Page 121 of Wrangled

“How long do you think you’ll keep doing this?” he asked.

I smiled. “Put it this way. Hank Quaid’s father still goes on cattle drives, and he’s in his eighties.”

He chuckled. “So you’re in it for the long haul.”

“I’m in it until it’s time to stop.”

When that might be, I had no idea.

Toby picked up a little speed. “Think I’ll mosey on up to the front and talk to Teague.” He grinned. “Well? Do I sound like a cowboy?”

I chuckled. “No, you sound like you’ve been watching old westerns.”

He waved a hand, and took off. I kept Rusty at a steady trot, my mind at peace.

It felt good to be doing this again.

A short while later, Garrett joined me, looking at ease in the saddle. “Hey,” he said with a smile. “I wanted a word while no one was around.”

I arched my eyebrows. “Everything okay?”

“Oh, sure. It’s just that…” He flushed. “I wanted you to pass on my thanks to your hands. They’ve been very patient with me, and I do appreciate that.”

“They were just doing their job. Not every guest takes to this as easily as Declan or Toby.” I smiled. “You look great on a horse, by the way. No one would ever guess you’d never ridden one before last week.”

“Declan kept telling me, all I had to do was keep at it, and he was right.” He sighed. “This was exactly what I needed.”

“What do you do for a living, Garrett?”

“I’m a financial consultant. Only, I’m under a lot of pressure right now. Deadlines, targets…” He swallowed. “And I’m dealing with other stuff too.”

“None of which you have to tell me, all right?” I assured him.

He nodded. “I wasn’t about to. But I had to tell you… this vacation has made me look at my life, at what’s important.” He gazed ahead. “Life’s too short to keep doing the same old thing if it makes me unhappy.”

“I agree.” My thoughts went to my habitual morning rides to the cabin. “Sometimes you just have to let go and move on.”

He tipped his hat. “I thinkyou’vedone that.” His smile lit up his face, and for the first time since I’d laid eyes on him, Garrett seemed happy. “You two are a good fit.”

I forced a smile.Sure—and he’s leaving at the end of the week.

Before I could say another word, Garrett dropped back toward the rear.

I stared forward to where Toby rode alongside Teague, the pair of them laughing at something.

He’s a damn good fit.

Then I pushed the thought aside. Torture was not good for the soul.

Toby

That first night, the camp was not what I’d expected. I’d imagined bedrolls, campfires, tiny tents…The tents were big enough to sleep five or six hands. There were several fires going, illuminating the surroundings. Matt was busy, stirring a huge pan of something that smelled delicious. Supper would be late. We’d had to deal with more than a few strays long the way, but at last we’d arrived at the first camp. Robert and Teague were riding the perimeter, checking for wolves.

Supper was chicken soup, with abundant chunks of meat and vegetables, and there was plenty of it. We sat around the campfires, drinking it from metal cups, and once we were done, Matt and Paul collected them and went to wash them in the river. Everyone seemed quiet, but it had been a long day.

I sat in a camping chair in front of the tent I shared with Robert, watching daylight give way to inky blackness, the stars winking into existence until the sky was strewn with them. We were camped at the foot of a mountain, moonlight tinging its snow-capped peaks with a bluish hue. I could hear running water: the river snaked its way through the valley, too wide to cross, but with banks accessible enough that the cattle could drink from it.

The wind picked up a little, and I shivered. I was glad I’d followed advice and worn several layers: the night air had a definite chill to it.

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