Page 13 of Omega's Refuge

Rex had to ride back to help Steve out. He circled the black gelding and gave it a hard slap on its ass. The horse took off at a trot, and Steve gave a loud whoop and hung on for dear life. Rex flashed his smile again, apparently finding it funny to see a city slicker almost fall on his butt.

It didn’t take too long for me to settle into the rhythm of the horse’s movements. I’d worried I wouldn’t remember how to ride, but it all came back quickly. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed riding, and I couldn’t help smiling every few minutes. It just felt so awesome to be out of the city.

We were surrounded by green grass and yellow-leaved trees, while in the distance, purple-tinted mountains rose from the land. The sky was a crisp blue, with white cotton-ball clouds drifting across. The gentle calls of the cattle and the cool breeze gave me a feeling of serenity I hadn’t experienced in ages.

The ride to the corral wasn’t long, but even if it had been I wouldn’t have minded. I was truly enjoying just being out in the middle of nowhere. I didn’t have to smell any smog or worry about traffic. There was nothing but the sounds of the cattle and the rhythm of our horses’ hooves thudding on the rich earth.

When we reached the corral, the cows obediently wandered out of the pen when one of the ranch hands opened the gate. It was obvious the cattle knew the drill. They docilely trailed after one another in the direction Rex started them. A few of the cows were a little ornery, which gave me a chance to watch Rex as he rode after the strays, cutting them off adeptly and returning them to the herd. He demanded a lot from his horse as he circled around behind the cattle, galloping after the stragglers. His skill was impressive, and I couldn’t stop furtively watching him.

My sleepy little mare decided at one point she wanted to be at the front of the pack. Maybe she’d been reserving her energy for the ride all along, because she seemed much friskier once we were out in the open grass. When he was done catching the strays, Rex rode up beside me. His horse snorted and bounced around full of energy, apparently not liking the idea of slowing down one bit. But Rex easily controlled his mount,looking unconcerned at how rambunctious the horse was.

“See, she’s a little perkier now,” he murmured, eyeing me and Spitfire. “Maybe we don’t need to change her name after all.”

“Yeah. I guess she woke up.” While I liked having Rex’s attention, I did worry Steve might get jealous if he saw us. But when I glanced over my shoulder, I saw that Steve was riding next to one of the ranch hands named Tony. Tony was a friendly blond omega, and Steve looked flushed and happy to have his undivided attention.

Rex followed my glance. “Tony will take care of Steve.”

That’s what I’m afraid of.

I faced forward, trying to ignore the uneasiness fluttering through me. Steve had a type and Tony was definitely that. “Is Tony single?”

Rex looked puzzled by my question. “Yeah, why?”

“Oh, just curious,” I murmured.

Rex was quiet for a few moments, then he said, “Tony won’t cross any lines. If he does, his ass is grass.”

“Oh, I’m not worried about anything like that,” I lied.

His eyes flickered. “Okay. Good.”

I cleared my throat, hoping to change the subject. “How long have you worked at the ranch?”

“Four years.”

I nodded. “I thought you’d say you’d grown up here on the ranch. You seem really at home.”

“I am at home here.”

I sighed. “Must be nice to like where you live. Sometimes I just want to leave the city behind and live someplace more remote.”

“Is that right?”

“Yep. Waking up to the sounds of the ranch beats honking horns any day of the week.”

“Maybe you should move somewhere more rural?”

Smiling, I said, “I’ve toyed with the idea, but so far it’s just a pipedream.” Steve would never leave the city, and I didn’t want to leave Steve. So I was stuck for now.

“Hey, we only get one shot at life. If you want to live somewhere other than the city, you should do it.” He met my gaze. “Happiness is important, don’t you think?”

“I’m happy.” I frowned.

“Are you?” His gaze was piercing.

“Yes.” I felt like he could see right through me. I didn’t want him or anyone guessing how worried and nervous I was about my relationship with Steve.

“I’m just saying you should live the life you want to live, Tanner.”

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