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Allie stared grimly at her horse’s mane, one hand locked around the reins, the other holding the saddle horn in a death grip. This was not her idea of fun. There were no fences or anyone walking beside her, and it seemed like her animal was in total control. This area was so vast a horse could gallop a long way. So far though, Panda had showed no inclination to run. He simply lowered his head behind the tail of Carter’s horse, so close she couldn’t help worrying about Panda’s nose if the other animal kicked.
The other riders—Janet, Rebecca, Trina and Dwight—were spread out, moving over the range at varying speeds. Dwight was an excellent rider and Trina appeared comfortable on a horse. The two Olympians were, of course, totally proficient.
“I see the cattle,” Janet called, twisting in the saddle. “And the mountains will make a tremendous backdrop. Come on, slowpokes.”
That last jab was clearly meant for Allie. If she hadn’t been on the ride, no doubt Carter would be galloping circles around the group. He sat his horse with ease, as relaxed as if he were lounging in an easy chair.
“Go ahead,” she said to Carter. “I don’t mind walking alone.”
“Panda will though,” Carter said, barely turning his head. “If I gallop, so will he.”
Allie’s knuckles whitened around the horn. So Carter had complete control over how soon she’d fall off. When his horse started running, so would Panda. Her heart thumped and her voice came out a little squeaky. “Did I tell you before I mounted,” she said, “how desperately sorry I am?”
He actually chuckled.
“Really.” Her voice rose in panic. “I was just trying to help your lesson by setting up early. And it won’t be good if anyone gets hurt out here, even staff like me. I’m so sorry Dwight threw the rope at the cat—”
“Did that bother you?” Carter abruptly stopped his horse. His expression was shadowed by the brim of his black cowboy hat but he sounded surprised.
His sudden attention left her even more flustered. He was so damn handsome sitting on his horse, and he was looking her way. Not at the Olympians. He rarely paid her any attention. Now she almost wished he wasn’t. His eyes drilled into hers with an unnerving focus, as if capable of absorbing her every thought. And she was already hyper aware of him; he made her more nervous than the horse.
“Well,” she said, hiding her feelings behind a quick smile. “It also bothers me that I got up early, dragged out hay bales, and asked Cookie to make a breakfast that no one had a chance to eat.”
“I told you not to do that. You should have listened.” He pushed his horse back into a ground-eating walk, his shoulders wide and hard. Panda followed obediently, with no apparent desire to do anything but stay close to Carter’s horse.
It sounded as if he’d known last night they wouldn’t be roping today, as had Monty. And yes, she should have listened to him. But if he had only explained, she would have understood about the change in plans. It was his aversion to her that had resulted in the confusion. But she didn’t want to annoy him again, especially now, when he had control of her horse and her heart was pounding like a jack hammer.
Perhaps a blanket apology would work.
“I’m sorry for everything I did that you didn’t like,” she said. “And I know we’ve never got along. But truly, today I was just trying to help.”
“Don’t worry, Allie,” he said, his voice flat. “Quit worrying. I won’t let you get hurt out here. But I doubt you’ll enjoy the ride.”
They walked the next half mile in silence. However, his assurance that he wouldn’t let her get hurt was comforting. He wasn’t the type of man to lie—he didn’t care enough about people to do that. And he was wrong when he said she wouldn’t enjoy the ride.
Now that she knew he didn’t intend to make her fall off, her hand had loosened its grip on the horn. She didn’t have his ease in the saddle but at least her legs weren’t gripping the horse so tightly. She was even able to admire the view. It actually felt amazing to be looking at the mountains from the back of a horse, with no sounds but the swishing grass mingling with the singing meadowlarks. It was totally liberating. No wonder the wranglers didn’t mind getting up early, and her appreciation leaked out in a little sigh.
Carter glanced over his shoulder.
“This is really pretty,” she said, giving him a tentative smile.
He studied her face as if doubting her sincerity. Then he nodded. “The cattle are just beyond the ridge where there’s good grass and trees for shade. You can take your pictures there.”
Her hand swept to her pocket, checking for her phone. She’d almost overlooked the reason she was here. The other four riders were already topping the ridge, traveling in pairs. No doubt, the Olympians were casing the land, analyzing it for the Man Tracker race. Kate had said that competitors usually preferred the easy going of the grasslands to the woods, but then they were easier to capture. The smartest quarry hugged the trees and brush, where they left less sign and were more difficult to spot.
“Is that the horse you’ll be riding tomorrow?” Allie asked. If anything would keep Carter talking, she guessed it would be the animals. And this horse seemed perfect for the race, with his big walk and muscled hindquarters. His ears were always pricked too, ever alert, unlike Panda who plodded along oblivious to his surroundings.
“Yes,” Carter said, and his voice seemed to warm a degree. “This is Hawk. He’s a little green but he’s fit. This is a nice warm-up ride for him.”
“Will Monty ride my horse tomorrow?”
“Panda wouldn’t be able to run down a lame milk cow,” Carter said, surprising her with another chuckle. “Let alone an elite athlete like Janet. We use him for non-riders.”
“Oh.” She felt herself deflate. Certainly no one would ever admire her riding skill but at least she wasn’t gripping the horn any longer. She held the reins in one hand and her phone in the other, just like a real cowboy. Amazingly, she felt safe, even though it was isolated out here with only Carter. And, of course, the four other riders ahead of them.
Janet had reached the top of the ridge and stood posed against the vivid sky. She looked stunning, seated on her painted horse with the mountains providing the perfect backdrop.
“This would make a great picture,” Janet called to Carter. “Come join me.”
Carter was so keen, he pushed his horse forward. Panda immediately broke into a trot, determined to keep up. Allie gasped and slid sideways. She dropped the reins and grabbed the horn, desperate to stay in the saddle.
Carter glanced over his shoulder. “Sit up and relax,” he said impatiently. “Keep your hand on the reins. And put away that damn phone.”
The phone is out so I can take your damn picture, Allie thought, but she was too busy struggling to keep her balance to say it aloud. She didn’t want to slide off Panda’s back, not with Janet watching. But this trot was very jerky. She certainly couldn’t put away her phone, not when she was bumping around so much, so she just concentrated on keeping her butt in the saddle, resigned to clutching the horn with one hand and her phone with the other.
She could see Carter in front of her, tall and unmoving, as if he were glued to the horse. How he sat like that was unfathomable. This gait was too rough not to bounce. It seemed like endless minutes before Panda lurched to a stop. And then Allie jerked forward, sliding onto Panda’s neck, her nose inelegantly shoved into his mane. She straightened in the saddle, her face warm.
The other riders were all watching with varying degrees of amusement. At least Rebecca gave Allie an encouraging nod.
“You’re doing great,” Rebecca said. “I only learned to ride after my last Olympics. I was always afraid I’d fall off and hurt myself. And remember, it takes longer to learn things when you’re an adult.”
“But most people know enough to hold on to the reins,” Janet said, speaking with her usual superiority. She swiveled and flashed Carter a brilliant smile. “You’re very patient with her. We’ve been waiting here for ages.”
Hardly ages, Allie thought, releasing her grip on the saddle horn and picking up the reins. She didn’t appreciate Janet’s demeaning tone and she certainly didn’t know how she was going to take pictures of the contestants, not when Panda insisted on remaining beside Carter. She cautiously pulled the right rein, trying to turn him, but the horse ignored her.
“Just let Panda eat,” Carter said quietly. “And he’ll stand like a rock. I’ll move Janet around you. You’ll be fine.”
“Okay... Thanks.” But her throat felt thick and it had been a long time since she’d felt so vulnerable.
She adjusted the phone, engaged the camera function and focused on Janet’s and Rebecca’s faces. They quickly assumed a steely expression, worthy of a Man Tracker contestant. That kind of resolve was probably a requirement for top-notch athletes. Certainly she couldn’t remember ever not smiling for a photo.
Over the next twenty minutes she took countless pictures of the two women and then many more of Carter and Janet, and even a video of Janet challengingly punching Carter’s arm. The cattle grazing at the base of the jagged mountains gave the images a timeless feel, and it was understandable that Janet wanted her pictures on horseback. The woman resembled a beautiful pioneer, the brave hardy folk who settled the west, braving the elements with little but a protective cowboy by their side.
Carter was definitely enthralled. He stayed close to Janet, posing for every sort of picture, answering all questions, and even chuckling at the woman’s jokes. Allie had never seen this side of him. Maybe he was the type who shone in smaller groups. On the other hand he tended to be curt with her, even when they were alone.
“So do you think you’ll be able to catch me, cowboy?” Janet asked, shooting him another flirtatious smile.
“We’ll see,” he drawled, his voice low and gravelly, making Allie wonder if catching Janet might involve something else besides winning a race.
She wiggled in the saddle. Their mutual admiration club left her uncomfortable and she didn’t want to watch them any longer. Besides, now that she was confident Panda wasn’t going to bolt for the hills, she felt uneasy for another reason. Too much coffee. Little wonder Carter hadn’t wanted riders guzzling liquids. But now that she’d acknowledged her need for a bathroom, her sense of urgency only grew.
“I guess we should go back now,” she said brightly, shoving her phone into her back pocket. “We’ve got lots of great pictures.”
“But I want one of me galloping around the herd,” Janet said. “Although I guess it would be hard for a rider like you to take that shot?”
It would be damn impossible, Allie thought, and if she didn’t get to a bathroom soon, she’d burst. But she also didn’t appreciate Janet’s never-ending snark.
“We can’t get too close,” Allie said. “We don’t want to run the fat off the cattle.” She shot Carter a defiant look, daring him to disagree. She had no idea if that were true but she’d heard wranglers make the comment before, and it sounded reasonable. Besides, she was desperate to get back to the ranch. Carter just looked at her though—was that a glimmer of a smile?—before glancing away.
“We really need to go back now,” she said, her voice lifting with authority. “Lead the way, Carter.”
She hadn’t meant to sound bossy, not on his turf, but realized it had come out all wrong the instant she heard his laconic reply.
“No hurry,” he drawled. “We can stay out here for a few more hours.”
She almost groaned. She wasn’t good enough to ride back to the ranch on her own, and Panda would never leave Hawk. But Janet and Rebecca were already turning toward the cattle, grinning and yipping with excitement.
“Carter,” she whispered, reaching out and touching his arm, desperate to snag his attention. “I really need to find a bathroom...to freshen up.”
He stiffened, his gaze dropping to her hand and then back to her face. “Your makeup is just fine,” he said. “And Janet wants to see the cattle.”
“It’s not that,” she said. “I need a bathroom.”
She figured he’d make a snide comment about the coffee, but he didn’t, much to his credit.
“How urgent?” he asked.
“I’m not sure if I can even make it back to the ranch,” she admitted.
“Do you want to go on the other side of the ridge? I’ll keep the riders away.”
“That would be great,” she said, realizing she was still touching his arm. He hadn’t shaken it off. And all she could feel was a steely wall of muscle. She pulled her hand back. With any of the other wranglers, she might have teased about excessive gym time, but around him she felt tongue tied. And he already considered her a useless city girl. Which, she supposed, she was.
“Thanks,” she said, pulling her boots from the stirrups and sliding awkwardly from the saddle. She stumbled when her feet hit the ground but didn’t fall. She didn’t know what to do with her horse then saw he had already leaned over and taken Panda’s reins.
“Thank you,” she said, raising her head and looking up at him. “I realize now I shouldn’t have drunk so much coffee.”
“Guess you’re not used to being far from a bathroom.”
She certainly wouldn’t have sipped all that coffee if he’d bothered to mention they’d be riding today. But she kept her mouth shut because she was in a hurry to step behind the ridge. Besides, there was no arguing with his statement. Roughing it wasn’t her style.
Fortunately, after today, she’d never have to be this far from a bathroom again.
