Conquering Love

by Willow Summers

  “Yeah. I’ll explain later.” With his hand on the small of her back, unapologetic for the firm but gentle touch, guiding her where he wanted her, he said, “If you don’t think Richard can get the job done, you can go. I wasn’t trying to be an ass—this job doesn’t take two people.”

  “Then why did you want me?”

  He paused for a moment, before saying, “You work your butt off every summer so you can ride. That only gets you, what, two or three rides a season?”

  “I could probably do one more, but the rides are usually full when I have free time.”

  “So there you go. This is a perfect opportunity, but will Richard be able to handle it?”

  Christie sighed, hating how good his touch felt. How safe it made her feel. She wanted to curl into his arms and find the stillness she remembered. That place of perfect balance where there was no push and pull of past versus present. No anxiety and judgments. Just peace.

  She wondered if it would still be there if he held her again.

  She wondered if he would ever want to hold her for real. And if she would let him.

  Feeling a pang of regret as Greg’s hand dropped away, she answered truthfully. “I’ll be very surprised if he can pull it off. They can bully even the strongest of people. Jake has a run for his money more often than not. It means a lot to me, but it is only the veg. It won’t make or break the meal. Like you said, I don’t get a lot of points to ride horses, nor a lot of time. So…here I am.”

  “You don’t need points, Christie. Just ask me.” His voice was quiet, almost sad.

  She fidgeted with her zipper as they neared a line of horses tethered to a horizontal pole. Greg made a tsk’ing sound and stopped her. “Wait here.” He strode into the stable like a man on a mission.

  Taking the opportunity she so seldom got despite her location, she approached the black mare on the end. “Hey Bessie.”

  Bessie’s neck shone and proved smooth to the touch. She’d been well groomed and looked after in Greg’s care, not that Christie would expect any less. He took great pains for the things that mattered to him.

  She heard Greg’s heavy boots come around and stop beside her. “Want to ride Bessie?”

  Christie stepped back. “Whoever. Up to you.”

  “Bessie it is. Let’s get her ready then I’ll bring over our charge. He’s waiting with Jake and the others.”

  “Is Jake coming, too?”

  “No, Jake’s just keeping track of him.”

  “So just one rider?”

  “Yep.” Greg exhaled in annoyance and stopped what he was doing to retie one of the horse’s tethers. “I’m trying to devise a new system here. It’s really not great practice to tether horses. Even the most experienced horses with a rope can get spooked and lose their heads. It can be dangerous.”

  “But won’t they just wander away?”

  “That’s the problem, yes. I have to think it over.” Greg returned to saddling up Bessie.

  “So…if it’s just one rider, why not just add him with the others?”

  “I would but…he’s not exactly legit.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Don’t advertise this, because it’s a liability for the ranch and against policy for a couple of reasons, but he’s a local. His mom is new in town. I heard that her husband took off and her mom just died—Old Miss Duke. Left the girl the house but it needs a lot of repairs. It’s just her and the kid, now.” Greg shrugged a shoulder, his back to Christie as he readied the horse. “Felt bad for him, is all. Thought I might give him a treat.”

  “Obviously I’m not going to tell.” She walked forward without thinking of their drama and rubbed his back, hoping to ease the tension. “That’s nice of you.”

  “I guess you can relate.”

  “About breaking rules? Oh yeah. I had to fit in with the cool crowd without the money to do it—it took some know-how. And once a breaking and entering situation. So yeah, I’m certainly not going to throw stones. My glass house isn’t that big, know what I’m sayin’?”

  Greg looked over his shoulder at her with an incredulous expression. “How have I never heard any of that before?”

  “Oh.” A flush of embarrassment had her walking quickly to another horse and petting it, showing him her back. “It’s ah… I mean, that’s not something you really spread around. The stores in town wouldn’t let me out of their sight. Paige just reminds me of some people I used to hang around with. I think her presence is jogging loose some memories I really should lock in a vault and forget about” Christie wandered back in his direction, and made a show of zipping her lips.

  Greg finished with Bessie and moved to another horse. “I actually meant about his situation, not my sneaky ways.”

  “Oops. My bad.” Christie traced a rope with her finger absently. “Not really. I mean, I know what he’s going through, but I didn’t have anyone giving me special treats.” Christie picked up a rock, then dropped it again. Probably better not to throw it. “At least she has a house. That’s something.”

  “It is. It could be always be worse.”

  “So the saying goes.”

  Once he’d finished with the other horses, Greg motioned her over. “Do you need a hand up?”

  “Nope. I’m an old pro.” Christie put her foot into the stirrup and stepped up before throwing her leg over the horse. She landed on the saddle a little off center and had to grab the horn so she didn’t fall off the other side. “Nothing to it.”

  Greg’s lopsided grin amplified his handsomeness to obscene proportions. “An old pro, huh?” He rested his hand on her knee. “You okay until I get our charge?”

  The cold shivers from hearing our charge competed with the sizzling of electricity from his causal touch. And that competed with a sudden burst of butterflies flapping through her stomach. All she could do was nod. And stare.

  Greg disappeared around the barn and returned with a skinny kid sporting a wide, excited smile. Greg led him to a small and somewhat hairy pony. He bent down so he was the boy’s height. “All right, partner. Your mom said you’ve ridden a horse before. That right?”

  “Yes, sir. Once.” The boy looked up at the saddle.

  “Okay. Nothing to it. Let’s just get you on here—”

  Greg grabbed the boy’s waist, but the little boy said, “I can do it.”

  “No problem. I’ll just make sure that pony doesn’t buck you off!”

  The boy looked back at Greg with rounded eyes.

  “I’m just joshin’ ya.” Greg gave the boy a disarming grin while he waited for him to put his foot in the stirrup. As soon as the little boy hefted, trying to climb up, Greg’s enormous biceps strained his shirt as he lifted. The boy got a foot over and clutched onto the saddle’s horn.

  “You good?” Greg patted the boy’s knee. He got a shaky nod. “You’ll do great. And if at any time you get scared or feel something is wrong, you let me know.”

  “You’re sure this horse doesn’t buck?” the boy asked in a small voice.

  “Double sure. I picked out a sure footed steed. All you need is a sword and some armor and you would be Sir Otis the Courageous, knight of the Triple T Ranch.”

  “Do you have a sword I could use?”

  Christie’s laugh mirrored Greg’s. “Not this time.” He patted the boy’s knee again and moved to his horse.

  “Hi,” Christie said, getting the boy’s attention. “I’m Christie.”

  “You work at the small diner in town.” Cute as a button with a splash of freckles across his face, Otis waved. “You gave me a doughnut one time.”

  Christie wracked her brain, trying to remember his face. Most of the locals she knew, especially the kids as she had about the same maturity level and used them as an excuse to mess around, but since he was new, he probably flew under the radar. She would’ve played, but not tried to remember his face or name because she thought he was passing through. Of course, she couldn’t tell him any of that. She’d burst enough bub
bles in the last twenty-four hours.

  “Oh, that’s right!” She nodded exaggeratedly. “How was that doughnut?”

  Greg’s knowing smile said he was on to her.

  “Really good.” Otis wasn’t. “I ate it all up with the milk you brought, remember?”

  “Mhm. Doughnuts belong with milk.”

  “That’s what you said when you gave me the glass, remember? It was chocolate. The doughnut. And I ate it all up. And some apple, because my mom wouldn’t let me eat the chocolate without some apple. And you took the peel off because I don’t eat that. Most restaurants don’t, but you did. Mommy said you were really pretty, too, and that—”

  “Okay, we’re going to head out,” Greg interrupted gently.

  “Are you sure about his age, Greg?” Christie asked in a mumble she hoped the kid didn’t pick up on.

  “We’re going to stick to the flat, wide path.” He stopped his horse next to the pony. “We’re only going to be gone for a little while, okay? I told your mom we wouldn’t be long.”

  “Where’s his mom?” Christie asked.

  “She had to work. Jake grabbed him from town.” Greg inspected the boy’s stirrups, then looked over Christie’s. “Okay little partner, I’m going to tell you a little bit on how to handle a horse, then we’ll head out, okay?”

  “Okay!” Otis said with excitement, his earlier explanation evaporating like rain drops on hot cement.

  Christie let Greg’s deep voice lull her as she watched him move and interact with the boy. He pointed at the bridle and then the horn, explaining what they were for and what they did. When Otis’s attention wandered, Greg switched gears and moved his horse, capturing the boy’s attention. He was a natural with kids, and seemed to really enjoy the interaction. He was patient and gentle when he wanted to be, despite being so masculine and authoritative when he had to be.

  A burst of sadness had her looking down at her hands. If anyone could help her overcome her terrors, it would be him. She had no doubt. A man that could so easily garner such loyalty and trust from the animals he looked after, would know how to navigate her many trip-falls and issues. She’d never met anyone like him before—she knew that now. He was one of a kind, hanging around her all this time, wanting to help even though she kept throwing roadblocks in front of him. She didn’t deserve him.

  A black mood settled over her, making her zone out even as they started moving. She let her body flow with the movements of the horse, not appreciating the ride or the animal. Instead, she just wondered if she would ever get to a point where she welcomed human contact? Or would she remain alone and distant, shutting herself in with her nightmares and her regret.

  “How ya doing back there?” Greg called back.

  Christie glanced in front of her, making sure Otis was on and everything was fine. Once she was sure that he was, she looked out to the side again, feeling the pallor of lonely nights come over her — the need for human contact, but the crippling fear to give into it.

  “Christie?”

  Dimly she registered her name. “What’s that?”

  “How’re you doing? You’re awfully quiet.”

  “Oh.” She beamed, a smile so practiced she didn’t have to feel even an ounce of it. In society, it was camouflage. “Doing great.” She jammed a thumbs-up into the air.

  Greg was turned on his horse, so that he was sitting on his thigh and could see behind him. It was something every guide did with ease if they wanted to ride tours. Christie wished she had the time to learn how to do it. If she did, maybe they’d let her take out a group or two.

  “How are you really doing, Christie? What went wrong?”

  “What do you mean? Today is gorgeous. Here comes summer and I am definitely going to get a tan this year. I am tired of blinding people.”

  “Are we going to go through that?” Otis pointed. A hundred yards ahead of them lay a shallow and slow moving stream. Usually the trail ride crossed that and wound back through the hills. With a boy as young as Otis, though, those trails might be dangerous. If he fell off, he’d tumble down a hill and risk breaking his neck.

  “Not today, I don’t think,” Greg said in an upbeat tone. “We’ll just curve around to the right here and see what nature has to show us. Maybe we’ll see a snake!” Greg made a comical expression with overly excited features and a gaping mouth.

  They’d better hope not. Horses liked snakes about as much as a witch with red shoes loved flying houses.

  “Cool!” Otis looked down at the ground.

  “Don’t lean too far over. You might fall off,” Christie said. He strengthened a little, still looking for snakes.

  “How are the guests treating you?” Greg asked, his eyes on her.

  “Fine. Same as every year.”

  “And your rooming situation? Do you miss your house?”

  Christie blew out a breath. “I miss last summer when Sara and I were rooming together. That was a good time. Now…I might as well be at home. I’m alone as often.” What she’d said jogged her out of her daze. “I mean—you know. I’m not blaming you—I’d rather Paige be gone, anyway. Not that she’s bad. She’s not. At all. Just, you know. But, I mean…” Alert! Alert! The house is on fire! Save yourselves!

  Christie took a deep breath and started again. “I’m just used to treating this job like summer camp. A break from my life. Not that…you know. Not that my life is bad. Just…a vacation. Of sorts.” She pressed her lips together and prayed that the verbal diarrhea would stop.

  “Oh look!” Otis pointed at the ground.

  Christie noticed something long and curved along the trail, nearing her horse’s hoof as the horse jerked downward suddenly, its muscular back and shoulders jolting her with it.

  The image of bucking horses and flying bodies raced through her mind. Horses falling and crushing riders came next.

  Abandon ship!

  She yanked her leg out as the horse jerked upward, no doubt ready to jump and buck wildly. She swung her foot over and launched, flattening her body in the air so she wouldn’t land on her head. An oomph sound escaped her mouth as her body tumbled into the weeds. Thorns poked through her clothes and scraped her body. Rocks punched her madly but no horse landed on top of her.

  She looked behind her quickly, ready to run in case the snake struck or hooves came toward her face.

  All the urgency drained from her body as she noticed the horse on the other side of the wide path, awkwardly backed up into the bushes as far away from her as it could get. Clearly it thought she was a lunatic.

  “Christie! Are you okay?” Greg was off his horse in a flash, letting down his lead so the animal didn’t wander off, stabilizing the pony, which had skittered away as well, and then bent to her side. Concern covering his features, he felt her head and then his fingers danced over her body. Heat singed where his touch fell, sending bolts of electricity with each contact.

  “I’m okay.” She pushed up with her hands and looked at her front.

  “No, no. Don’t move. Let’s make sure you’re all right first.” He brushed the hair from her face and stroked her cheek. His hand ran over her thigh and down the back of her leg. “Any of that hurt?”

  “No. Greg, seriously. I’m fine.” Feeling like a complete fool, she pushed back and turned so she could get her butt under herself. Finding a patch without a rock, which was not easy, she wiped the dirt from her jeans and then flinched.

  “What?” Greg saw that she turned her palm toward her face and immediately took it. He pulled out a few stickers and then wiped away a small piece of rock that was hanging on for dear life. “What happened?” He scanned her face again, the concern in his eyes swathed in luscious black lashes.

  “I don’t know—was that a snake?” She wanted to look, but couldn’t tear her eyes away from his face.

  “Snake?” Greg looked at the trail, his brow furrowing. “Did you see a snake?”

  “Is there a snake?” Otis asked, looking at the ground.

  Chri
stie finally tore her eyes away then groaned. It was a damn stick. Not curved—crooked. Her mind had been playing games, and then she had gone haywire.

  “I thought the horse was bucking.” She hung her head.

  “She might have stumbled…” Greg said. “I don’t know. One minute you were riding, and the next you were rolling across the ground. I was looking right at you, but I didn’t see what happened.”

  “I think I jumped.” An embarrassed grin had her looking at the sky. “I’m dumb. It’s fine.” She surveyed her arms and then dusted them off, careful to pick out the stickers before wiping her hand across. Her muscles protested as she rocked forward to get up.

  Greg grabbed her arms and lifted, helping her. “Are you sure you’re okay, Christie? That was quite a fall.”

  She looked up at him, realizing that his arms were wrapped around her, pulling her into his hard body. His smell, sweet and enticing, scrambled her thoughts. His lips, slightly parted, beckoned in a way she’d never realized. His pupils dilated as he looked down at her, his eyes tracing her face as hers were doing his.

  His chest, felt so solid against her palms. She leaned in a little more, sighing as their surroundings dropped away and all she knew was him in that moment. The sharp pain from the stickers and dull throb of the rocks disappeared. The past and all its misery blurred and disintegrated. She rested her cheek against his neck and closed her eyes, feeling his heart beat against her palm. A tear wet the contact with her skin and his as she floated, blissful.

  “Greg…” She didn’t know what was supposed to come after his name, and she didn’t reach for words. She let his whispered name hover in the air as she leaned back and tilted up her face. She slid her palms up and around his neck, applying the smallest amount of pressure. He leaned down toward her lips, his eyes deep and full of longing.

  Chapter 10

  His chest heaved against her as his breath quickened. Hers was smooth and tranquil. Like the very best of her dreams.

  She let her eyes close as his lips neared, and then glanced off hers. Electric energy lifted her heart and made her suck in a deep breath. It zinged through her middle and hummed deep in her core as warmth spread, vibrating in a way that made her eyes flutter. Her fingers dug into his neck, needing more. Needing him.