Page 99 of The Cowgirl's Secret Love
Karen laughed. “Are you sure you’re a paramedic? I thought that meant you had an iron stomach.”
“Blood and guts? No problem. Toxic baby poop? That stuff requires an entire hazmat training level I haven’t aspired to yet.”
They rode on the gentle trail for about forty-five minutes before reaching the lookout spot Karen had found. With the fire pit ready to be lit and the stash of supplies for s’mores and thermoses of hot chocolate in her saddlebags, her girl gang gathered around.
Soon they were all happily roasting marshmallows as they waited for moonrise. The conversation went in a dozen different directions at one time, chatter looping and overlapping in a way that only made sense in a close-knit community.
Karen sat in the middle and soaked it all in.
“No, I’m not going on another date with him,” Rose repeated in response to Tansy’s teasing. “Zach was nice enough, but I’m not looking for a steady boyfriend. I told you I wanted to dance, and he delivered. That doesn’t mean I have to see him anymore.”
“Wait. That’s right. I had a question about this,” Brooke spoke up. She reached back and tightened her dark ponytail before turning an inquisitive gaze on Rose. “I was totally shocked when I saw you with Zach at Hanna’s wedding. I thought you were dating Alex, the ranch hand from Silver Stone and volunteer firefighter. You know, another tall, dark, sexy dude.”
“I did. For a while. We had fun, but we’re just friends. We didn’t want to get serious.”
“Heaven forbid you get serious,” Tansy muttered.
Rose glared at her sister. “Don’t you go making any comments about my sex life.”
A chorus of snickers went around the campfire.
Brooke deliberately placed another marshmallow on her stick, grinning as she held it toward the fire. “Didn’t hear anybody mention sex untilyoubrought it up.”
“It’s Tansy’s fault.” Rose said through her teeth.
A slow chin dip from Brooke, along with another sly smile. “Probably. Usually is.”
“Hey,” Tansy protested.
Which brought another round of laughter from the collected group. Ties were being built; friendships strengthened.
“Speaking of sexy…” Tamara leaned toward Brooke. “How’s that firefighter ofyoursthese days?”
“We’re good. Slow and steady, but that’s fine. I was thinking—”
Julia shot to her feet, hand pointed toward the east. “Sorry, Brooke. What’s that?”
The group quieted as they peered in the direction of Julia’s pointed finger. The moon had risen, the full circle overhead shining like a spotlight toward the meadow between them and Red Boot ranch.
By ones and twos, wild horses slipped out of the trees toward the broad expanse of river. Silver sparkled on the water’s surface as the herd of a dozen and a half made their way through the meadow.
“There’s the stallion, far left at the lead,” Karen said. “What a beauty.”
“He’shuge,” Rose said. “Is he dangerous?”
“If you got directly in his path, possibly. Otherwise, I’d prefer to face him over a cougar,” Kelli said quietly.
The herd wasn’t going anywhere at any great speed, so the group of women stood in silence, admiring the animals as they grazed across the meadow to the water’s edge.
That’s when Karen saw her. The mare with the off-kilter gait. The one whose foal she had rescued.
Instinctively, she caught Lisa’s fingers and squeezed, her throat tight with emotion.
Lisa made eye contact. “You okay?”
Nodding gave her a moment to pull herself together. “I just spotted Moonbeam’s mom.”
Lisa wrapped an arm around her, comfort in the touch. “She made it. I’m glad.”
