Page 29 of Soldier Cowboy
There was something about this family, this setting, that made Jennifer feel freer than she had in a while. She could feel herself coming back slowly, her old spirit returning, the fear slowly seeping out of her. Colton and his family felt so safe. She’d forgotten what it was like to be this secure. But it wasn’t just the distance from LA. and the remoteness of this area putting her at ease. It was this family.
“I guess it was mutual sweeping.” Jennifer tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “I was…when I met him…I used to have a fairly popular podcast.”
It hurt to think of it all in the past. The podcast had meant so much to her because of all the good she’d done, all the people she’d helped.
“Yeah? What’s the name? Bonnie and I love the true crime ones when we can get them out here.”
“I called itTruth Salad. I interviewed all kinds of people on a range of subjects but had started a special on PTSD when I…when I had to take a break.”
“Did Colton want you to stop? That doesn’t sound like him.”
“No, um, I just wanted to.”
Lie number two. She should keep track of them and later send this nice man a letter asking for his forgiveness.
“I hope you get back to it. I understand that you can do a podcast from anywhere. Even if we don’t have WiFi here, we have dial-up. I always like to say it’s slow but worth waiting for. Hey, thank you for coming here in time for the wedding, by the way. It means a lot. I wasn’t sure Colton would get here in time. I’m glad you all made it out.”
“This is all pretty amazing to a big-city girl. I feel like I’m on the set of a Hallmark movie.”
“Once you live here, it’s hard to feel comfortable anywhere else. The land just settles into your bones.”
“I can see that.”
She’d expected for the quiet and lack of Wi-Fi to grate on her nerves. But instead of frustration, this place had begun to sink into her with the warmth of an old and well-loved blanket. A blanket so worn-out, it ought to be replaced but never would be because it was soft and perfect.
Colton rejoined them and Sean suggested they grab a couple of ATVs and ride out to the pasture where he let the wild horses graze. She hopped on the back of Colton’s ATV, strapping her camera to her, grabbing on to his waist and initiating the first physical contact they’d had today. And my goodness, his was a strong back. Her legs pressed and gripped against the taut muscles of his thighs. She pictured all that sinewy skin and fought against the mental image of Colton not wearing any pants. Disgusted with her basic thoughts, she immediately put his pants back on in her mind and focused on the view ahead.
They followed Sean’s ATV down a small hill, then along a well-worn path of flat land. He came to a stop and pointed in the distance to a field filled with horses grazing.
“Are all of them mustangs?” Colton said.
“So far. Levi, our local horse whisperer, wants a crack at one or two of ‘em. It’s a smart idea because if they’re trained, they’re far more practical to have on a ranch. They can at least earn their keep. Right now, no one wants them.”
“Except you,” Jennifer said, snapping a shot of Sean pointing to the horses.
“I wish I could keep more of them, but it isn’t just the vet bills. The grazing land is the problem. And I can only afford to feed a limited number of horses. At least that’s what Riggs tells me. Before many of these were captured they were out running free on the range on land owned by the Bureau of Land Management, but often starving to death. They were destroying the range and yet there still wasn’t enough to keep up with them. There are so many unwanted mustangs. That’s what my foundation does. Raise money to lease land for other mustangs, feed them, and pay for veterinary bills.”
“That’s amazing, bro. Very proud of you.”
“Well, you’ve been off fighting a war. I had to do something.” Sean chuckled.
“Believe me, I didn’t do half as much good as you have right here.”
Jennifer heard the regret in his voice, far too familiar. “I want to interview you for the podcast. What you’re doing here is amazing.”
“I’m in, but let’s wait until after the wedding.”
But Jennifer might not be here for the wedding. “Oh, right. You and Bonnie must be so busy.”
“Had I known it would be quite like this I’d have suggested we elope. But the show offered to pay for part of the wedding so long as we allow a photo shoot forPeoplemagazine.”
“Peoplemagazine is going to be here?” Colton spoke up.
“Yeah, don’t worry. It will just be me and Bonnie and we’ll let the rest of the wedding party off the hook. We didn’t have to do it, but it was a compromise. They wanted to roll into town and do a whole spectacle. TV, everything. We shot that down.”
“Good for you. You don’t need that many people involved,” Colton said.
“When’s the wedding?” Jennifer probably wouldn’t be here, but she’d send a gift.
