue, focused on the smoking grill, wearing a chef's apron and a relaxed smile I haven't seen on him in years. Next to him is Maria, his future wife, radiant in her floral dress, her blonde hair shimmering in the sunset light. She's helping with food preparation, moving with grace and confidence. I vaguely remember that Maria works at the ranch preparing jams from the local harvest, and the way she moves in the kitchen betrays her passion for food. I make a mental note... I should familiarize myself with my future stepmother... maybe offer to help her with the harvest or in preparing jams or the wonderful desserts she makes... but I'm hopeless in the kitchen. Now that I'm an adult, I don't have time to learn. When I was a child, my mother died before she could teach me. And my father was too busy with work to cook... he only did it on weekends.

The sound of a guitar draws my attention, distracting me from this wandering of thoughts. Lexy is playing country music, her melodious voice rising in the evening air. She's wearing a black fringed skirt and a beige top, her bare feet tapping the rhythm on the ground. Next to her, Val dances with abandon, her blue dress swaying with every movement. She's barefoot too, and her face is lit up with a contagious smile. Aurora is sipping a cocktail (a Spritz perhaps?! It's orange so I think so).

The ranch boys are gathered in a corner, laughing and joking among themselves. They're all barefoot, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I watch them as they engage in friendly wrestling, their bodies moving with a strength and agility that betrays years of physical work.

Suddenly, I feel a gaze on me. I turn and meet Alex's eyes. The cowboy is watching me with an intensity that makes me blush. It's irritating how sexy he is, with his worn jeans and unbuttoned shirt revealing a hint of tanned chest. I try to look away, but I find myself irresistibly drawn to him.

Alex approaches with his usual crooked smile. "Welcome to the party, princess," he tells me, his gaze running along my body. "Nice dress. Although..." He leans towards me, whispering in my ear: "Maybe you should take those shoes off if you don't want to end up with your nose in the dirt."

I feel a shiver run down my spine at the sound of his voice so close. I straighten up, trying to maintain my composure. "I'm fine like this, thank you," I reply in a tone I hope sounds confident.

Alex raises his hands in surrender, but his smile widens. "Suit yourself, princess. But don't say I didn't warn you."

As Alex walks away to join the other guys, I stand still for a moment, trying to calm my racing heart. I look around, observing the scene of happiness and simplicity surrounding me. For an instant, I feel out of place with my fashionable dress and high heels. But then my father sees me and nods, his face lighting up with joy.

With a sigh, I head towards him, deciding that perhaps, just for tonight, I can allow myself to let go a little. After all, what's wrong with taking off your shoes and feeling the grass under your feet, at least once? I think about it... but I still don't do it. It's hard to let go when you're used to following rules and being perfect.

I approach my father, feeling the heat of the barbecue on my skin. "Hi, honey," he greets me with a warm smile. "You look beautiful tonight."

"Thanks, Dad," I reply, suddenly feeling shy. Maria turns to me, her face radiant.

"Rosie! It's so good to see you," she exclaims, wrapping me in a hug that smells of herbs and wood smoke. "I hope you're hungry, we've prepared a real feast!"

I look at the plates full of food, feeling my stomach growl. "It all looks delicious," I admit.

"Go get yourself something to drink," Dad encourages me. "And maybe you could take those shoes off. You look a bit... unstable." I blush, aware of how out of place I must look. With a sigh of defeat, I bend down to unfasten my heels. The cool grass under my bare feet is a surprisingly pleasant sensation.

I head towards the drinks table, trying to ignore the curious glances from the other guests. I grab a glass of what I think is Spritz and look around, suddenly feeling alone in the midst of all these people.

"Hey, city girl!" Val's cheerful voice makes me jump. She approaches dancing, her eyes shining with joy. "Finally got rid of those death traps! Come on, dance with us!"

Before I can protest, she grabs my hand and drags me towards the group that's dancing. Country music fills the air, and I find myself swaying awkwardly, trying to follow the rhythm.

"Relax!" Val shouts over the music. "Let yourself go!"

I close my eyes for a moment, trying to let go of my inhibitions. Slowly, I begin to feel the rhythm flow through me. My movements become looser, more natural.

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