by Hope Stone
“You are one awesome little human.”
“Thanks, Dad. You’re not bad yourself.”
“Thanks, kid. Things are going to start happening around here pretty quickly. Lots of people coming and going. Are you ready for that?” I asked her as I plated her ham and cheese sandwich.
“Yes. I think it will be fun. I want to ride all the way on the trail. I can ride Moonlight.”
A string of cheese hung from her lips, and I wiped it with my free hand. “Hmm. I don’t know about that. Moonlight is sensitive, so you have to catch her on the right day to ride. I don’t want you getting bucked off her.”
“I won’t. She listens to me, and she talks back.”
“You can talk to horses?”
She nodded her head as more cheese dripped from her chin. This time she caught it.
“Your grandpa used to do the same thing.”
“Can you speak to them, Daddy?”
“Not speak, but I can feel if they are going to do something. Like buck me off.” I smirked.
“You’ll be okay. Moonlight just doesn’t like it if you don’t ride her. She likes the sunshine. Says you don’t ride her enough.”
“You are the cutest.” My daughter was a horse whisperer. “Your mother would be proud.”
“I miss Mommy. She made me laugh. I wish she would come back. But I like Amber, too.”
I took her one of her little hands in mine. “You can like them both. Nobody will ever replace your mother, but Amber is your friend now, and you can talk to her, too.”
“I know. I really like her. She’s nice to me.”
“I like her, too. What would you think if I married her?”
“Yay! Can I be the flower girl?”
“You sure can.”
Even gunslinging cowboys need love.
Epilogue: Amber
Six Months Later
The Merced sky was an incredibly vivid blue, and the sweet, melodic sounds of birdlife filled my ears. I was standing in the middle of a fully enclosed horse arena built by Colt and his father. At the entry was a red and white flag with the outline of Moonlight on it. At the front of the property, I’d helped paint the sign for Colt Trail Rides. I couldn’t be prouder. Colt put me through the wringer, riding every morning until I got used to all the horses. When I touched the inside of my thighs, I felt like they weren’t there.
Then, a week before we were due to open, he said in his Colt way, “I think you’re ready.”
Two weeks before the opening, we were booked out for a whole month. Both Colt and I couldn’t believe it. We were both sitting on the couch in the living room, counting all the bookings.
“Can you believe this is happening? We are fully booked!”
“No. I can’t. This is crazy. Wow. You did it, Colt!”
“Baby, I couldn’t have done it without you.” I smiled wide and big as I thought of the memory. Colt and I were going from strength to strength, growing and getting to know one another more deeply.
Fast forward to the day of our official opening. I was nervous. Colt was nervous. Clive was fumbling around with last minute things in the barn. Cheryl was baking muffins for morning tea. We had a full schedule. I was taking the role of administration, bookings, and specific groups.
“The arena looks great, baby. I can’t believe you built this in such a short amount of time. I’m really proud of you.”
Colt wrapped his thick muscular arms around me, kissing me like it was his last breath.
“What was that for?”
His blue eyes were the same color as the sky. “For sticking by me and believing in me.”
I touched the side of his face with my finger. “I know you’re a good man, Colt. I was always going to stand by you. What happened was self-defense.”
“Yes, it was. That guy came back from the dead. I thought the Russians took him out. But that’s not the only reason. Or the only situation. The whole way through, you had my back.”
“That’s what you do for the ones you love.” I meant it.
My life was just beginning. I quit after seven years of social work, with a twist. I started a collaboration project with the Department of Human Services for young men and women to ride for self-esteem. Psychological studies showed that communicating with horses was good for emotional healing and trauma. I wanted to give some of the foster kids some hope. So I led the groups on trail rides. Nothing fancy, just trotting along the trail. If nature could be soothing for me, then it could be soothing for kids and young adults.
I was nervous to ask Colt about it. I didn’t know if he thought it would work. I danced around him in the kitchen one night.
“Amber, what is going on with you? You’re all jittery and acting funny. Tell me.” Colt pulled me close to him, and I melted as I always did in his presence.
“I thought I could run a program with the foster kids to ride. I want to still be involved. Do you think we could add that to the schedule?”
Colt didn’t bat an eye. “Of course we can. That’s a brilliant idea. Were you scared to tell me that?”
“Not scared. I just didn’t know what you would think.”
He kissed me hard on the lips, leaving me breathless. I was more in love with him than ever.
“Well, I’m glad you asked, anyway.”
Now Colt and I walked around the ready-made arena, checking for pockets that the horses might fall in. “I feel somewhat responsible. If I didn’t get you mixed up with helping my brother, you wouldn’t have been in that situation.”
“You’re kidding, right? If I hadn’t shipped illegal car parts on behalf of the Outlaws, I would never have been in jail. If I was never in jail, I never would have met the love of my life. Every single thing in life happens for some reason or another. Sometimes, we don’t understand why until later, but still.”
“Colt Winters, my reckless cowboy, when did you become so wise?”
“Right about now.” Colt stomped his feet over certain sections of the grass, making sure it was just right. It looked like a mini horse ranch. Transformed from a free-flowing paddock to this. “I’m determined to make this work, and with you by my side, I can do anything.”
Some days Colt’s intensity blew me away. He was a force all his own. I watched as he prepared the saddles, and the older version of Colt stepped forward to the arena.
“You got the mic?” Clive asked.
“Yes, I do, Pops. Fully charged.”
Clive appeared to age backward. Ever since he’d been working on the farm with Colt, he seemed so happy and content. He was a man who belonged to the land for sure. Crop season was fast approaching, and Cheryl had a handle on that. Workers came and went from the property daily, and the back fields transformed into rows of uniform food crops. Colt’s home was a hive of activity.
Colt couldn’t stand still. “What if they don’t show up? What do I do?”
I grabbed his hand. I knew how to keep him calm when he got agitated. “It’s going to be all right. Think about it. They’ve already paid their money. They are going to show up. Breathe, baby.”
Colt squeezed my hand back. “You’re right, and I know you’re right.”
I walked the first group in. Four people in total, a family. Clive greeted them with a handshake. Each one of us agreed that we would help each person mount onto a horse and take them around the arena.
I smiled. “Welcome to Colt Trails. We’re happy to have you here.”
Clive and Bella walked each horse out, one by one.
“Hello, my name is Rosa. I’ve never been on a horse before. My hubby made me come today.” Rosa, a lady with long brown hair and a sweet face, gasped as the majestic creatures emerged. Her husband grinned.
“Look, baby, we’re going to ride them.” He pointed to Chester, who was aptly named after his coat. He was one of the new horses, and one with a whole load of personality. Colt tipped his cowboy hat at me, and Bella gave me the thumbs-up as I showed Rosa how to mount the horse and led her around
the arena.
“Hey, Marcos, let’s get you on the horse, buddy.” Colt took around his participant.
Bella and Clive took the teenagers. The whole time, my heart beat in my chest as I wondered if I would be able to guide these unsuspecting people around the arena. I did, and it was the best feeling ever. My stress levels were down. I looked younger, and Colt made me feel free.
After the arena, all riders were confident enough so that we could take them out on a one-hour trail ride to experience the beauty of the Californian woodlands. The pride I felt was immeasurable. I was with a man who stretched me to new potential. One who I was proud to be standing beside. After the first class left, we had two hours between.
Colt ran over and lifted me into the air. “We did it!”
We had a celebratory iced tea in the California sun. I even wore a cowboy hat that I’d picked out. The Winters family and I were a winning team. Clive grinned from ear to ear. Bella jumped up and down, dancing around the arena. The horses swished their tails, wondering what all the fuss was about. Our first four people were so happy with that ride that they vowed to come back with more people.
Once we had the first class done, the rest of the day rolled like clockwork, and we were a hit. The local papers caught wind months later, which brought more publicity and more bookings. My department program was a hit with the younger foster groups, and I included a session after it to help them. I would never forget the day Donald, my old boss, brought the whole team for a ride.
Lucy, hot, disgruntled, and reluctant strolled in first. “What the hell did he bring me here for?” She changed her tune when she saw Colt. She looked around me and scanned Colt up and down like a piece of candy. “Oh, sweet Lord, ain’t he something to look at? Wow. Now I see why you’re working here. Plenty of incentive.”
“Colt, could you help Lucy mount her horse?” I winked at him, and he winked back. Lucy’s eyes became wide with fear as she struggled for her words. Lucy never was short on words, ever. The whole ride was hilarious. It turned out she’d become the new head of the department and was doing a great job.
Hector was working on bikes non-stop with Diego and was happy. He came to visit every now and then. He even had a nice girlfriend and an apartment. Life just kept getting better. USP Atwater listened to my advice and received the grant I told them to go for. They were fixing up the cell floors one by one.
Five months later, we had a rare off day. Colt and I were preparing for a trail ride to one of the watering holes we discovered on the last ride. This was his first time bringing Moonlight out for a ride.
“You sure you want to take Moonlight? Are you comfortable?” I asked.
We were standing in the barn, and Colt’s white cowboy hat was sloped forward in a sexy way, covering his face. He’d become even more muscular if it was possible, working around the farm and taking care of the horses. We had eight now and had expanded the stable with Clive’s help. We were working side by side, feeding the horses at the time. I was feeling a little off. Nothing would stop me riding with my man, though. As I glimpsed his straining bicep muscles, I was becoming more and more turned on. He must have felt my eyes burning into him because he turned and gave me a little grin.
“See something you like?” He laughed as he brushed Moonlight.
“I see plenty I like.” I batted my eyelashes at him as he leaned in for a hot kiss. Then it was his turn to stare.
“What is it?” I said playfully.
“I want to show you something,” he said quietly. “Hang on.”
He pulled Moonlight out of the stable and held the reins. Moonlight adversely reacted at first. Then Colt spoke to her, and she settled. She was one mighty looking horse. Her saddle was already on, and Colt reached inside the leather saddlebag. I was happy it was just another day of happiness and contentment with Colt, but he seemed to have something else on his mind.
He pulled out a small blue velvet box. I watched it as if I was in a movie. Colt moved to a bended knee. He licked his lips and took off his white cowboy hat, laying it beside him. He peered up with the sincerity of a small child and took my right hand.
“Amber Atwood. You are an angel to me. I know we didn’t meet in the best place, but for me, it was love at first sight. I wanted to be with you as soon as I saw you. I had to have you.” Colt’s impassioned speech made my eyes start to well up with tears. “We have been through a thing or two, and I love you more now than ever. I want to continue loving you for the rest of my life. I want to spend forever with you. I know Bella loves you, too. Amber, will you marry me?”
I let the tears fall in the barn. They were tears of joy. “Yes. I will. I would like nothing more than to spend my life with you. I hope that Bella is okay with another sibling because we have a baby on the way.”
“Oh, honey! I love you so much. This is amazing.” Colt jumped up and hugged me tightly, lifting me in the air. Even the horses chimed in and neighed.
“Wait, baby, what about the ring?”
Colt fumbled with the small ring box in his hand. “Yes. Oh, I messed up. You just threw me. I didn’t expect that.”
His breathing had increased, and I put my hand on him to calm him. I gave him a reassuring smile and stroked his face. “You and me both.”
“Here we go. Let me slip this on before I pass out. Wow. I’m going to be a father all over again.” With quivering hands, Colt slid a sparkler on my hand that made me hold my breath. It was a traditional white diamond with a silver band. It was classic and beautiful, and just right for me.
One thing was for sure. My cowboy was full of surprises, and we were destined for one hell of a ride!
What’s Next?
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Moves
You don’t want to miss the rest of the Outlaw Souls series! If you enjoyed this six book boxset check out my next book of the series called MOVES.
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MOVES Book Blurb:
Michael ‘Moves’ Jagger is the enforcer for the Outlaw Souls who is about to embark on a journey that will determine whether they prosper or crumble.
When a patch member calls from the station after being arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, Moves is shaken by the fact that someone is setting them up.
He knows he is going to stop at nothing until he finds the truth and makes sure that the Outlaw Souls get to walk free, but nothing could’ve prepared him from running into a beautiful woman that would change his life.
That woman is Lacey, a prosecuting attorney for the DA’s office who Moves hasn’t figured out why she’d been sniffing around their stomping ground, but he’s determined to find out.
The two of them cannot deny that they have a spark, and it makes things rather complicated while they try to unravel this mystery from two different sides.
They realize that they belonged to two different worlds, but they’re going to come together because they have the common goal of wanting to put the real criminals behind bars.
When they learn the truth about who had been framing the Outlaw Souls, both Moves and Lacey begin to question everything they’ve come to know, and they’re stuck trying to figure out what to do.
Though, they’re not going to stop until the real criminals pay for what they’ve done, and that will lead to a shocking discovery that might give the Outlaw Souls their freedom or be the end of them as they know it.
Will Lacey help Moves to uncover the truth? Or will she be the reason the Outlaw Souls never get the freedom they so desperately seek?
Click here to find out for yourself. Happy reading!
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An MC Romance (Outlaw Souls Book 7)
A Sneak Peak
Introduction
This is the story of Michael ‘Moves’ Jagger who is the enforcer for the Outlaw Souls who gets a call from one of the patch members, who had been arrested for a crime he didn’t commit. Moves knows that the Outlaw Souls is in danger, and he promises himself to get to the bottom of it no matter what it takes. He finds out that no one from the Outlaw Souls had committed any crimes, and that Chalupa was being wrongfully accused. He sets on a journey to find the truth, but he eventually meets a beautiful prosecuting attorney for the DA’s office that truly turns his entire life upside down.
Together they uncover the true mystery of who had been framing the Outlaw Souls, and they embark on a passionate yet dangerous journey to discover the truth and show the world who the real criminals are. This story is a passionate, thrilling journey of two people from completely different worlds coming together to find the truth, but they can’t help but feel drawn to each other. Their spark makes things even more complicated, but they both share a common goal, and they aren’t going to stop at anything until those who wronged the Outlaw Souls finally pay for their crimes.
Moves
I heard the incessant whirring of my phone, sinking beneath the covers of my bed while I subconsciously tried to go back to sleep. Though, something clicked inside my mind, jolting me up while I fished around to retrieve it. I hurriedly answered it, waiting for it to connect while I listened to the voice operator ask me if I’d like to accept the charges.