The Round Yard

by Alissa Callen

  Neve repacked the afternoon tea tray. As powerful as the images had been on Tanner’s website, seeing the deep love between a wild horse and the man he trusted hit her hard. Gorgeous, strong and compassionate Tanner was every single woman’s dream. She picked up the tray to head inside.

  But to her, he was the worst possible man that she could be around. She didn’t have the capacity or resilience to cope with how he made her feel. His touch made her want things she’d never yearned for before. When they’d stood at the pony paddock gate the night he’d dropped her home, she could have sworn he’d stared at her mouth. The reality was it would have only been her wistful thinking.

  ‘I’ll just get the sunscreen,’ she said over her shoulder to Fliss.

  It wasn’t long until she returned outside to join the girls and Fliss on the bench in the shade beside the round yard. While Neve reapplied the girls’ sunscreen, Tanner led a saddled Arrow past.

  Maya grabbed Neve’s hand. ‘Tanner said he’d take us for a ride.’

  ‘Did he?’ Neve glanced over at the drover, who nodded as he tied Arrow inside the yard. ‘That sounds like fun. I’d better get your riding helmets.’

  Too late Neve realised that Tanner walked through the gate at the same time as she came to her feet. As they were both heading to the pony paddock, it would seem odd if they didn’t walk together. Conscious of Fliss watching them, Neve fell into step beside him.

  They’d taken three paces when he spoke quietly. ‘How are you doing?’

  Knowing their backs were towards Fliss, she answered honestly. ‘Much better than Saturday. How about you?’

  ‘I’ve three missed calls from Edna.’

  ‘Yikes. That many.’ Neve scanned the drive into Rosewood, half expecting Edna’s four-wheel drive to appear. ‘I’m guessing she wants to talk to you about Bethany’s project horse?’

  ‘Maybe, but Bethany knows it will be at least a week until I can get there. No, it would be about something else.’

  ‘Any ideas?’

  A smile kindled in his eyes. ‘Not a clue and I’m in no hurry to find out.’

  Tanner stopped at the gate where Dell and Bassie waited for him. He stroked each of their noses before continuing with Neve to the tack shed.

  To her relief, he waited until she’d collected the helmets and left the small space before stepping inside to get Bassie’s bridle and saddle. In his ute she’d been acutely aware of the leather notes of his aftershave, the way his well-shaped hands rested on the steering wheel and the pull of his shirt across his biceps as he changed gears.

  After they’d returned to the pony paddock, Tanner sat Bassie’s saddle on top of the fence. As she turned to walk over to Fliss and the girls, the intense seriousness of Tanner’s expression held her still.

  ‘Neve … thanks for … the other night. I appreciated having someone to talk to.’

  Warmth fired in her cheeks and she fought to stop her words from deserting her. When he looked at her like he did now, his gaze an intent, unfathomable blue, she felt as though she was freefalling. ‘You’re welcome. Thanks for … listening to me too and for the lift home.’

  Then before she could say anything foolish, she headed back over to the round yard. Tanner followed, leading Bassie.

  In between putting on the girls’ helmets and listening to their excited chatter, Neve had no opportunity to answer the questions in Fliss’s eyes. But when the girls were again sitting between them, Fliss cast her a we’ll-talk-later smile.

  Tanner led Bassie into the yard and introduced him to the palomino gelding. When their noses touched, Bassie’s big eyes blinked. The pony stood still while Tanner took hold of Arrow’s reins and swung into the saddle. When the palomino walked forward, Bassie followed at a consistent pace.

  Tanner sat in the saddle as if that was where he was born to belong. Relaxed and at ease, he was all hard, masculine angles and fluid, muscled strength. With his hat brim pulled low, his blue shirt, jeans and dusty boots, he appeared the epitome of a cowboy.

  Except it wasn’t what he wore, but the way he wore it that spoke of his bone-deep connection to the bush. This was where he was meant to be and where he felt at home. Her heart ached for what he must have endured trying to please his lawyer father at the expense of following his dreams and being true to himself.

  Fliss chuckled softly. ‘You know, Bassie almost had me fooled, but that look he just sent us as he walked by was far more sassy than angelic.’

  ‘Tell me about it. Sometimes he even curls his top lip so it looks like he’s laughing at me.’

  After Tanner had ponied Bassie off Arrow for another circuit, Tanner dismounted and led Bassie through the gate to tie him up outside the round yard.

  Tanner grinned across at the girls. ‘Who’s for a ride?’

  The girls leapt off the bench. Neve made sure she kept a secure grasp on each little hand. She didn’t want either girl to spook Arrow. As they entered the yard, the gelding lowered his head for the girls to pat him.

  ‘He’s so pretty,’ Maya said, with no trace of nervousness.

  ‘Would you like to go first?’ Tanner asked.

  Maya nodded so hard Neve checked that her riding helmet remained securely in place.

  After Tanner had returned to Arrow’s saddle, Neve examined his face. His hat shadowed his eyes, but his hold on the reins was relaxed. It was only a flicker of a muscle in his cheek that hinted that having Maya and Kait ride with him wasn’t in his usual job description.

  Fliss bent to pick up Maya. ‘Okay, missy moo, let’s get you into the saddle.’

  Soon, the five-year-old was sitting on Arrow with Tanner’s strong arms around her. The joy brightening her smile was enough to cause a lump in Neve’s throat.

  After Arrow had walked around the yard several times, it was Kait’s turn. Neve tried not to notice the way Tanner held the delicate three-year-old with such care. She didn’t need any more evidence of either his tenderness or his kind heart.

  Beside her Fliss murmured, ‘See, he’ll make a great dad.’

  Once Kait’s booted feet were back on the ground, Maya tugged at Neve’s sleeve. ‘You too.’

  She shook her head. ‘It’s been decades since I was this close to a horse as big as Arrow, let alone ridden one.’

  Fliss took hold of Maya and Kait’s hands. ‘Which means you should make the most of having him here. You once said how much you enjoyed riding. I can look after the girls.’

  Tanner watched her, his expression inscrutable.

  Neve bit the inside of her cheek. As much as she would love a ride, she didn’t want to make a fool of herself or take up any more of Tanner’s time. ‘My riding skills are almost non-existent.’

  Fliss smiled. ‘You should have seen mine when I came home.’ She looked across at Tanner. ‘You know … Cressy’s Jazz would be perfect for Neve, wouldn’t she?’

  ‘She would be.’

  Neve inwardly groaned. There was nothing she’d like more than to have a horse so she could ride out with the girls. But she’d need lessons and that could mean working even more closely with Tanner. ‘I thought Ella was seeing Jazz for her sore knees?’

  Fliss nodded. ‘The new supplement has worked a treat. Cressy was only saying last week she wishes she had more time to ride her.’

  The liveliness of Fliss’s hazel eyes warned Neve that Fliss already knew it would only take one ride on Arrow for Neve to agree to Jazz coming to Rosewood.

  Still unsure, she turned to Tanner. Apart from a subtle tensing of his mouth, his tanned features had settled into hard-to-read lines.

  Arrow moved to sniff at her hair. The smell of horse surrounded her and took her back to her childhood, when she’d counted down the days until her horse-riding lessons. She touched the mustang’s velvet-soft cheek, and as he nuzzled her hand, the decision to ride had already been made.

  Neve’s ride would either go very well or horribly wrong.

  It wasn’t Neve falling off that concerned him, or Arrow
spooking, but how he’d react to being near her. If it wasn’t enough that his self-control was already wire-tight, Fliss’s all-seeing stare hadn’t left them as they’d walked to the pony paddock together.

  Keeping his tension carefully hidden, he blanked out the fact that Neve stood within kissing distance. Her large eyes were serious as he matched the stirrup leathers to the length of her arms. But as Arrow’s ears flickered towards him, he knew he couldn’t fool the mustang into thinking he was relaxed. He smoothed a hand over Arrow’s shoulder to reassure himself as well as the perceptive gelding.

  ‘Right,’ he asked, tone businesslike as Neve made an adjustment to her helmet. ‘Shall I give you a leg-up?’

  He didn’t miss her quick glance at the mounting block beyond the round yard fence or her slight hesitation before she said, ‘Yes, please.’

  Without looking at him, she bent her left leg and took hold of the reins above Arrow’s withers.

  He moved in close and placed his hands under her boot, losing the battle to ignore the way her heavy, loose hair fell down her back. Against the green of her shirt, the strawberry-blonde strands shimmered more gold than auburn.

  ‘After three. One … two … three …’

  He hoisted her high, then had to grasp above her denim-clad knee to anchor her into the saddle. He hadn’t meant to lift her with such force. Beneath his palm, he felt the strength of her fine muscles as she balanced herself. When he was sure she was okay, he lifted his hand.

  Colour painted her cheeks as she slid the toe of her boots into the stirrups. Her eyes briefly met his as she showed him the reins threaded through her fingers. ‘Is this right?’

  Without thinking, just like he’d done with other clients, he covered her left hand to curl her fingers into a loose fist around the reins. Her knuckles felt so delicate against the width of his palm. ‘Just shorten your reins and close your hand like this.’

  It was no surprise his voice emerged husky. Touching Neve, even in a professional context, had started a pounding in his chest. He pulled his hand away and forced himself to concentrate on making sure she felt safe and comfortable. ‘Feeling okay?’

  This time her eyes met his for longer. In the sea-green depths he caught the glow of happiness. She leaned forward to rub Arrow’s neck. ‘I’ve forgotten how great it feels to be on horseback.’

  He didn’t reply, only nodded. Seeing Neve finding pleasure in something that brought him so much peace shouldn’t steal his words.

  He began walking and Arrow followed. By the time they’d completed a full circuit Neve smiled. By the second circuit Arrow no longer followed him as Neve was in control. By the third circuit Tanner remained by the gate to let Neve ride on her own. By the fourth circuit Tanner had his emotions locked down.

  He’d earlier gone off plan when he’d asked her how she was doing when they’d walked to the shed. The hollows in her cheeks had made a mockery of his intention to not let things become personal between them. But now seeing her joy at riding and feeling the undertow of attraction whenever he touched her, he had to stick to his plan to put distance between them.

  She rode Arrow over and he took hold of the gelding’s reins while she slid her feet from the stirrups.

  He risked a brief look at her radiant face. ‘It didn’t take long to remember what to do?’

  ‘The basics didn’t, but there’s heaps I’ve forgotten. Arrow was so patient.’

  She hugged the gelding’s golden neck before swinging her right leg over and dismounting. Her boots hit the ground with a thud.

  Tanner reached out to stop her from toppling backwards. Arrow stood over fifteen hands high and Neve wasn’t very tall. His hand found the small of her back and even through the thick cotton of her green shirt he could feel the heat of her skin. The scent of summer flowers enveloped him.

  For a moment she stayed still, his arm supporting her, then she moved away. ‘That’s quite a drop.’

  Not looking at him, she gave Arrow a final pat before making her way out of the round yard.

  Tanner followed with Arrow. His temples hammered and his mouth was as dry as a billabong in a summer drought. He pulled his hat brim lower. Neve’s ride couldn’t have gone more wrong than if Arrow had put his head between his knees and bucked.

  Once out of the yard, Tanner vaulted into the mustang’s saddle. Riding to the ridge with Hewitt tonight couldn’t come soon enough.

  He glanced to where Neve stood with Maya and Kait. ‘I’ll take Bassie for a longer run and see how he goes.’ He looked across at Fliss before Neve could glimpse his tension. ‘Tell Hewitt I’ll drop by soon.’

  ‘Great. He’s got cattle to move before you head off. If you’re feeling energetic, he’s also making a new garden bed with some noisy, antiquated rotary hoe.’

  ‘No worries.’

  He whistled to Patch, who was off following a rabbit trail, before leading Bassie down to where the red river gums marked the meandering line of the river. White wings flashed as cockatoos protested at their presence. The raucous calls echoed across the water, fuelling his restlessness.

  While out droving, often the low of cattle and the screech of cockatoos were the few sounds he heard. It would only be out on the long paddock that he could wrestle back the control he lost when around a woman whose smile caused his chest to tighten and whose touch awakened a loneliness so deep it was scored into his soul.

  ‘Fliss said the girls really enjoyed their ride on Arrow.’

  Tanner guided the palomino around the dark depths of a wombat’s burrow before answering Hewitt. ‘They did. It shouldn’t be long until they can ride Bassie. I just want to make sure he’s done testing Neve. The last thing she needs is for him to pull back while she’s leading him on Jazz.’

  ‘He sounds like my first pony. One minute Mum would be holding the lead while she rode her stock horse, and the next I’d be hanging on while Rocket took off home.’

  ‘Give me a wild horse any day. Ponies might look cute and cuddly, but they are smart and crafty and know all the tricks.’

  ‘So true. Lizzie’s been asking for one since her birthday and it’s taking a while to find a pony with the right temperament.’

  ‘Good luck.’ Lizzie was Hewitt’s six-year-old niece and Tanner had no doubt whatever pony Lizzie ended up with it would be well loved. ‘I know we ran out of time, but if you need help with the new garden bed let me know. Fliss said something about an old rotary hoe?’

  ‘Thanks. I will.’ Hewitt chuckled. ‘I bet she did. It makes a racket … I love my toys, but it’s even too noisy for me.’

  Tanner halted Arrow while Hewitt opened the paddock gate on his blood-bay mare, Garnet. A series of scars marred her shoulder and chest from where she’d taken on a devil of a rodeo bull to protect Hewitt.

  Tanner whistled to the two border collies investigating the nearby clumps of wiregrass. They raced each other to the horses. Patch wasn’t yet the size of his father, Max, but he already showed that he shared his speed and agility.

  As if sensing the task ahead, Arrow’s steps quickened as they rode away from the open gate that the steers would soon flow through. The mustang wasn’t the only one with excess energy and who was looking forward to pitting his wits against unpredictable cattle.

  Garnet’s pace also increased and Hewitt shot Tanner a grin. Now Hewitt no longer rode pickup in rodeos, the mare too yearned to be back amongst the action.

  Three white-faced Herefords lifted their heads from where they grazed. When they caught sight of the border collies, they ambled towards a group of cows clustered around the dam edge. Two cows who stood knee-deep in the water waded to shore. Thanks to the wet spring, even though the summer had been hot and dry, dam levels remained high.

  Max and Patch guided the cattle in the right direction and soon they’d bunched into a slow-moving mob. When one steer broke away heading for the gully, Tanner gave Arrow his head. The mustang cut off the Hereford, who turned to rejoin the herd.

  The burst of
speed, the rush of adrenaline and the wind rushing over his skin soothed Tanner’s restlessness. He rolled his shoulders to disperse the last of his tension.

  When another steer looked like he’d bolt, Arrow spun around, ready for the chase. But apart from two cows who tried to make a run past Garnet and Hewitt, the cattle cooperated and followed the fence line until they headed through the open gate.

  With the cattle being where they were supposed to be, Hewitt and Tanner retraced their steps towards the dam. The horses had a drink while Patch and Max cooled off. The once black-and-white border collies were soon mud-brown as they chased each other through the shallows. A pair of galahs soared overhead, their pink-and-grey hues blending in with the blush of sunset that crept across the darkening sky.

  Arrow and Garnet needed no excuse to power their way across the open grazing country towards the rolling timbered hills that rose into a granite-hewn ridge. By the time they reached the top, both horses were breathing hard but remained reluctant to stop. Tanner didn’t know whose grin was wider, his or Hewitt’s. They’d all needed to take such a ride.

  Tanner left his saddle and Hewitt followed. They took a seat on the smooth grey wood of a fallen tree to watch the sun’s descent. To their left, the horses lowered their heads to graze. Tanner didn’t break the silence that settled around them. He’d made this sunset trip before. This small clearing was Hewitt’s special place that allowed him to feel close to the brother he’d lost.

  When the sun hovered at the edge of the horizon, Hewitt briefly closed his eyes. Once the shards of burnt orange could no longer be seen, he turned to Tanner. Peace lightened the clear grey of his gaze. ‘Do you remember the first time we sat on a log?’

  ‘I do. The trail ride.’

  ‘You sure grilled me about Fliss that day.’

  Tanner chuckled. Hewitt possessed an understated and steady strength that ensured he’d be the last man standing in any situation. There was nothing that rattled him except the loss of his twin and Dr Fliss when he’d first met her. ‘I didn’t give you that much of a hard time. Besides, I seem to remember being concerned for you too.’