Page 21 of What the Cowboy Wants
As before, he was in the fenced off area next to the stables with a horse.This time it wasn’t Scarlett, though, but a beautiful black horse.His dogs and the black cat were close by.By the looks of things, Cooper was trying to put a saddle on the horse’s back, but it wasn’t very happy with the idea.
*
Rose was here.As Cooper kept stroking Midnight’s neck, he felt her presence even before he turned around.
“This is a surprise,” he said as he kept moving his hand over the horse’s neck.
She walked closer.“You did say I should stop by to check on Scarlett.”
“She hasn’t been keen to leave her stall today, but she’s fine.”He caught her eye.“Scarlett the only reason you’re here?”
“You mentioned a dog?”
Chuckling, he looked at her.“She’s still with Isabella, but I can take you to her.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Rose said.“We can meet later.I’m leaving for Seattle as soon as I can get a flight booked, so I can’t take him right away, anyway.What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to put a saddle on Midnight’s back.He arrived a few months ago, dirty and frightened.He tolerated the saddle pad, but he’s scared of the saddle.Somebody hurt him.”
“Is there something I can do?”
“You can try and calm him down like you calmed down Scarlett.”
After a slight hesitation, Rose opened the gate and slowly approached them.“Hi, Midnight.Oh, you’re a gorgeous boy, aren’t you?”
Snorting nervously, the horse turned and watched Rose moving closer to him.
“Horses are prey animals,” Cooper explained softly, “and are therefore hardwired to run away and ask questions later.Midnight, like Scarlett, has been abused, so winning his trust again isn’t going to be easy.On days like this, I miss my brother Walker.He was very good at calming down horses.”Surprised by his words, he frowned.He seldom talked about Walker, why mention him to Rose?
She was touching Midnight’s head.“Walker?He’s the brother you lost in an accident?”
“Yeah.”
“What happened?You don’t have to tell me…”
“It’s okay.We were all in Grey’s Saloon and if I hadn’t suggested we have another beer that night, he would still have been here.”
Silence.He continued stroking Midnight and so did Rose.
“So, is he another reason you don’t want a relationship?”
“Are you offering?”
She snorted.“No.But, you were very adamant about not having one.”
He laughed.“I like you, Rose Dalton.You make me laugh.”
“You do know it was an accident and not your fault?”
“I know it here,” he said tapping his head, “but I’m still struggling not to feel guilty every time I think about him.”He waited a beat.“You were very brave yesterday telling your friends and me about what happened to you.”
“You left.”
With his hand on Midnight’s back, he moved closer to Rose.“Your pain nearly drowned me.I was so angry that anyone could treat you that way, I was worried I’d break something in your house.”
“You really felt all that?”she asked.
Gently touching her elbow, he stroked her arm with his thumb.“You have to know the guy is an idiot, and both he and your cousin have used you.You’ve done nothing wrong.I don’t know you well, Red, but I know you’re warm and you genuinely like people.I hope you know you don’t have to be on social media to share your passion for life and what you do.You’re funny and a good friend to my sister and mom, they all adore you.And you’re so beautiful and sexy I have a hard time breathing when you’re near me.”
