To Tempt a Cowgirl

by Jeannie Watt

  “I understand.” Gabe spoke matter-of-factly, but she’d caught the flash of disappointment in his expression. Well, one thing was for certain—if Kyle had indeed stopped by to “check him out,” Gabe didn’t hold a grudge. “I can give you the names of other trainers in the area.”

  “I’d appreciate that.”

  “What kind of horse did you buy?”

  “A dark brown horse.”

  “Breed?”

  “Quarter horse?”

  “Gender?”

  “Female.”

  “What do you know about horses, Gabe?”

  “Not a lot.” He smiled disarmingly. “I want to learn.”

  “Do you ride?”

  “I don’t have a lot of experience, but I have ridden.”

  She studied him askance for a moment. “Do you plan on learning to ride better?”

  “That’s the next step.”

  She couldn’t help smiling. “Do you have a checklist?”

  “A mental one.” He shrugged one shoulder. “I can’t help the checklist. It’s the way I’m wired. And I like horses, but never got a chance to learn to ride well. It’s not easy for a guy my age to get back into it.” He smiled a little. “Since we have a small amount of history, I thought of you.”

  Something about the way he said the last words made Dani very aware of, well, him. His effect on her, which wasn’t the effect she was looking for right now. “If I had one less horse...”

  “Again, Dani. Not a problem.”

  “Do you want me to get you those names?”

  “I already have one. Marti? She offered to train the horse and give me lessons at the same time.”

  “You’ve met?”

  “At the place I bought the mare.”

  Dani forced a smile, said nothing. Gabe smiled back and she realized he was truly disappointed. It was all she could do not to say, “Sure. Another horse. Why not?” But she couldn’t. She was too busy.

  It wasn’t until he’d driven away and the rooster tail of dust had settled that she admitted the truth to herself. It wasn’t all about being too busy. When you started a new business, you made sacrifices. It was something about Gabe Matthews himself and the gut-level attraction she felt toward him. That and a sense that he was showing one side of himself in order to protect another. A sense that he had trust issues as deep as hers.

  A sense that he was a guy with deep secrets.

  The last thing she needed in her life was a guy with secrets, but she couldn’t deny the fact that she was drawn to him.

  Moth to flame. No good ever came from that.

  * * *

  “MARTI’S NOT EVIL. She’d just hard to be around.” Dani took a sip of her coffee, Gina’s treat, since Dani was sharing her break with her after the morning rush at the café.

  “No. She’s evil,” Gina countered.

  “How so?”

  “I was at a meeting last night of the Eagle Valley Days fund-raising committee chairmen—”

  “You’re a chairman?”

  “I’m in charge of the silent auction, thanks to my mom.” She made a face that indicated that she hadn’t exactly volunteered. “I need some help and someone mentioned that you were back in town and might be interested. One thing led to another, someone said you were starting a training business and then Marti announced in this snotty voice that anyone could bill themselves as trainers, but that doesn’t mean they knew what they’re doing. She said there should be a licensing board.”

  Dani stared at her for a moment, feeling her blood pressure start to inch up. “Indicating that I don’t know what I’m doing.”

  “I’d say that was the message loud and clear.”

  “Was Mitzi Thorensen there?”

  “Yes. She’s in charge of the ice cream social. Why?”

  “Because she called this morning and told me she’s decided to wait a month or two before starting her filly. I was supposed to start working her tomorrow.”

  “Probably not a coincidence,” Gina said, leaning back against the booth cushion.

  Dani flexed her fingers, telling herself to stay calm. Marti had never before caused her trouble, but Dani had never before gotten in her way. With Marti it was easier to just step aside and let the queen pass by, but that wasn’t possible in this circumstance, when the woman was messing with Dani’s potential income and reputation.

  “Hey,” Gina said, bringing Dani’s attention back to her. “Do you want me to start a rumor...like that Marti’s training facility is infected with some dreaded horse disease?”

  “Tempting,” Dani said. “But I think instead that Marti and I will have a chat.”

  “I’d like to see that.” Gina tilted her head, raising her eyebrows inquiringly. “Any chance...?”

  Dani shook her head regretfully. “I think we’ll have a private talk.”

  “Fine.” Gina placed her palms on the table in front of her. “And on to another topic before smoke starts coming out of your ears. Any chance you could give the chairman of the silent auction a little help?”

  “I don’t have a lot of time right now,” Dani said. “What would it involve?”

  “Pretty much soliciting more donations, help setting up, monitoring the room. I had two other volunteers, but one moved and the other has quit answering my calls.”

  “Do I have to attend any meetings?”

  “None that Chad’s family will be attending.”

  “Not that I’m chicken, but if I don’t have to see them, I don’t want to.” She and Chad’s family had never really clicked, even after their engagement. It wasn’t that they didn’t like her; it was just that they’d hoped Chad would marry “up,” as he’d once told her when he was describing how it was impossible to please his family.

  At the time Dani hadn’t been all that insulted. She’d been well aware that the Andersons were conscious of social status and Chad had made it clear that he thought their mind-set was ridiculous. But now she couldn’t help but wonder if Chad hadn’t shared their feelings on a deeper level, since the woman he’d cheated with was an honest-to-goodness business heiress.

  “Hey. I get it,” Gina said. “I don’t like seeing Mark’s family, but I have to because of the baby. I just need someone I can count on in a pinch.”

  Dani reached across the table and patted Gina’s hand. “I’ll help as much as I can.”

  “And I’ll try to find other warm bodies, but it’s good to know I have you if I need you.”

  Dani rolled her shoulders and glanced out the window.

  “Hot to have that chat with Marti?”

  Dani smiled grimly at her friend. “Yeah. I am.”

  “Well,” Gina said, sliding out of the booth, “I won’t keep you, but you have to call and tell me how it goes.”

  * * *

  WHEN DANI PULLED into the Kendall Ranch, there were horses in all three round pens and one tied to the learning line, where young horses became accustomed to being tied up. Dani got out of her car, hoping that Marti saw her before Paul did. She had no problem with Paul—not yet anyway—but she had a big problem with Marti.

  Why the attack? Looking at the number of horses they had, it seemed like, well, sour grapes. They couldn’t handle all he horses in the area, but Marti didn’t want anyone else to train.

  Thankfully, it was Marti who glanced over as Dani parked. She did a double take, then stopped her horse and patted it, letting it wander off across the pen as she headed for the gate.

  “Hey,” she said as she approached. “Are you here looking for some tips?”

  “No,” Dani said, making an effort not to match Marti’s teasing tone. “I’m here to give one.”

  “You are?” Marti wrinkled her brow.

  “Yes. Do not trash-talk me in the community.”

  “I—” Marti abruptly cut off the sentence as she pressed a hand to her chest in an I’m-innocent gesture, then a look of understanding crossed her face. “I think I might have been misquoted.”

 
“No. I think you made it clear that you don’t think I know what I’m doing.”

  “That isn’t what I said.”

  “Licensing board?”

  Pink stained Marti’s cheeks. “How long have you been training?” she said, going on the offensive. “Did you grow up in the business like I did?”

  “I interned under some pretty decent trainers when I was at U of M.”

  “Interned.” Marti gave her a look of a disparagement. “I was training horses for clients in high school under the tutelage of my father, who, as you know, is one of the best trainers in the country.”

  “So what?” Dani pointed her finger at her. “That doesn’t mean I’m not an excellent trainer.”

  It was clear from Marti’s expression that she didn’t think so. It was also clear that Dani wasn’t going to win this battle, but that hadn’t been her intention.

  “No more trash talk,” Dani said. “It comes off as unprofessional.” She gave a small smirk as she spoke. “That’s my tip to you.”

  “Telling the truth isn’t trash talk. If people ask my opinion, I’ll tell them.”

  “Did Mitzi Thorensen ask your opinion, or did you just offer it?”

  Marti narrowed her eyes, but didn’t answer.

  “Yeah. I thought so.” Dani gave her head a disgusted shake, then turned and headed back to her truck.

  CHAPTER SIX

  THE PHONE RANG just as Gabe shoved a pencil behind his ear and stood back to view his newest drawing. He crossed the room to pick up the landline, straightening his posture slightly when his hello was answered by “Hi. This is Dani.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  “It is.” She hesitated for a fraction of a second before diving in. “Have you found a trainer?”

  “Still working on it.”

  “I’m calling because I’ve reconsidered...if you’re still in the market. I have a slot open.”

  “You do?”

  “A cancellation. So I can work your horse into the schedule.” She cleared her throat. “Are you still interested?”

  “Yeah. I am.”

  “Well, if you want to stop by later and take a look at the contract, I’m free after five.”

  His first impulse was to ask if she wanted to discuss it over dinner, but he already knew the answer to that. “I could stop by at five-thirty.”

  “Why don’t I come over there? I can meet your horse. Assess.”

  “I’ll see you then.”

  She hung up without a goodbye, leaving Gabe holding the phone and wondering just what had prompted her change of heart. Not that it mattered. He now had a legitimate reason to get to know Dani better. He set the phone aside and went to the plans he’d been drafting when she called. If Stewart was amendable, he’d come up with an excellent site to resituate the house and then use it as their most private corporate getaway. It was intimate, yet large enough to allow people to have their own space. He wasn’t certain of the exact floor plan, but he had an idea of what was possible from the small amount of the interior he’d seen the night he’d been with Dani when she’d called the sheriff’s office.

  He’d planned a landscape with an enclosed backyard, a pond surrounded by flagstones, a fire pit and a modified outdoor kitchen that could be shut down during inclement weather—which, from what he gathered, could happen at any time. He liked the idea of saving the house. Using it. Of course, Stewart may not be in agreement, since it would take a sizable investment to get the place renovated, but Gabe would present it to him and outline how long it would take to earn back the money.

  Gabe stifled a yawn as he headed for the back door. He’d been unable to sleep and had gotten out of bed at 2:00 a.m. to finish the plans and now it was catching up with him. Or maybe he was just bored, since lack of sleep had never bothered him prior to moving to Montana. His mind hadn’t wandered so much, either. Not since high school anyway.

  His new mare was pastured next to the house. He’d been concerned about lack of shelter, but Paul had assured him that the horse would be fine—even in the winter—as long as it had a windbreak. Gabe was fairly certain that his mare would have a new home by the time the snow flew.

  She came to meet him as he let himself in the gate, positioning herself so that he could easily rub her neck and ears. He smiled to himself. It’d been so damned long since he touched a horse—at least twenty years. Make that twenty-three. He’d been almost nine when he’d moved in with the Carothers family. He’d spent eighteen months with them before his mother decided she wanted to try being a family again. Oh, yeah. That had worked out well...

  He crossed to the shed next to the pasture and took out a new brush. The youngest Carothers girl, Jenny, was seventeen when he’d moved in and she’d been horse obsessed. From her he’d learned what little he did know about horses—how to feed them, groom them, clean their feet. He’d been a veritable stable boy to Jenny and had actually grown to appreciate horses. She’d put him on her horse, Dozer, when she wasn’t using him herself, which was rare, but he could still recall the exhilaration he’d felt the first time he’d viewed the world from the back of her gelding.

  Funny how he hadn’t thought about that most excellent feeling in a long, long time. He moved the brush over the horse’s coat, the scent stirring memories long forgotten. Horses smelled good in an odd sort of way. He smiled reminiscently as he moved around the back of the horse and started brushing the other side. That probably wasn’t information he’d share with Neal or Serena.

  * * *

  AT ALMOST EXACTLY five-thirty Dani pulled up her old truck next to his car and parked. Gabe had been watching for her and came out of the house, sliding his arms into a jacket. The day had started out almost too warm, then the wind had come up, blowing in dark clouds that now hung low over the mountains behind Dani’s house.

  She stopped halfway across the drive and waited for him to approach.

  “Hey,” she said with a touch of self-consciousness. She gestured toward the pasture. “I know that filly.”

  “Do you?”

  “One of Paul’s, right?”

  “Right.”

  “He has nice horses. Good temperaments.”

  “He said she’d been saddled but is still green.”

  “Just the way I like them,” Dani said. “That way I don’t have to waste time undoing stuff other people have done.” She cocked her head. “Marti must have started her if you got her from Paul.”

  “As I understand it, yes.”

  She nodded as if things were falling into place. “Shall we?” she asked.

  Gabe led the way to the pasture gate, opening it for her. The mare met Dani halfway, just as he had a few minutes earlier. “Oh, she’s nice,” Dani said as she rubbed the mare’s ears, then walked around her, examining the horse with a critical eye. Gabe couldn’t help but wonder what she saw that he didn’t, but he didn’t ask. He’d let Dani take the lead here; after all, she was the expert.

  “You shouldn’t leave a halter on her.”

  “I shouldn’t?”

  She shook her head. “It’s dangerous for the horse.”

  “I didn’t know.”

  “Halters can get hung up on fence posts or other objects and if the horse goes down, it’ll strangle them.”

  Gabe grimaced and reached for the buckle on the halter. “So noted.” He removed the halter and then rubbed the horse’s nose where the band had been.

  She looked up at him, a serious expression in her eyes. “What’s going to happen to her when you leave?”

  Gabe simply stared at her for a moment. “I may be here for a while.”

  “What happened to the forced vacation?”

  “I’ve been working from here and you know what?” He smiled a little. “Must be the lack of distractions, but I’ve been getting more done here than I do in my home office.”

  “So you’re staying.”

  “For a while. Longer than I expected.”

  “Open-ended return.”

&n
bsp; “That pretty much sums it up,” he agreed.

  “But what then?”

  So Dani didn’t get easily sidetracked. All right. “She’s going to a good home...nothing like what happened to your mare.”

  Dani nodded. “I’m used to people making more of a commitment, rather than buying a horse because they’re on vacation and want to ride.”

  “It’s more than that,” he said quietly, and realized that what he said was true. He felt like he was touching a part of his past that he’d buried deep, maybe because it hurt to think about it. Not that he hadn’t already dealt with all the shit that was his past, but apparently there were still things he needed to contend with. Outliers.

  It struck him then that Jenny Carothers’s horse had looked a lot like Molly. A gelding rather than a mare, but he’d been dark brown with white legs and a kindly expression in his deep brown eyes. The corners of Gabe’s mouth lifted at the memory.

  “What?” Dani asked and he glanced over at her.

  “Just thinking about a horse I used to know.”

  “Known many?”

  “Only one.” A blast of wind hit them and Dani turned her back to it, wrapping her coat around herself more tightly. “Damn, that’s cold,” he said, pushing his hands deep into his pockets. “I feel bad that she doesn’t have a shelter yet, even though Paul assured me that horses have lived outside through most of their evolutionary history.”

  “She’ll have shelter soon.” Dani glanced over at her place. “Do you want to start tomorrow? I can bring the trailer to pick her up.”

  “I’ll walk her over.”

  Dani’s lips twisted into a wry smile as she hunched her shoulders against the cold, making him wonder if he should take a chance and invite her inside. “It’s a good mile.”

  “I think I can manage.” He smiled at her again.

  “I’m curious,” she said. “Why didn’t you book Marti?”

  “I was hoping you’d change your mind.” He regarded her candidly. “I didn’t think you would, but thought I’d give it a day or two just in case.”

  “Because I’m close?”