Page 35 of Tangled Temptation

AngiewatchedJaredashe checked and cleaned the horse’s hooves the next morning. She’d agreed to go riding with him. She shook her head, wondering why she’d done that. It wasn’t like she hadn’t been on a horse before. Angie rolled her eyes.Well, a pony in the park counted, didn’t it?

She liked the white spots on the horse’s brown coat and enjoyed watching Jared as he worked. “Be right back.” He left the stable only to return with his arms filled.

“What is that?” she asked. “I mean, I know it’s a saddle, but it looks bigger than those I’ve seen before.”

“It’s a double saddle. This way we can ride together and enjoy the ride.”

She didn’t say anything as he settled the saddle on the horse, tightened the cinch, and checked it all out. Then he lifted two bags and laid them over the horse. “Ready?” he said.

“I guess.” Angie walked over to the horse, who looked super big to her.

“Stand on the mounting block and put your left foot in the very front stirrup.”

Taking a deep breath, she did and felt off balance. “I’ve got you.” Jared’s hands were at her waist. “Now, use your right leg as leverage and jump up. As I lift you, throw your leg over the horse.”

“All right.” She followed his instructions, grinning when she was seated on the horse. “I did it.”

“You sure did.” He slipped his foot into the rear stirrup and mounted behind her. His arms wrapped around her as he gripped the reins.

Angie understood the saddle then. There was more than enough room for the two of them. She snuggled against his chest. “How big is the ranch?” she asked as the horse began to move.

“About forty acres.”

“Is that big?” She had no concept.

“Depends on your frame of reference. For a ranch that makes its money raising cattle and horses, no, it’s pretty small. For us, it’s perfect because we make our money off the other activities.”

“How do you know it’s small?” She rested her head on his shoulder, letting her body totally relax.

“I grew up on a ranch.” He paused. “When my mom passed. I couldn’t keep the ranch, but I promised myself one day I’d live on another one.”

The sadness in his tone about his mom passing and losing his home tugged at her heart. Lifting her hand, she reached back and caressed his cheek. “You’ve made your dream come true, and I’m sure your mom is smiling down at you from heaven.”

“You are a treasure.” He took one hand off the reins, captured hers, and lifted it to his lips. He kissed her palm.

Delicious shivers of desire ran riot through her body. Unsure how to respond, she dropped her hand. “Tyler mentioned that you have some cattle.”

“Yes. It’s a small herd, only twenty of them. I have a manager up north who takes care of them. That part of the ranch is fenced off from the adult part.”

“And the horses?”

“Tyler’s job. We have several at the stables if guests want to ride on the trails. The trails are for riding and walking.”

“Do you ever do normal dude ranch stuff?”

“Like what?”

“Hayrides, cattle round-ups, trail rides, sleep out under the stars… Stuff like that.”

Jared nudged the horse to the trail on the left. “We can, but most of our clients don’t care about anything like that. They can take trail rides whenever they want.”

“What about sleeping under the stars?”

“I’ve never thought about it. None of the couples staying here have ever mentioned it. I’m sure we could arrange it, but most people like the comfort of their cabins.”

“I bet. It’s got to be hard to restrain someone in wide-open spaces.”

“Not as difficult as you might think.” He guided the horse between the gap in the trees and into a clearing.

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