Page 24 of Catch Me, Cowboy
“Thanks, Dan.” She pulled her keys out of her denim jacket pocket. “I need to get back to the ranch and check on my grandfather.” She raised a hand to get her friends’ attention. “I’m taking off,” she called.
Jess and Cassie abandoned their discussion and joined Shelby and Dan to say goodbye and remind Shelby to drive carefully. She got into her truck feeling relieved she and Dan were on the same page. The only problem she could see was she’d lost her buffer. Not that she needed a buffer to handle things with Ty. Nope. Plain old honesty and resolve should do the trick.
But a buffer would have been handy if push came to shove.
*
Ty and Grampsleft for work early the next day, so Ty could get back in time to be there while Shelby worked the black gelding for the first time. She waited until she heard the sound of the quad engines coming across the pasture before heading to Evarado’s pen. Best case scenario, she wouldn’t need Ty. Worst case…no telling.
Catching the horse in his small corral had been a challenge, since he kept swinging his butt around toward her, but once caught, he respected the rope, which was a positive. Too bad there appeared to be so many negatives. At this point in time, her job was to evaluate which behaviors she could correct and which ones were beyond her abilities… and then, if things played out the way she thought they would, to convince the newbie horse couple that this animal was probably too much for them.
She released the horse into the round pen and he nervously trotted the exterior, calling to the other horses. Only one answered him. The horse suddenly snorted and shied and Shelby turned to see Ty approaching. His pant legs were muddy to the knees and his shirt was unbuttoned, hanging loosely from his shoulders. Shelby forced herself to look away.
“Thanks for coming,” she said.
“Not a problem.” He looked like he meant it.
“You know I’m putting these hours on your time sheet.”
He let out a breath that bordered on weary, but he didn’t look at her. Instead he studied the horse, who studied him back. She waited and eventually he turned his gaze her way. “I may as well give the Les report, since I’m being paid.”
Shelby bit her lip. “Is there anythingtoreport?”
“Like you said, he seems a little under the weather, but he took it easier today and seemed better for it. How’s his balance?”
Shelby frowned. “Good, as far as I know.”
“I’ve caught him steadying himself a couple times. He says it’s from standing up too fast.”
“I’ll keep an eye on him. Thank you.”
“Any time. And you don’t have to pay me to spend an hour watching you work.”
“You could be doing other things.”
“Suggestions?” Shelby shot him a quick look but his expression was bland and she wondered for a moment if she’d imagined the sexual undertones.
She was certain she hadn’t. Her body hadn’t fully processed the directive to put the past behind them and her senses still went into overdrive when he was near. So, in some ways, hiring him had been brilliant, since he could handle Gramps. In other ways, ways that involved her and her peace of mind, not so much. But conditioning took time and she needed to be patient with herself.
Shelby gathered up her rope and carrot stick whip. “I’d best get started.”
She turned and opened the gate without waiting for a response. The gelding snorted and tossed his head. Shelby raised the coiled rope and the animal tore off around the pen. The sand was deeper in this pen, so he had to work harder to run, but it didn’t slow him down. He shied as he spotted Ty again and Shelby had to scoot to keep from being hit. She raised the rope and got his attention again, sending him on around the pen.
After he’d completed at least ten laps, without once acknowledging her presence with a flick of his ear or the roll of an eye, she took a couple steps and waved her hands, reversing his course. This surprised him. He was running to escape and now his direction had been controlled. The gelding shot her a quick look then once again focused on escape.
It was going to be a long hour.
By the end of the session, the gelding was coming to grips with the idea that she was the boss, that she made him run when he wanted to stop, that she changed his direction of movement whenever she pleased.
He snorted threateningly whenever she brought him to a halt and approached, but finally, just as the sun was going down, he allowed her to touch his shoulder with the end of the whip and then her hand without bolting. When she reached for the halter to attach the lead rope, he snorted and took off, then stopped and faced her. Shelby approached quietly and clipped the lead rope onto his halter and the gelding instantly sat back on his haunches.
“Fine,” Shelby muttered, moving forward and tossing the rope loosely over the horse’s neck to get it off the ground. “Have it your way.” She raised her hand and sent the gelding back around the pen.
*
Ty shook hishead as the gelding raced by. He hoped Shelby would be able to end the session before dark, but knew she couldn’t stop until she was the winner of this round. If she did, she’d set back her training and she wouldn’t do that. He glanced up at the automatic sodium light mounted to the pole next to the round pen. It was already starting to glow pale blue.
Come on, buddy.He silently willed the horse. Do what you’re supposed to do.
