Unbridled Trails

by Bonnie R. Paulson

  Not since he’d driven Sherri away from Kyle.

  Seeing Sherri that afternoon had only reinforced his irritation with Ryland. Why did the guy have to horn in on anything? On everything?

  “I need to make a phone call.” He lifted the receiver. “Say, we have Friday off this week, right? Or is it Thursday? I can never remember.”

  “Thursday.” Kyle narrowed his eyes. Why did he want to know his days off? Ryland was like the rest of them and preferred working over anything else. In fact, on the nights Kyle disappeared to watch Guy, Ryland usually covered for him because he liked the work.

  But Kyle kept his questions to himself and moved over to the table setup along the side wall as if he had something important to write down.

  Ryland dialed and then spoke softly, his laughter the only thing carrying over the milieu of the rest of the ranch hands talking at the dinner table. Suddenly noticeable, a grandfather ticked and tocked with annoying loudness between Kyle and the phone.

  Ryland’s last words carried just fine though. “Sounds good. I’ll see you Thursday at six.” He hung up and whooped, slapping Kyle’s back as he passed with a grin the width of the Big Sky plains.

  Kyle’s scowl deepened. Who the hell did Ryland think he was anyway?

  ~

  Kyle reined in the Arabian he borrowed from Jonesy. Nate waited for him and Sherri on the deck, sitting on the log pole seats set up around the perimeter for optimal viewing.

  The ranch was well laid out and went as far back in Jonesy’s family as some of the railroads in the state. Jonesy’s family had actually made their money on the success of trains in the area. He came from old money and the sprawling nature of the house and lands had a more relaxed feel than what the owner expected from his workers. He’d left simply because he had no other choice and he’d heard great things about Nate and his cousins. At least, that’s what he’d claimed before he’d left for the airport.

  Dismounting, Kyle set the Arabian free in the fenced in pen until he had a chance to put her away. Adequately cooled off, she’d get her fill of water and oats at the side of the pen.

  Climbing the steps, Kyle glanced down the drive, startled to find Sherri’s work truck moving toward him. He didn’t have long to prepare Nate for who exactly the agent was.

  Joining Nate at the table, he thumbed toward Sherri. “You know this agent, Nate.”

  Distracted, Nate looked at Kyle but didn’t seem to really see him. “Hmm?” His gaze shot past Kyle. “Sherri?” He stood, waiting for her to join them on the porch.

  “Hi, Nate.” She approached confidently, arms swinging and in one hand a clip board. She pushed her soft curled hair back and smiled warmly.

  Kyle would give anything to have her look like that at him again – even if it meant he had to face that spider of hers.

  Nate waited until she took a seat and then claimed his. Kyle followed suit and stretched his legs out in front of him. He was there to understand what was going on and to carry out any decisions Nate made on how to manage the ranch. He wouldn’t lie – at least to himself – that getting to watch Sherri made the time much more enjoyable.

  “I’m sorry to hear about Jonesy’s family. I don’t know the man, but it must be fairly serious to pull him away during the busy season.” Sherri sat forward, ignoring Kyle.

  “Yes, well, as unfortunate as it has been for him, it has opened up an opportunity for the Montana Trails. We need experience in managing a ranch for our references. Now that we have this experience, we’ll have more jobs open up to us.” Nate leaned back as well, resting his arm on the edge of the small outdoor table. “What did you have to tell us, Sherri? I’m not fond of western pine beetles, but I have a feeling you know more which we need to learn.”

  Sherri’s soft laugh and sympathy in her eyes made it hard for Kyle to look away. “Western pine beetles are my specialty. I’ll keep it simple.”

  She flipped over a sheet of paper and produced a pen to sketch as she spoke. Her graceful hands swooped and slashed to enunciate each point. “Western pine beetles are a terrific indicator on the potential for forest fires and other devastating tragedies.”

  Drawing a line, she followed it with multiple lines like layers under the first and then simple tree trunks and roots beneath the first line. “If a tree doesn’t have water for a long time, it goes into survival mode where everything it has is saved for basic survival. Nothing is expended for defense or offspring or anything other than the basics. A tree’s best line of defense is its sap.” She glanced at the men as if gauging their understanding. She must have seen something in their eyes that said they got it because she moved on.

  “Okay, now let’s say a tree’s defenses are down and a western pine beetle decides to bore in. Nothing is going to stop that from happening. Usually this is just one or two trees, here and there. They pick the weakest ones. If they don’t do it, then root rot or something else just as bad can get the tree from below and spread even to the healthier trees.” She paused a moment, eyeing them.

  “The important thing here isn’t that the beetles are attacking the trees. They do that. They’re very important to land and forest management. No, what we’re noting here is the abundance of their attack. Many of the trees are weak. Which means it wouldn’t take more than the slightest spark and the softest whisper of wind to roar into something epic.” She tapped her pen on the table, the soft click enunciating the menace under her words.

  “Wow, you don’t hold anything back, do you?” Nate whistled low as he stared out over the ranch he could see from his vantage point.

  Sherri cocked her head. “Would it make it easier for you? I know it would lessen the importance which doesn’t meet my objective.” Her fervent manners intrigued Kyle.

  He couldn’t stop watching her, if he tried. Her now familiar scent of citrus reached him on the warm air. Kyle didn’t know how much longer he could take it without commenting on her allure.

  “What do you suggest?” Nate peered at her as he leaned over the table and folded his hands as he watched her intently.

  “My suggestions follow protocol as outlined here.” She slid across a sheet of paper from her clipboard. “I would hasten to add though that if you don’t have adequate irrigation, than a water line won’t work. You’ll need a fire line – no flames – but more like a dug ditch that spans a good twenty feet or so cleared of all grass or other vegetation. Just a stretch of dirt that the fire will have a hard time crossing.” She pressed her lips together, before continuing. “Stock a lot of sand or something, Nate. It’s so dry, I’m not sure water would work as a fire deterrent anyway.”

  “Thank you, Sherri. We will take your suggestions into consideration. I’ll contact Jonesy tonight.” Nate smiled at Sherri.

  “My pleasure. I’m on my way to a few more ranches to explain the report. If you need anything, here’s my card with my own cell number on the back. You can reach me day or night.” She shot her gaze toward Kyle then back at Nate, her smile tight.

  “Thank you.” Nate walked her to her truck and Kyle watched her rear-end as she walked away.

  That’s twice she’d driven away from him.

  Back with Kyle, Nate pointed along the north border of the land. “While I’m gone, you guys can get the fire line dug. Why don’t you oversee that? Change everyone’s days off by a day. That way we have extra time to accomplish it. There’s supposed to be lightning next week. I’d rather be prepared and not lose Jonesy’s hard work and ours while he’s gone.”

  Kyle couldn’t agree more. And delivering the news to Ryland that he had to cancel his plans added a bounce to his step.

  He’d do whatever it took to make sure Ryland didn’t date Sherri. The change in schedule delighted Kyle to no end.

  Maybe he’d have to set up something with Sherri before Ryland did. He knew the schedules were changed. Ryland didn’t yet.

  He fingered the business card with her number on it. Kyle had her permission to call day or night – she hadn�
��t specified the reason. Okay, technically Nate had permission, but Kyle was over the ranch while Nate and Jareth were gone. Didn’t that permission switch to Kyle by proxy?

  He’d see her before Ryland, or he’d let that spider of hers crawl all over him.

  Besides, how would Ryland treat Sherri? He didn’t have a gentlemanly bone in his body.

  Kyle tucked the card in his back pocket. Nate didn’t need it. Kyle would call after Nate left that morning, maybe after lunch and set something up.

  His heart thumped with extra zeal at the thought of spending time with her.

  Hopefully she chose him over Ryland. Besides, didn’t he have first dibs? He’d rescued her from Guy. Didn’t that make him her knight or something?

  Chapter 9

  Sherri

  Who did Kyle think he was? He had rescued Sherri from that snake at the bar – at least according to what Rachiah reported and according to his own report. But what nobody seemed to understand was Sherri didn’t need saving. She could do it on her own.

  Rachiah had shared a few details right before she’d left again for Wyoming. The search for her father needed to end soon. She was torn in too many directions and the pain in her heart affected her friends.

  Whatever, it didn’t matter. Kyle’s charm and playfulness initially didn’t overshadow his moodiness now. And Ryland’s charm now wasn’t enough to cover how uncomfortable Sherri had been with his opening frankness.

  She barreled toward the office, her radio crackling a couple times before she realized she was getting a call.

  “Sherri, come in. Sherri.”

  She lifted the hand-piece to her mouth and pressed the button, slowing her speed. The trees and fields came into focus from the blurry scenery as she’d rushed toward work. “Sherri. Over.”

  “The Sherriff reported campers up on Beaver Ridge. Can you check it out? Your report suggests anything can be hazardous. Over.”

  Campers. Great. Now Sherri had to go ruin their good time. Camping on a Tuesday didn’t seem that fun to her. A forest fire was even less fun. “Of course. I’m nearby. I’ll finish up ranch notifications afterward. Over.” She replaced the radio piece and turned around on the empty dirt road.

  All the paperwork and talking to people defeated her reasons for being in that field – mainly not having to deal with people and only being around insects. Hadn’t the last visit with Kyle and Nate proven how inconsistent people could be?

  She’d have to pass Jonesy’s Acres on her way to the ridge. Kyle would probably think she was stalking him or something.

  At the trailhead, another car was parked, tinted windows hiding any belongings or hints at the owners.

  Sherri grabbed her hat, the ridiculous flat, wide-brim ones that resembled Canadian Mounties. Slathering on sunblock, she headed out with her stride long and her intentions purposeful.

  After a good hour of hiking, Sherri wiped at her sweaty brow. There wasn’t a living soul on that trail. The car was there – she’d checked a couple dozen times as she hiked the trodden path.

  She’d have to go off-trail. The least safe option, but if the car was there, then people were out in the woods. The only option left to look was deeper in the forest.

  Would they go east or west? She plopped her hands on her hips and glanced around as if the bark on the trees would tell her where they’d gone and how many there were.

  Zero hints left her completely in the dark.

  To the west the trails were more difficult to maneuver and the sun would beat down harder on that side of the mountain at midday. “East it is.” She followed her mutterings with a puff up her face to try to find a way to cool off. She’d need to duck into the shadows anyway and climbing off trail would at least get her into the shade.

  Hopefully, the campers were looking for easier, just like Sherri. She picked her way over fallen logs covered in moss and large rocks shiny with venous quartz. The shade dropped in temperature by a noticeable amount.

  Sherri sighed, removing her hat and fanning herself with the flat brim. The gusts of air chilled her damp skin. Oh, thank Heaven. Beautiful pine scents smothered the dust on the air, making it easier to breathe.

  She hadn’t planned on being out that long, only supposed to stop at a couple ranches and then head back to the office. She hadn’t brought enough water either. She called in to the office with her radio. “Central, this is Sherri, come in. Over.”

  “Central, here. Sherri, you find them campers yet?” The gruff tones gave Barry away as the operator. He must have stepped in to cover for lunch or something.

  “No campers in sight. Car is here, but no campers on the trail. Heading off trail to the east. I will radio in thirty, if I haven’t found them. Over.” She really shouldn’t leave the trail alone, but they didn’t have enough personnel for her to wait for someone to join her.

  Plus, the sooner she found those hikers, the sooner she could get out of there.

  “Be careful. Over.” His disapproval was palpable, but what could he do? Sherri needed to warn those campers and she was taking precautions to stay safe.

  She retucked the radio to her hip and continued down the hill, spotting the Jonesy ranch through the descending tree line.

  Half-way down, a horse carried Kyle toward her.

  Of course, it did. Of course, when she was sweaty and a mess and out of breath and dehydrated, there he would be. Like the flies she continued batting at. She liked bugs but not when they pointed out how much she smelled.

  Dang it all, she didn’t need saving.

  She stopped beside a tree and pulled off her hat again, fanning herself and catching her breath. Sherri nodded, a tight smile all she could bring herself to offer.

  He slid from the horse, his stacked jeans not sliding above his boots. “You okay?”

  “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” She forced her breaths to come longer and slower. She didn’t need to pass out in front of him.

  He eyed her and pulled a canteen that hung from a leather strap around his neck. “Here, it’s hot out here. Why are you out this far? I just sent Damon with two hikers back up to their car. They got lost or something. They weren’t prepared either.”

  “I’m prepared. I just wasn’t as prepared as I would like.” Sherri bit back more irritation and allowed the relief to well in her gut. “I’m glad you found them. I was out here to warn them not to light any fires or drop cigarettes or anything.” The bark of the tree behind her bit into her back, even through multiple layers of her bra and two shirts.

  “It’s that serious, huh?” He tucked his thumbs into his front pockets and watched her with a more relaxed demeanor than the last few times she’d talked with him. The auburn of his hair peeked beneath the low slung brim of his hat.

  She warmed to her topic, seeking to focus on anything but the way the cowboy filled his jeans just right. “Oh, yes, the Western Pine Beetle is the smartest indicator we can use to help warn us of potential fire. It would be terrible to lose anything because we failed to acknowledge quasi-predicting elements.” She pushed her hair off her forehead, puffing cool air over her face.

  “Come on. I’ll give you a ride up to your truck.” He held out his hand to help her up onto the saddle.

  “Really?” She looked around like maybe the drying ferns and yellowing needles would tell her she was in a dream. Walking down had been horrible, she didn’t want to go up at all. She gulped at the cool water in his canteen, cautious not to overdrink. “Okay, yeah, thank you.” She eyed him, then the horse. “Can I ride behind, though?”

  Startled, he studied her for a moment, and then nodded. “That’s fine with me.”

  She didn’t need to sit under him without knowing if she stank or not. He was still good looking as sin and she didn’t want to take the chance he’d not only find her nerdy but completely unattractive as well. She’d studied dung beetles that didn’t mean she wanted to smell like one.

  He mounted the Arabian, offering his hand again but to help her up behind h
im.

  She clumsily climbed onto the rump of the horse and wrapped her arms around Kyle’s solid waist. The thought crossed her mind to press her cheek to his back where his broad shoulders offered stability and strength, but her common sense stopped her in time.

  The loping of the horse pushed her against him and heat flooded her cheeks from more than the sun. She leaned as far back as she could, her hat clutched in her hands. She couldn’t bring herself to put the sweaty sticky thing back on. Her head needed to breathe. At least for a little longer.

  “So, um, do you have anything going on Friday night?” His chest vibrated down to his sides and under her hands as he spoke.

  She looked at the back of his neck under his hat brim like she could read his mind or something. Was he asking her out? Sherri shrugged. “Nothing, probably. I need to feed my tarantula but that’s about it.”

  “Really? I bet that’s cool.” He didn’t turn, so he couldn’t see her expression of astonishment.

  Branches grazed their legs as they passed, the pace sedate.

  “Yeah, I guess.” What did he want?

  He leaned forward over the horse’s neck and spoke as if an afterthought. “Well, maybe I could get some dinner and come help. I noticed you had boxes packed at your place. I could help you unpack. I’m good with heavy stuff.”

  Shocked didn’t do her reaction justice. She opened and closed her mouth a few times. Ryland was taking her out Thursday and now Kyle wanted to go out with her? No, he wanted to come to her place and help her with her spider and boxes?

  What was going on?

  Shaking her head in disbelief, she nodded, slightly. Wasn’t he the one she wanted to go out with? Wasn’t he the one she was interested in?

  He spoke before she could answer. “I understand if not. I just thought we could hang out.” The reins in his hands didn’t move as he maneuvered the beautiful horse up the incline.

  “Yeah, that sounds good. I’m a vegetarian though.” She ignored the tightening of his chest when he registered what she’d said.