Page 19 of The Cowgirl's Secret Love
They spread out, moving slowly through the trees toward the waterfall. The source of water for the town namesake rushed from higher in the foothills until it gathered on the heights at the very edge of Silver Stone ranch. The pool at the base was a lopsided oval with an indent at the top.
Thus, heart-shaped.
The water cascading down the jagged granite cliffs on the far side crashed into the pool with a spectacular rush because of high spring runoff.
The near side of the pool was where the exit creek lay, sliding to the east before meandering its way across the Silver Stone property with stops at Big Sky and Little Sky lakes.
The mouth of the creek was shallow enough that water bubbled over the smooth river rocks.
A herd of horses was gathered, their heads down and drinking, ears pricked up even as others kept watch.
At the far edge stood the biggest, shaggiest stallion Karen had seen in a long time. She pulled her horse to a halt well within the tree line, glancing to the side to see her sisters had done the same.
By some chance she was closest to the wild stallion. Kelli was at the far end of the lineup, impossibly close to what had to be the gelding that was tempted away from his home ranch.
Karen’s gaze met Kelli’s. The other woman lifted her hand to slowly point at herself then at the gelding.
Karen silently nodded her agreement. She repeated the motion, pointing at herself then the stallion. The roles were now reversed. It only made sense, and she was comfortable taking on the challenge.
A soft snicker rose from the herd, and movement started. A shuffle of hips and a swaying. Heads rose as one of their sentries sensed the newcomers in the trees. Karen wrapped her fingers tighter around her reins, sitting motionless until it was time—
The stallion nickered loudly then charged toward the trees as if about to attack.
Kelli was already in forward motion, rope twirling as she headed straight at the gelding. Lisa and Julia moved as well, but that was the last Karen saw as she focused on her task.
It was time to cut Prince Charming off from his ladies.
She urged her horse forward, shifting to the right as soon as possible to intersect the stallion’s path.
He saw her coming and whirled, storming toward the river ford hard on the heels of his stolen mares. Karen went straight into the river as well, water rising up in arcs on either side of Starlight’s pounding hooves.
On the other side, the chase began in earnest.
The stallion no longer watched behind him. All his attention was on forcing his mares farther from civilization. They moved quickly, rushing down one gorge and up the other side. Karen held tight, gripping the saddle with her thighs and trusting Starlight to keep them upright.
It was humbling to have the riderless horses slowly pull farther away from her. Karen did her best to keep up, but though she could go over and around obstacles with the best of them, the wild stallion began cutting through low hanging trees and under widow-makers.
She had to keep adjusting her path to avoid being swept off Starlight’s back.
By the time they broke into the open, the stallion and his reduced herd of females were far enough ahead that Karen didn’t have any hope of catching them.
Still, she stayed on their heels, driving them farther to the west as they returned to their home territory and away from Silver Stone.
No longer at a hard run, Karen followed until she’d travelled for an hour before pulling out her phone and touching base with Lisa. “Hey, I’m good but definitely do not have any horses to bring back. How did you guys do?”
“Kelli’s got the gelding. Damn, he’s a mean one. We got back the Silver Stone mares—they came easily once you chased off the pretty boy tempting them with wild nights of passion. What about you?”
Karen glanced around, amused to discover she was nearly back to her temporary home. “I chased them farther into the foothills, so it seems I might’ve turned them into Finn’s problem instead of Silver Stone’s.”
A snort sounded from the other end of the line. “Way to go, sis. Although I think that is closer to the stallion’s new regular territory.”
An unfamiliar vehicle was parked in front of Finn and Zach’s temporary house. Another expensive white car was just pulling out of the driveway, turn indicator on even without another soul around.
Karen stifled her grin as she turned Starlight’s head toward the shelter behind her cottage. “Well, I’m home, so I may as well stay here. It wasn’t exactly how I thought I’d get my horse moved, but it works. You want to drive my truck out and join me for dinner?”
“Drat. I can’t. Josiah and I are getting together with Sonora at the animal shelter. I can bring your truck in the morning,” Lisa offered.
Karen could also ride back and then use the horse trailer to get Starlight home. Or…
