Sweet Montana Boxed Set 1-5

by Lisa Mondello

  Sure he was handsome. Too clean for her liking. No, that wasn’t it. He was too perfect to get manure stuck in the cracks of his loafers, which taking another look probably cost as much as her prized saddle. And if she looked at his hands, she was sure his fingernails would be free from dirt and whatever else was likely to get underneath there spending time in a barn. Unlike hers. Tabby didn’t want to know what was under her nails.

  Worst of all, she didn’t know why she cared today of all days. She spent her time working her horse every day. At the end of the day, anything that had managed to find its way on her would be scrubbed clean. It didn’t matter what this guy saw in her.

  “I think the cowpoke has already been by to clean these stalls. I’m pretty sure you won’t be doing any hard cleaning either.”

  “Hmm. Too bad. It would have been a sight to see.”

  His lips lifted just a fraction. If she hadn’t been watching, she would have missed it.

  And yes, he definitely smelled good, unlike the usual smells that assaulted her nose on a daily basis. As much as those odors were offensive to most people, they weren’t to people like Tabby, who found comfort and joy being in the barn with her horse. But his clean shaven face was most surely topped off with aftershave that Tabby found surprisingly appealing.

  “What’s your name?” he asked.

  “Tabitha Swanson. Everyone calls me Tabby.”

  “Will you be taking Tenterhook out for a run?”

  Before she had the chance to answer, Trip walked into the barn with a quick pace and then shook the stranger’s hand.

  “I’m sorry I kept you waiting, Kasper. I see you’ve already met Tenterhook?”

  Confused, Tabby glanced quickly at Trip wondering why on earth he’d have cause to discuss Tenterhook with a stranger. But Trip appeared frazzled and focused squarely on the stranger so she turned her attention to him as well.

  “You came here to see Tenterhook?” Tabby asked.

  “Among other animals,” the man said.

  “Have you both introduced yourselves?” Trip asked finally looking at Tabby.

  Tabby said, “I introduced myself to him.”

  The man held out his hand. “Oh, forgive me. Kasper Dobbs. Call me Kas.”

  “He’s Katie Dobbs’ older brother.”

  She knew Katie. She worked at the bank in town and Tabby had seen her at some of the local events. But they weren’t what she’d call friends. She knew Katie had been married and divorced in the span of a year. She didn’t know the details and wasn’t one for engaging in gossip. There was always a sadness beneath the smile as she cashed her check at the bank. She looked at Kasper now and could see the resemblance. Given their earlier conversation about him being from Sweet, the connection now made her feel even more foolish for giving him a hard time.

  Still, she couldn’t help herself. “So working in a bank runs in the family?”

  Trip’s eyes widened. Kasper laughed hard.

  “He’s a sponsor, Tabby,” Trip said carefully. “I asked him to come down and look at some of the stock.”

  “Oh.”

  “I’m not a banker. Just a businessman looking to invest.”

  “Why don’t you and I go into the office to discuss a few things and then I’ll give you a tour.”

  He nodded his head to Tabby. “Nice to meet you, Tabby. And Tenterhook.”

  “Same here.”

  She watched him walk out of the barn with Trip. He was a sponsor. He’d been here to see Tenterhook and the other stock at the ranch.

  And her wise mouth probably blew any chance of him wanting to work with her.

  Sweet Montana Sky: Chapter Two

  She did a quick run in the arena with Tenterhook. Something was up. Something wrong. Today just didn’t feel right. Neither she nor Tenterhook were at the top of their game. They’d both done better. She didn’t need a stopwatch and an announcer to tell her so.

  She walked Tenterhook back to the barn and began to undo his saddle when Levon, one of the ranch hands, came in.

  “You’re looking like you’re having a bad day, little lady.”

  She forced a smile. “No, just finished a run.”

  “How’s my boy doing?”

  Levon, a cowpoke for over thirty years on various ranches around the state of Montana, always called Tenterhook his boy given that Tabby’s father had purchased the horse from Levon just a week before Tabby’s graduation. Levon hadn’t had the horse all that long having purchased him at a BLM, Bureau of Land Management, auction. No one thought Tenterhook would become the horse he was today.

  “He’s sluggish for some reason.”

  “Yeah?”

  Levon came over and ran his hand down Tenterhook’s neck. Tenterhook bobbed his head and took a step back.

  “He never did love me the way he loves you,” Levon said with a mock pout. He grabbed Tenterhook’s face with both his hands and added, “Yeah, you love the pretty girls. Don’t you, boy.”

  Tabby chuckled. “You’re too much.”

  Levon seemed to spot something and ran his hand down Tenterhook’s leg, gently urging him to lift it for inspection. “Looks like something is wedged here in his shoe. Could be causing him some irritation. It may account for the sluggishness today.”

  “Yeah? When is the next time Hunter will be out to the ranch to reshoe the horses?”

  “We have the farrier scheduled every four weeks. Hunter’s not due back for at least another week. I don’t think this should wait though. Better give Hunter a call and see if he can come tomorrow morning. Word is Mr. Dobbs is going to want to see some of the stock in action this week. Speaking of which, have you met him yet?”

  “Kasper? Trip told me he’s Katie Dobbs brother, but I’ve never heard anything about him. Who is he?”

  “Former bull rider turned businessman. Got hurt on the circuit real bad when he was just hitting his prime. Broke his neck and ended his bull riding career. He plays hockey down at the mill pond with the local cowboys he went to high school with when he’s in town. Even has a share in one of the professional hockey teams out East. But these days he has deep pockets doing something financial back East. He owns Swing High.”

  “Really? I thought Trip owned Swing High.”

  “Part owner.”

  Swing High was one of the bulls in circulation at Western Rodeo Circuit events. Tabby knew Swing High made money for Trip, which meant that as part owner he made money for Kasper Dobbs.

  “It’s what he does.”

  It was not uncommon for a stock owner to sell shares of stock ownership when the animal is doing well on the rodeo circuit. Keeping livestock is expensive. Travel, vet bills and feeding costs add up on top of what it costs to own a ranch the size of the Lone Creek in this part of Montana where ranchers own big spreads.

  “What’s he doing here? I mean, don’t those suits only come around when decisions about money need to be made? Like selling? Is Trip selling Swing High?”

  Levon got up from his crouched position by Tenterhook’s leg and laughed. “Suit? You didn’t call him a suit, did you, Tabby?”

  She shrugged as her cheeks flamed, which made Levon laugh a little harder.

  “That man is about as homegrown as those mountains out there. Weren’t you the one bellyaching last week about finding a sponsor before the end of last season?”

  “Yeah, but—”

  “But nothing. You can’t go insulting potential sponsors just because they wear a suit.”

  “You said he invests in stock.”

  “Last I checked, Tenterhook is a horse, ain’t he?”

  She gave him a sarcastic look. “Tenterhook has had a great showing this year,” she admitted. “Having a sponsor will make it possible for me to compete more next season.”

  Not only would a sponsor pay for her entry fees and travel expenses, but it would also give her cash to live on so she wouldn’t have to work to make even the paltry rent she paid Trip for her small apartment here on the ranch
, and her boarding costs for Tenterhook, also a paltry amount that was more of a token rather than a normal boarding fee. Even with the advantage of low rent and boarding, all the money she made at her job in town paid for travel and competing in regional rodeo events. If she were ever going to get a chance to go pro, she needed more money to compete.

  Levon tapped her on the nose. “I’m not one for brown nosing because I don’t give a flip about those things. But if you want to impress the big guns, and he’s one of them, you gotta play nice, little lady.”

  “I wasn’t not nice!”

  He chuckled again. “I know you too well. Let me guess, he came in here sniffing around Tenterhook and you got all territorial.”

  “Something like that,” she confessed.

  “Well, don’t. This man has the money you need to live your dream with this fine horse. I should have kept him for myself,” he teased with a wink. “But he loves you more.”

  “He does, doesn’t he? Do you think that’s why this guy is here? Trip never mentioned it.”

  “Well, don’t go having it out with Trip just yet. In fact, better steer clear of Trip’s office for the rest of the day, if you can help it.”

  “Why’s that?”

  Levon shook his head. “Trip was pretty angry on the phone earlier. Never heard him so ugly.”

  “Trip, ugly? About what?”

  Levon adjusted his cowboy hat. “Trip don’t pay me to stick around and eavesdrop, Tabby. Self-preservation, you know? I’ll give Hunter a call for you while you get Tenterhook settled in his stall.”

  “Thanks.”

  Levon left her in the barn among all the other livestock Kasper Dobbs was here to inspect. Or so it seemed. They were just investments to him.

  She looked up at Tenterhook. “Me and my big mouth. I hope I didn’t blow it for us today.”

  The horse bobbed his head up and down as if answering her. She chuckled low. But it did nothing to crush the tug in her gut that told her something was up.

  Whatever it was, it didn’t have anything to do with her unless Mr. Dobbs was willing to invest in her and Tenterhook.

  * * *

  She had steered clear of Trip for the rest of the day. But only because he couldn’t be found. He’d spent most of the day talking with Kasper Dobbs. Kas for short.

  By mid-afternoon the next day, Trip knocked on her apartment door asking for her to saddle up Tenterhook so an investor could get a look at what horse and rider could do.

  Her nerves had been on edge all day for some reason. But as soon as she rode Tenterhook into the arena and got ready for her run, those nerves disappeared.

  Until she saw the suit watching her. Trip was watching her too, but she was used to that. Of course she’d know Kas would be here. He’d requested to see her and Tenterhook ride. But she felt his gaze on her so strongly that she couldn’t ignore it.

  Kas wasn’t wearing a fancy business suit today. Dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a heavy gray Henley shirt, he looked more like most of the men she saw around Sweet.

  But he was so different. She just couldn’t put a finger on what made it so.

  Tabby was used to an audience at the rodeo. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of fans packed the arenas she frequented on the Western Rodeo Circuit, or WRC as most everyone referred to it. There were devoted followers who loved the sport and came to see their favorite rodeo riders.

  Most people went to see the bronc riders or bull riders. Some came for the barrel racers. But the big money was on the bulls and broncs.

  But today she had an audience of only two. She was in the arena at the Lone Creek Ranch where she’d ridden Tenterhook thousands of times in the nearly eight years she’d owned him.

  Sponsorship, even on a local level, wasn’t unheard of for a barrel racers, although most sponsors liked to put their money on the high profile bull and bronc riders. But most all of those sponsors had a stake in advertising a product or service that was related to the rodeo industry. Kasper Dobbs was a businessman. Tabby didn’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but what did someone like Kasper Dobbs want with a barrel racer?

  It felt strange that someone was looking seriously at sponsoring her rodeo endeavors. She’d wanted it. But now that it seemed so close she could reach out and grab it, it made her nerves on edge. She wouldn’t be riding for just herself anymore. Someone else would have a stake in her success or failure.

  It didn’t matter. Whether or not she had an audience or she ended the day with a little money in her pocket for sponsorship, she was here to do a few barrel runs with Tenterhook as she had done practically every day for the past eight years. And after she was done with her run, she had to get Tenterhook settled in his stall and get to work in town at the grocery store so she could pay her bills and save as much money as she could for next season.

  Trip stood against the wall holding a stopwatch in his hand. He already positioned the barrels in the arena while she was saddling Tenterhook for his ride.

  “I’m just going to do a few circles around the arena to let Tenterhook stretch his legs,” Tabby called out.

  Trip nodded and then turned to Kas to say something. Tabby focused on her riding. Hunter had already come and gone earlier in the day to change Tenterhook’s shoes and inspect the spot where Levon thought there may be something stuck. With new shoes, Tenterhook seemed like his old self again, stretching and running in perfect form.

  “I’m ready,” she said as she rode past the two men on the sidelines. She continued to ride to the open area at the end of the arena where she would start her run. Then she turned her horse around. She’d done this so many times it was becoming second nature to her and to Tenterhook. But every ride was different.

  Nervous energy was always there before a ride. But this time, her nerves were against her. She fought off the tension deep in her gut and focused on her ride. Tenterhook’s muscles flexed beneath her legs, something he always did before a run. He was ready.

  Trip gave the signal he was ready for her to start. She held the reins and kicked Tenterhook’s side to coax him into a gallop. She focused on the first barrel and pulled the reins on one side to make a tight right corner around the barrel. She held her position in the saddle, leaning into the turn as Tenterhook made the sharp turn and then kicked her heels, making Tenterhook speed towards the second barrel in the cloverleaf pattern.

  She saw the two men standing by the wall out of the corner of her eye, but kept her focus on the barrel and in staying seated in the saddle. As they approached the barrel, she pulled the reins to the left, and felt her body pulled to the right as Tenterhook made the turn. Again, she kicked the horse’s sides and Tenterhook took off like a bullet towards a bull’s-eye. They reached the last barrel, made the last turn, and then raced down the center of the arena towards the open area where they’d started their run.

  The double door was open bringing fresh air into the arena. Although the arena was heated, the cold chill by the open doors smacked her sweated skin and made goose bumps raise beneath her cotton shirt. It wasn’t like Trip to keep the arena doors open during the winter months because it cost too much to heat the arena and keep it warm. But she was too concerned with her score and Kas’s reaction to her run to think beyond why the doors were open.

  Unlike when she competed, there was no announcer giving her a score over the intercom. There was no applause. But when she rode up to the wall where Trip and Kas were standing, she got instant satisfaction by the look on Trip’s face.

  “It was a good run, Tabby,” Trip said. “A good one.”

  Pride spread through her. She stroked Tenterhook’s neck and said, “It felt good.”

  A constant horse’s whinny and the pounding of hooves out in the driveway pulled her attention back to the open door. The horse sounded distressed, which caused Tenterhook to stomp his feet in agitation from the ruckus happening just outside the door leading to the barn.

  “What’s Levon doing out there?” Tabby asked.


  With a worried look, Trip glanced back at the arena door where they’d heard the ruckus. “The farrier came by this morning to put shoes on Mad Dog. But he’s never reacted badly to new shoes.”

  “He doesn’t sound like he’s too happy about it now,” Kas said.

  “Hunter has come and gone. He was only here this morning for Tenterhook. He didn’t put any shoes on the other horses.”

  Something crashed. The sound was muffled, but the banging of metal against metal was unmistakable.

  “It sounds like one of the horses got out of the barn, but that loud crash came from inside the barn, Trip,” she said, peering out the open doorway to the driveway leading to the road. They couldn’t see the barn door. But it was lined up with the arena doors to make it easier to get the animals from barn to arena with ease during the bad weather.

  Trip adjusted his hat and then grabbed his jacket. “I’d better go check. Sounds like Levon might need some help.”

  Tenterhook’s hooves dug into the arena floor, he bobbed his head and shook it, a clear sign he was restless by the noise outside.

  “It’s okay, boy.”

  The harsh sound of a wood splitting and then something being thrown against a wall echoed in the open arena, making them all turn.

  “That hit just outside the arena wall.” Trip moved faster toward the door. He was halfway to the door when Mad Dog sped by the arena doors and raced away.

  “I’m coming with you,” Kas said, grabbing his jacket from the half wall and shrugging into it as he ran out of the arena with Trip.

  Tabby started to follow, but Trip turned around and said, “Better keep Tenterhook in here in case Mad Dog or one of the other horses got spooked by something. No sense getting them all riled up.”

  The two men ran out of the arena and left Tabby to tend to Tenterhook. She rode Tenterhook over to one of the inside horse stalls and then dismounted. Opening the gate, she led Tenterhook inside the stall and quickly loosened his saddle. She’d take it off later when they were in the barn and she could put it away properly. The feed bins were empty, so she went to the tack room, grabbed two buckets, and filled one with water and the other with some grain. She’d give Tenterhook more hay when she put him back in the barn.