JC – Staying in bed all day? Must be a great morning!
Ember – Fantastic morning. ;) But Mr. M left me a note canceling our meeting with the accountant today, so I’m going to ride out and see what’s going on.
JC – Don’t think you’re getting off that easy. ß Ha! Pun intended! I want details!
Ember – Sorry, driving. Details will have to wait.
Backing out of the garage, Ember laughed out loud, imagining the sad, tortured look on her friend’s face.
JC - Not cool!!! Are you seeing him again?
Ember - Yes! I’m seeing him tonight.
JC – You mean you’re getting laid again tonight! Lol BTW Reed said he’s totally into you.
Ember’s hands broke out into a sweat gripping the wheel. She couldn’t push the green call button fast enough. JC prolonged answering the call until the fourth ring.
“Imagine that!” JC made a hmmff sound, followed by a rustle of devious laughter. “I thought you were driving.”
“I am, but I put you on speaker.” Ember threw the truck into drive. “What did he say to Reed?”
“You know Reed, he totally gave Nash the third degree. It’s like glimpsing into the future. I almost feel sorry for the first boy who takes Chloe on a date. That man is so protective.”
“And that’s why you love him so much. Now, stop screwing with me and tell me what he said.”
“Deeeetailssss,” JC sang, her tone verging on bewitching.
“Okay, all right, I had a really nice night. The man actually threw me over his shoulder, hauled me into my room, and tossed me on the bed before ravishing every inch of my body. I’m pretty sure God thinks I’m in some sort of trouble because I called out to him until the wee hours of the morning. Best sex I’ve ever had. Happy?”
“Yes, thank you!” Giddy laughter filled the truck. “Ahh, there’s nothing better than getting hoisted over a shoulder. That’s a total alpha male, dominating thing. The first time Reed and I had sex, he…”
“Not trying to cut you off, but I only have a minute. Tell me what Nash said.”
“While I was making coffee last night, Nash assured Reed that he wasn’t trying to get in your pants to buy the ranch.”
Ember’s slippery hands wrapped tighter around the steering wheel, waiting on bated breath to hear the specifics. After a beat or two of silence, she shouted into the air, “That’s it? That’s all he said?”
“Sorry, I overdramatized that a bit, didn’t I? Come on! It’s pretty obvious, he couldn’t peel his eyes off you. The man stared at you all night long like he was salivating over a steak dinner.”
Excitement deflated, Ember threw her hands outward into the air. “You totally set me up. You know I’m going to have to get even now.”
“Umm, how about a little thank you instead? Who do you think made Reed invite Nash to the party? You’re welcome!”
“Thank you.”
“Let’s catch up first thing in the morning. I gotta run. Don’t worry about picking up your car tomorrow. It’s fine here until—whenever.” Sarcasm coated her voice. “Just in case you’re still in bed tomorrow morning…praying.”
Pulling up to the stables, Ember recognized Travis’s long lean form working a horse in the arena. He held onto the end of a long leather rein as a speckled gray horse trotted in a circle. She’d only seen him once since they danced at the bar and it was a little awkward. She never should’ve made the mistake of dancing with him in the first place, and the last thing she wanted was tension between them.
Hoping to get beyond any misconceptions, she exited the truck and approached the arena wearing a pleasant smile. Resting her forearms along the top of the white fence, she asked, “Are you breaking that horse in?”
“I’m not a fan of breaking horses, I prefer to train them,” Travis stated concisely, all pleasantries zapped from his tone. Beneath the brim of his hat, the angles of his face were severe, his jaw rigid.
She remained quiet, privately wondering why he was so brusque. She couldn’t decide if Travis was incredibly focused on the horse at the other end of the leash or unhappy about how things ended at the bar.
Ember reached down giving some attention to the Border Collie sitting at her heels. Bottled up energy darted in the dog’s baby blue eyes as it watched the horse with intense concentration.
“What’s your dog’s name?”
“That’s Jet.”
“She seems well trained too.”
“One good dog is worth two men,” he riddled gruffly. “She’s loyal, but just like everyone else, she’s gotta job to do.”
As Travis turned another circle, it dawned on her that Nash’s truck, a very distinct truck, had been parked outside her house that morning for everyone to see. Swimming in silence and the sound of the horse’s hooves stamping the finely crushed dirt, Ember opted to keep quiet, waiting for him to work through whatever weighed on his mind.
After a dozen or so turns, he said, “This here is Miss Blue, she’s been a bit of a challenge, but we’re making progress.”
Ember watched in amazement as he stepped into the stirrup and leaned over the saddle a bit, patting the horse along its front and hind quarters.
“Is that just to let her know you’re there?”
“Yes ma’am. She’s getting used to being handled. Plus, it allows her to get accustomed to the weight.”
Miss Blue stood still, permitting Travis to swing a leg over her back and sit in the saddle. The sound of the leather fringe of his worn chaps caused her ears to perk, but he continued to rub along her shoulders. The constant contact appeared to calm the horse.
“Wow. That’s impressive,” she acknowledged in awe. “How do you do that?”
“Years of practice. You start by taking the time to understand the horse, make a connection, and recognize any bad habits. Then you work on your approach, building her confidence, until you can get a saddle on her. Every horse is different.”
“She seems to like being petted.” Her response came as somewhat of a question.
“I put my hands on her and talk to her, earning her trust while she gets comfortable with me.” Animosity lifted from his hard features as he flashed a grin. “Kind of like a woman.”
Ember couldn’t hold back a laugh. “Mr. Montgomery said you train all the horses on the ranch.”
“Horses are my passion. Primarily, the ranch raises horses for its own use, but we make some available for purchase at auction once a year.”
The discernment that had fluttered in her stomach the first time they met began to fade, eased by the even tone of his voice and appreciation of hard work and dedication.
“Some can be a challenge…like Storm. He’s the only horse I’ve ever been around that shows me a shovelful of disrespect every time I see him.”
“I guess I should feel lucky he likes me.” Ember stood beneath the far edges of shade provided by the tin roof of the arena, fanning herself with her hat. Sweat trickled down her back. “I’m looking for Mr. Montgomery. Do you know where he is?”
“One of the wells are down, so he took a couple of hands out to get it back up and pumping so they can get the sprinklers up and running.”
“Sprinklers?”
“Yeah, you know…to cool the cattle off.”
Unfortunately, she didn’t know.
Feelings of inadequacy gave a brutal tap to her conscience. Frustration notched a deep crease between her brows.
Taking inspection of the dumbfounded look splashed across her face, Travis cut her some slack, explaining, “We’re going on more than twenty days of ninety degree plus heat and it’s only going to get worse. High temperatures drain the cattle of energy and stresses them out. The added exertion it takes just for them to breathe and move causes them to start dropping weight.”
The growing list of every day obstacles weighed heavily on her shoulders. Things she didn’t know or understand, which was everything cattle related, irritated her beyond words. She wanted, no needed, to
understand even the most basic things of owning the ranch but it would simply take time.
However, one thing was crystal clear even to her, skinny cattle meant thin wallets.
“That’s not good.”
“Not good is an understatement. We’re in the middle of a severe drought. The grass is short this year, but between the river and shinery, Walker Ranch should have enough water to survive.” Travis paused, seeming to struggle inwardly about how much he should say. “No matter how hard we try, if Mother Nature keeps kicking Texas in the teeth and the temperature keeps rising, we’re gonna lose cattle.”
“How many cows are we talkin’?”
“Fifty, possibly upward of a couple hundred if we don’t get some relief soon. If you’re averaging eight hundred dollars per head of cattle…that can add up quicker than a hot knife cuts through butter.”
Numbers calculated in her head as she did the math.
“You’re talking tens of thousands of dollars. Maybe even two hundred grand!”
“Yes, ma’am. Not to mention, Mr. Walker spent the last twenty years compiling the finest genetics of these animals and we don’t want to lose that.”
God, how did he expect me to run this ranch? It’s too much.
Being self-critical was a serious drain on her enthusiasm and not something she usually dwelled on. She could practically see her motivation spilling out the top of her boots and pooling onto the dry dirt beneath her feet.
Buck up! Change is a process. One day at a time.
“Would you mind telling me how to get out to the well site?” Ember nodded firmly, determination swamping her voice.
Leading Miss Blue to the edge of the arena, he said, “Let me put her away and I’ll drive with you.”
“That’s not necessary. I don’t want to take you away from your work.”
Stepping out from the arena, Travis glinted upward to the heavens, seeming to judge the time of day by the sun sitting high in the sky. “I’m just finishing up here and was about to head out there anyway to see if I can give them a hand. I’ll give you a lift.”
Ember followed him to the stables, visiting Storm while Travis unsaddled the horse. Storm greeted her a soft neigh. Something about his calm demeanor and round liquid eyes brought a much-needed dose of calmness to Ember’s growing anxiety. She dropped her forehead to his, petting and stroking the horse’s face and neck, talking to Storm in a sweet quiet tone.
Growing up, she’d only had one pet, a yellow lab named Sunny. When Ember was five, she found the pup lurking through the trash behind her mom’s studio. Her bright personality shined right through the layer of grime and dirt covering her cream-colored coat.
Every day, Sunny would sit in the front seat of her mom’s car, tail wagging and body wiggling, waiting for Ember to get out of school. June would drive to the studio and go to work while the duo ate lunch, played fetch, and curled up on the couch in the extra office for a long nap. When Ember got old enough to stay home alone, Sunny was at her side making her feel safe and secure. Every time a creepy solicitor or the UPS man dared to ring the doorbell, Sunny was right there to scare them away with her ferocious bark.
The idea of loving a horse as much as a dog seemed impossible. After all, Storm couldn’t curl up on Ember’s lap, or give slobbery kisses, or demand belly rubs. Yet in the short amount of time she’d spent with Storm, he displayed an unmeasurable amount of loyalty and companionship. The spirited horse harnessed elements of freedom and strength, making it easy for Ember to open her heart and love the animal.
Thirty minutes later, she scrambled into Travis’s beat-up work truck and they headed out to the far east side of the estate.
“How many horses are you working with right now?”
“Let’s see, there’s Sugar Pop, Butterfly Kisses, Her Majesty, Mary Jane, Mr. Mellow Yellow—”
Ember interjected, “Sounds more like a medical marijuana dispensary than horses.”
A haughty grin dimpled his tan cheeks. “You spend a lot of time in those California cannabis dispensaries, do ya?”
“No.” A lopsided smile curled at the edge of her lips. Ember didn’t smoke but was no stranger to pot. Her mom partook regularly, swearing it allowed her to become more in tune with the universe and held better medical properties than some prescription drugs. “How long have you worked on the ranch?”
“I grew up working my family’s ranch and shoeing horses at night to earn money. Started working here during the summers when I was in high school. I guess all together, almost fifteen years.”
“What do you like about working here?” she asked curiously.
“For starters, it’s a job.” He paused thinking over his response. “Like most cowboys, I enjoy the feeling of freedom that comes from working outdoors and I like the hard work. I’d never make it behind a desk all day, just the idea of it makes my skin crawl. Money is shit, and the job is dirty, but a shower’s never felt better than after a day spent riding.”
Gazing out over the land, she remained quiet, contemplating as she soaked in the breathtaking views spanning 360 degrees across the hill country. Hot air blew through the open windows drying the perspiration on her neck, the salty white crystals tightening her skin.
“Can I be frank?”
He slid her a look. “No point in beating around the bush, is there?”
Ember hesitated, unsure if she should ask. “Could you make better money working on a different ranch?”
Lifting his black hat, Travis raked his fingers through his hair. “Yes ma’am.”
“Mr. Montgomery speaks so highly of you, and I’m assuming my father did too, but if the money is shit, what keeps you here?”
Eyes wide, apprehension gathered in the deep breath he forced from his lungs. “You really want me to answer that?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure, but knowledge is power and the only way I’m going to know is if I ask. So, yeah, I do.”
“Since you’re looking for honesty,” he paused. “I’m considering other prospects that have been brought to my attention. However, Mr. Walker always encouraged me to work with horses more than cattle, said it was my gift, so I figure I owe it to him to stick around till you figure out if you’re staying put or tuckin’ tail. Plus, I’d never leave Mr. Montgomery in a bind.”
“You’d make better wages?”
“Sure would.”
Rounding a corner on the dirt road, a bright red drilling truck came into view. A small group of men gathered near the site, clothes spattered in mud and grease, wearing their filth like a badge of honor. Mr. Montgomery lifted his head from the project at hand, greeting her with a fortuitous look of surprise.
Ember certainly didn’t have the right to ask him to stay, but was glad Travis decided to stick around…at least for now. There was still something there, an inkling of vagueness about Travis that left her confused, yet she felt an odd sense of comfort knowing he remained true to her father and the ranch.
“I appreciate that you’re sticking around.”
He gave her a look, straight and on point, filled with wisdom beyond his years. “Every man out here is hoping you’ll do the same.”
No pressure.
Chapter 13
Nash
Nash sat in his truck at the end of Ember’s drive waiting, impatiently, for his watch to read six o’clock. Minutes ticked by with agonizing slowness.
Intimate visions from the night before, her lush, raspberry lips wrapped around his cock had played through his mind all day muddying the complex web of shrewd business strategies he’d set in place the day he thrust himself into the oil industry.
He shouldn’t have kissed her.
He had no business screwing her…at least not in bed.
And he most definitely should’ve never asked to see her again.
Throughout the day, Nash pulled out his phone no less than half a dozen times with the intent of cancelling their dinner date. However, the disappointment that had clouded her sleepy eyes earlier
that morning when she thought he’d bolted, stabbed at the thick, impenetrable fortress built around his heart.
He’d intended to leave before she woke and never look back. He even made it halfway to the front door, but Bee caught him by surprise with coffee and tea in hand. One glimpse of Ember lying facedown, dark hair disheveled and covering her beautiful face, nearly dropped him to his knees. He’d never seen anything so beautiful.
The plans he’d previously set in motion for Ember Thompson were suddenly the furthest thing from his mind. His typically steadfast, and in some cases ruthless determination, clouded by the curves of her tan body sprawled across the crisp white sheets, squashing every lame excuse he could come up with.
Closing his eyes to the catastrophe, the sweetest catastrophe he’d ever tasted, Nash dropped his head back against the leather seat rest and blew out a deep breath of frustration. There was no point in dragging it out because at some point there was gonna be hell to pay.
And he knew all too well that the day of reckoning was never far around the corner.
Good things never stuck around.
No matter how hard he tried.
Another vision of her long, dark hair falling all around him as she smiled down at him, lips soft and sexy, sifted through his thoughts. His dick hardened beneath the confines of his gray pants and a low, agitated groan filled the cab of his truck.
It was foolish to pursue her.
To kiss her.
To fuck her.
Ember was nothing but trouble.
Trouble I want to slip my dick into. Again.
Nash opened his eyes. The Walker Ranch sign, rusted and worn, stared down at him through the windshield of his truck. He could practically hear Ben Walker’s scratchy laughter raining down on him from the heavens above.
The digital clock on the dash ticked over to six o’clock.
“I bet you’re getting a good fucking chuckle out of this, aren’t you, old man?” he grumbled, dropping the gear into drive. Not wanting to appear too eager, he retracted his foot off the pedal, slowing his rush.
You’re not eager.
Catching Ember (Buckle Up Series Book 1) Page 15