by T. J. Kline
Derek stopped his horse and dismounted, reaching for the lunch packed in a small saddle bag. “Just giving Sydney the tour.”
Sydney noticed that Derek’s jovial mood had disappeared as soon as he’d noticed Scott’s horse. She dismounted and tied Valentino to a nearby shrub, away from the geldings. She reached out for the sandwich and water bottle Derek held out to her.
“Thanks,” she said as she sat on the grass at the edge of the water. “Derek thought we’d have lunch here before heading back to start the paperwork.”
“Makes sense,” Scott agreed. “Make-out Creek has always been a pretty spot.”
She caught the deliberate look he shot at Derek. What Scott didn’t count on was that Derek had already told her the antics he and Scott had always pulled at the creek. He’d spun the tales, with embellishment she was certain, of dates, drinks, and parties that the creek had hosted. “From what Derek said, this spot has a pretty colorful past.”
Scott raised a brow and nodded toward Derek. “For some of us more than others, right?”
“What do you want, Scott? I’m sure you didn’t ride all the way out here in the middle of your busy day just to have a picnic by the creek.” Derek narrowed his eyes, his gaze dark and brooding. Sydney only hoped they wouldn’t come to blows out here with Mike nowhere in sight to diffuse the situation as he had earlier.
“Clay needs help rounding up some of the stock for vaccines.”
“And you couldn’t do that?” Derek shot Scott an ominous glare, answered only by Scott’s raised brow and clenching jaw. Derek crumpled up the bag from his lunch and made his way back to his gelding. “Guess we’ll have to cut our tour short.”
Sydney was frustrated that Scott had intruded on the first relaxing moments she’d had since arriving. She wasn’t about to let whatever objection he had about her presence destroy the friendship she’d created with Derek so far. “I’ll head back with you.” She put her garbage into her own saddle bag.
“We will all head back,” Scott clarified. “Tell Clay we’ll be right there. Sydney, I’d like to talk with you for a second so hang back.”
Derek rolled his eyes before mounting his gelding. “Sounds like a direct order from the boss, Sydney. I’ll meet you at the chutes in just a few minutes.” He glared at Scott. “And if you’re not there, I’ll be sure to come looking for you.”
Sydney watched Derek ride away and tightened Valentino’s cinch. “Well? What could possibly be so important that you want to be anywhere near me?”
Scott chuckled as he inched toward Valentino’s side. “Trust me, I just saved you the bumbling advances of a boy.”
“What makes you think I wouldn’t have returned them?” Sydney instantly regretted the words as they fell from her lips. They only gave him more fuel to accuse her of being a tease, but she’d wanted to wipe the smug smile from his face.
Her plan worked too well as his grin disappeared and his eyes narrowed. “If you’re just looking to pass the time, I’m sure I can satisfy far more than Derek.”
The tender passion she’d heard in his voice as he’d comforted her after her nightmare seemed like it came from a different person entirely. She felt the shiver of desire trickle down her spine at the mere memory of that night. But there was no gentleness in his eyes now.
She slid her foot into the stirrup and mounted the stallion. “Don’t you think you should be saving your energy for reuniting with your ex?”
Scott arched a brow and gave her a lopsided grin. “Don’t worry, princess. I have energy to spare.”
She hated that just the thought of him holding her could still cause the rush of heat through her veins. Sydney glared at him before turning her horse back toward the house. “You’re an arrogant ass.”
He swung himself into his saddle. “So I’ve been told,” he answered as he spurred his paint, leaving her to catch up to him.
SYDNEY AWOKE FRIDAY morning to a knock on her bedroom door. She stretched her arms above her head and curled her toes as she heard Derek’s voice call again.
“Sydney! Come on, sleepyhead. You’ve got horses to break today.”
She opened her eyes to the shaft of light through the curtains and was shocked that she’d slept so long. She glanced over at the clock. Eight-thirty? She could just imagine the snide comments Scott would make if she wasn’t down to the corral soon.
“I’ll be down in just a second,” she called.
“I’ll meet you at the corral,” Derek informed her.
Sydney threw back the covers and pulled on her terrycloth robe. She could hear voices in the kitchen below and realized that everyone else had already started their day. She hurried to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face before brushing her teeth quickly. She glanced in the mirror and decided she didn’t have time for makeup today, then rushed back to her bedroom. She pulled on an old t-shirt and jeans and ran a brush through her chestnut curls. She glanced at the unmade bed and prayed Silvie would forgive her for not making it today, then closed the bedroom door behind her.
She didn’t see anyone in the kitchen as she passed through on her way out the door, and she made it to the corral just in time to see Derek leading a young bay filly into the round pen.
He smiled as she approached and held the long training reins out for her. “She’s all ready for you.”
“What’s she like?” she asked, running her hands over the filly’s rump, cooing to her in soothing tones.
“This one’s pretty rank,” Derek warned. “There’s been some talk of putting her into the bucking string if we can’t get her broke.” Sydney arched a brow at him. “I’ll hold her for you to get on.” Derek smiled. “And catch you when you come off.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” She tugged the cinch, watching the filly’s reaction. Her ears twitched back and forth at the sound of their voices.
“Nothing personal, but she’s thrown our best hands.”
“We’ll see.” Sydney walked around the filly while Derek continued to hold the reins. She wasn’t ready to mount the filly for the first time yet. Sydney wanted the horse to be used to her voice and touch, to relax and realize that she wasn’t a threat. She patted the horse’s neck, talking to her in soft, nonsensical phrases while rubbing her shoulders and tugging on the saddle.
“Sydney?” Derek’s tone told her he wanted her attention. She met his gaze. “This filly threw Scott last week before they left for the rodeo.”
Sydney rubbed her hand on the filly’s forehead, causing her to drop her head, obviously enjoying the attention. A smile lifted the corners of Sydney’s lips as she whispered to the filly. “Aren’t you the smartest girl ever?”
Derek tried to stifle his laughter as Sydney took the reins and crossed them over the filly’s thick black mane. “I’ll ride her,” she said confidently. “Go ahead and wait outside the corral.”
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Derek asked.
Sydney tuned out everything around her but the bay filly. She stroked her neck calmly then waited as the filly raised her nose to Sydney’s face, curious about her. The filly’s ears twitched as Sydney gently blew on the horse’s muzzle. The filly nickered softly before flipping up her top lip and nudging Sydney’s shoulder. Sydney turned her back to the filly, walking away a few steps but keeping her eyes always looking over her shoulder for any signs of aggression from the young horse.
The filly slowly walked behind Sydney, pressing her head against Sydney’s back for attention. Sydney was always quick to reward her curiosity. Sydney ignored the cowboys that had begun to wander toward the corral, eager to see the filly toss yet another body to the ground. She refused to let her ego crowd out her common sense and gave the filly plenty of time to grow accustomed to her touch, both on her body and on the saddle, all the while holding a one-sided conversation with the animal.
SCOTT ROUNDED THE corner and noticed the crowd at the corral. His foul mood after seeing Sydney and Derek together had only grown w
orse after listening to the two of them joking while rounding up animals yesterday. He’d managed to avoid them both this morning, but he knew his luck would run out eventually. Seeing the hands standing around with so much work to be done lit his already too-short fuse.
“What in the hell is going on here?” he demanded as he walked up to Clay. “And why is everyone just standing around?”
Clay pointed into the corral. Scott’s eyes followed, and for the first time he noticed Sydney walking around the pen with the filly following behind like an obedient dog. He could hear Sydney’s voice, calm and soothing.
He hushed his voice, his tone still betraying his apprehension. “What is she doing with Cougar?”
“She’s going to ride her,” Clay stated. “Or, at least that’s what she says.”
Scott clenched his teeth. “No one can ride her. She’s going to break her damn fool neck.” He looked around him at the various men, frustrated that they were all allowing this nonsense, especially knowing what the filly had done to most of them. “And why is she in there alone? Dammit!” Scott cursed as he headed toward the gate on the other side of the corral, prepared to order Sydney out.
“Scott.” Mike’s tone stopped Scott in his tracks. “Give her a chance to do her job.” Mike walked over to where Clay stood, the other men moving to allow him a front row seat for the coming excitement.
“You can’t be serious?” Scott pulled his hat off and ran a hand through his hair, frustrated that no one else seemed to be thinking clearly when it came to this woman.
Mike grunted and both men stood at the fence to watch. Sydney stepped up to the left of the saddle and snapped the stirrup against Cougar’s side. The filly turned and looked back at her but turned her head forward when Sydney began talking to her again. Scott held his breath as she reached for the reins and put her left foot into the stirrup. With excruciating slowness, she stood with all of her weight in the left stirrup, still talking to the filly calmly. Scott could hear the collective intake of air from the men watching as she bounced lightly in the stirrup. The filly’s ears twitched as she listened to Sydney’s voice but appeared completely at ease otherwise.
Cautiously, Sydney swung her leg over the filly’s back and sat lightly into the saddle. Sydney sat still on her back, allowing her to walk wherever she wanted in the corral, all the while rewarding Cougar with nothing more than her voice and strokes along her neck. Scott watched as she was able to get the filly to begin following the guidance of the snaffle bit in her mouth and finally to stop and back up. He looked around at the seasoned hands surrounding the pen. They were as transfixed as he was at watching her break the filly. With this one ride she’d managed to earn their respect simply by proving she was worthy of the chance Mike had taken in hiring her.
Scott watched as Derek stepped into the arena, taking the reins as Sydney dismounted Cougar.
“Sydney,” Mike said, beaming. “You are one amazing horsewoman.”
She looked around the arena as if noticing the crowd of cowboys for the first time. A modest smile graced her lips. “Thanks Mike. She’s a nice filly.”
“You ready for the next one?” Derek asked, leading Cougar back to the barn.
Scott tipped his head toward her as their eyes met, hers practically sparkling yellow. “Bring it on.”
DEREK WATCHED AS Mike and the other hands wandered off to what they’d been doing, most of them talking about how Sydney had been able to do what none of them had. In spite of his embarrassment at Sydney riding a horse he hadn’t, it was even more fun to watch Scott being taken down a peg in front of the other hands. He brought a sorrel two-year-old gelding in to Sydney. He watched as she began to repeat the process.
“So, this is the new bimbo daddy hired?” The feminine voice purred behind him.
Derek glanced behind him and saw Liz approaching. He had been at college when she and Scott had been dating, but he’d been around the ranch enough to know that Liz had slept with most of the ranch hands right under his brother’s nose, not to mention several of the cowboys on the rodeo circuit.
“You might want to watch who you’re calling a bimbo, Liz.” Derek jerked his chin at Scott, who stood near the corner of the barn, still watching Sydney and oblivious to Liz’s arrival. “Especially since Scott seems to have a thing for her.”
“Really?” She turned her emerald eyes toward the barn. “But will she give him what I can?”
Derek laughed. “What? Leftovers?”
She raised her slim, manicured hand to slap him, but he easily deflected the blow. “Want a word of advice, Liz? I don’t know why you came home, but Scott isn’t the guy you left anymore.”
She tilted her head to the side, her blonde curls falling forward. “I came home for Daddy, of course.”
Derek narrowed his eyes. “Why, now, after all this time?”
Liz flipped her blonde curls over her shoulder. “I don’t owe you an explanation. I’m not even sure why I bothered to say hello to you.”
“Whatever,” Derek mumbled as he turned his back on her. “But I’d leave Sydney alone if I were you. She could probably tear you apart.” A broad smile spread across his face as he chuckled at the thought.
“Now I remember why I never liked you much Derek,” Liz hissed. “Because you’re nothing more than a little boy trying to imitate his big brother.”
SCOTT WATCHED AS everyone left and headed back to work. He couldn’t take his eyes off of Sydney. She had a way with the horses like he’d never witnessed before. He’d never seen anyone so patient breaking them. Not only was she rewarded with their trust, but they craved her attention. He could understand how they felt; he fought the desire for her attention himself. He wanted to feel her hands on him, to hear her voice go soft and languid again.
He barely caught a glimpse of blonde hair before the voice erupted from the other side of the corral. “Scott!” The smile that formed on Liz’s lips never reached her eyes as she ran around the corral and threw herself into Scott’s arms, squealing as she pressed her lips to his. Scott cringed at the thought of her touching him, but who knew what kind of scene she would create if he pushed her away?
Scott heard Sydney’s voice and tore himself away from Liz. He hurried to reach the corral, leaving Liz standing by the barn.
“Whoa! Easy boy!” Sydney pulled the colt’s head to the right until it touched her knee as he continued to buck seconds before rocking backward on his hind legs. He dropped back to his front, throwing his hind legs into the air, dropping his head, and twisting the rest of his body. He spun wildly in circles as Liz began to whoop from the shade of the barn.
“Whoo, ride him!”
The other hands, hearing the commotion, hurried back to the corral. Scott watched with terror as the colt stopped suddenly, snorting loudly before rearing again and stumbling backward. As the colt lost his balance and began to fall onto the saddle, he saw Sydney jump off. She hit the ground roughly, managing to roll a safe distance from the horse’s feet just before the colt twisted his body and fell onto his side. He rose unharmed and shook himself then stood in the center of the arena. Scott and Derek jumped the fence from either side of the corral.
“Sydney?” Scott asked, dropping to his knees next to her. “Are you okay?”
“Don’t,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “Don’t even touch me.” Scott could see where her tears had streaked her cheeks through the dust.
“Sydney, you need to lay still.”
“Just go away, Scott.” She shoved him with her palm.
Derek put a hand on Scott’s shoulder. “Scott, go grab the horse. I’ll take care of her.”
Scott shot his brother a burning glare before turning back to Sydney. A stab of jealousy shot through him as she reached past him for Derek’s hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet.
“Both of you, out!” Sydney ordered. She turned her back on them and made her way back to the colt. As she mounted him again, amidst several objections from Derek and Mike, Scott
could see the determination in her eyes. Surprisingly, the colt acted as if nothing had happened and walked calmly around the corral. Sydney took him around a few more circles before dismounting.
Liz giggled as she made her way to the fence where Scott stood watching Sydney. “Looks like someone needs a riding lesson.”
“If your coyote howl hadn’t spooked him, he would have done fine,” Sydney answered.
Scott saw Liz’s jaw drop in shock before her eyes glittered like dark jewels. “If you were any good, you’d have been able to ride him down.”
Sydney handed the reins to Derek, who led the gelding toward the barn, and turned to face Liz. “I saved that horse’s life by getting off when I did, and if you had even half a brain in that bleach-blonde head of yours, you’d know not to run around horses screeching like a hyena.”
“Why, you little . . .” Liz rushed the fence, ready to leap over, but Scott grabbed her by the arms. He wondered if Sydney even noticed that Liz had four inches on her.
Derek held the gelding, so he would have been no help separating the two women. But, even if she was shorter, his money was on Sydney.
“I think maybe now is a good time for a break,” Scott suggested to Derek.
“Sure,” Derek agreed, chuckling. “Come on, Sydney, let’s leave the lovebirds alone.”
Scott shot his brother a glare before grabbing Liz by the arm and dragging her toward the barn. He pulled her inside and slid the door shut behind him.
“So eager to be alone with me again?” She slid up to him, pressing herself against the front of his body.
“Don’t kid yourself. I hoped to never lay eyes on you, again.”
“Oh, Scott.” She pouted, winding her arms around his neck. “You haven’t forgotten everything we shared, have you?”
Scott reached behind his neck and grasped her hands, pulling them away from him. “And everything you shared with everyone else?”
“A misunderstanding,” she clarified, her hand snaking out from his hold and grasping the front of his shirt. “You loved me once.” Liz stood on her toes, her lips a mere fraction from his. “Don’t try to tell me that, deep down, you don’t still love me.” She snuck her tongue out to lick his lower lip.