Page 12 of The Cowboy and His Beauty
The walk out to the barn is silent, but not uncomfortable. There are only two men there, and I introduce them to Sky. She’s polite, but gravitates to the horses in the barn, who seem to love her.
"You’re free to ride in your free time. Just ask one of the guys. They’ll know which horse you can use and the equipment for you. Some horses need to be exercised and others need rest, so always ask."
"I will. I promise," she says, petting my mom's horse, Hershey.
Mom named her because her coat is the color of a chocolate bar. Hershey has always favored females over males and will get along great with Sky. My mom won’t mind her riding Hershey, but I make a mental note to check with her to be sure.
Sky takes a step back from the stall and stumbles as she hits a patch of uneven ground. I wrap an arm around her waist to catch her and the same sparks from the store the other day erupt across my skin—the ones I always experienced when we were dating.
They haven’t gone away, no matter how much time has passed. I always thought I exaggerated them and that they were part of the whole teenage hormone thing because I haven't felt them since. Until I held Sky again.
"Sorry. I promise I'm not usually this clumsy." Sky takes a step away from me.
I know she isn't clumsy, but it sure looks like it the past few days. Of course, a lot has changed between us, so for all I know, she lost her sense of balance in the city.
I shake my head. "It's fine."
We return to the house and Sky walks so close to me that our arms touch now and then. When we round the last corner to the house, Phantom is standing in the middle of the walkway to greet us.
"Oh, hey, buddy. I didn't know you came out this far." Sky walks up to him and gives him a hug before petting him.
"Yeah, he comes out here. We have an open stall for him to sleep in. He gets food and the other horses love him. Go on into the barn, buddy. They’ll get you some food,” I tell Phantom.
Almost like he understands me, he nods and brays before walking to the barn behind us. I turn to Sky to find her smiling at me—the same smile that used to make me feel a thousand feet tall. I lived for that smile.
It kept me going on the battlefield, even when I thought I’d never see it again.
Is there any chance there could be more between us again?
I'm pretty sure that ship has sailed and burned. I was the one who burned it.
But a man can always hope.
Chapter 8
Sky
It's been a few days, and Dash has been in to eat every meal with me. Breakfast is grab and go, but he stills eats with me. Dash talks about what’s happening on the ranch that day, and I share what is going on in town. It's easy conversation, and something Corey's parents used to do.
The ranch hands are in and out while we eat, and I've gotten to know each of them. They’re friendly, but they don't hang out in the house for long. They grab food, say hello, and talk for a minute before heading back outside.
They’re getting comfortable putting in meal requests with me, and so far, it's been simple things like meatloaf and pot roast. One guy asked me to make his mom’s chicken with chili and said he’d get me the recipe. I'm excited about that one. Chili is popular around here on a cold day.
I still can't shake the feeling that I know Dash from somewhere, but I have no idea where. It keeps me up at night, trying to place him. It's on the edge of my memory, but when I get close, it disappears. I hope I figure it out soon.
The few times I bring it up, Dash shuts down and changes the subject. I like what we have now, and I don't want to push it and risk messing things up.
Once Dash leaves for the morning, I start on lunch and supper. Then, I clean until lunchtime, and use my time between lunch and dinner to learn my way around the ranch again.
I go riding on Hershey, and we have a great time. She loves to be out on the ranch and knows her way around. I let her pick where to go, and she takes me to a little pond I didn't even know was here. It’s so peaceful, and the perfect place to lay out a blanket to read and enjoy some peace and quiet.
I think about asking Dash if he knows the spot, but I like the idea of having a place on the ranch that’s just mine.
Hershey seems to enjoy the spot, too. She's very relaxed and grazes on what little grass there is at this time of year. I wish I could spend all day being lazy, reading, and enjoying what's left of the good weather before things turn cold. Much sooner than I'd like, we’re heading back to the barn.
I give her freedom and she takes me on a different path home than we took to the little pond area. Many people see the flat Texas landscape this far north as boring, but I think the wide-open fields of the ranches are some of the most beautiful scenery you’ll ever see.
Come spring. these fields will be full of bluebonnets and wildflowers so vibrant they’ll light up the Texas landscape. That view beats any mountain, river, or beach. And if I want to see water or stick my toes in the sand, all I have to do is go down to the lake. It's the best of both worlds.
