Chase: (Contemporary Western Romance) (New Horizon Ranch Mule Hollow Book 3)

by Debra Clopton

  Tearing her gaze away she returned her focus back to Rafe and Sadie—it was safer there. She had enough to worry about right now without adding being attracted to the self-assured cowboy. Especially now that he was determined to keep her safe.

  There was something about his self-assurance when it came to protecting her that got to her despite the fact that it would be useless to even think about acting on the attraction.

  Wouldn’t it?

  Chapter Six

  The reception was held at the Mule Hollow Convention Center. It was a renovated space on Main Street that had been converted to hold events. Not a convention center by city standards but for a tiny town like Mule Hollow it was perfect.

  Amber’s mother had arrived a few minutes before the wedding from the bed and breakfast she was staying at a few miles from town. She was spending the night but leaving early the next morning because she had a large event to cater that afternoon.

  Sadie’s mother on the other hand, had had a limo deliver her at the church just in time to have a mother of the bride photo snapped of her with Sadie and Rafe. The limo was now waiting down the street for Susan Archer and would deliver her home sometime late tonight. Amber had been afraid Sadie’s mother might not even stay for the reception but she’d surprised them and announced that she’d be there.

  Looking like a million dollars she sat at a table with Amber’s mother. Amber decided she’d have to give her mother a surprise thank you gift because she was helping distract the high strung society mom from the quaint surroundings. Burlap table runners and twinkling white lights strung from the rafters was nothing compared to the ice sculptures and silk she’d had planned for the wedding fiasco Sadie was supposed to have had a month earlier with the ex-slug of a man…okay, Amber reeled in her disgust of the ex. She had to stop holding a grudge and just be thankful that Sadie had discovered his lying and cheating ways before she’d married him.

  There was always something to be thankful for.

  To be honest, Amber should find the slug and give him a huge hug for letting his true colors shine in time for Sadie to run for the hills and fall in love with Rafe.

  Amber was glad that this wedding was nothing like the extravaganza it would have been if Susan had been allowed to “help”.

  “One more happy couple,” Esther Mae squealed excitedly over the band tuning up in the background. She came hustling over from the punch bowl. “It was a lovely wedding. Where’s Chase? Y’alls dance will be coming up soon. And I know you’re looking forward to that. I saw you lingering over him during the ceremony.”

  Lingering. Amber choked on a cookie. Esther Mae slapped her on the back.

  “There there, don’t get so excited.”

  Amber’s teared up from wheezing as she wondered if anyone else had noticed that her gaze kept straying to Chase during the ceremony. Thankfully Chase had been busy since the service and she’d lost track of him while she’d been visiting with her mom and Sadie’s mother. Now she let her gaze roam the crowded room as the band began to play From This Moment and Rafe led Sadie out onto the dance floor, took her into his arms and they began to move slowly around the room.

  Amber had forgotten she was supposed to dance with Chase. Her throat went dry thinking about him holding her in his arms.

  “Isn’t that romantic,” Esther May sighed. “I never grow tired of happy beginnings.”

  “Its happy endings, Esther May,” Norma Sue said moving from the punch bowl to where they were standing.

  “I know what I said. I like the beginnings too.”

  Amber smiled at that. She liked the beginnings too.

  “Hey there, partner,” Chase said, coming up from behind her. His warm breath feathered across the back of her neck. “We’re up next.”

  Amber’s skin warmed and a shiver rippled across her skin as she turned her head to see him. Big mistake since it put her very near his lips. She swallowed hard and forced her gaze up to meet his. He was watching her with a smile in his eyes. “Don’t look so excited about the idea, I promise I won’t step on your toes.”

  She smiled. “Thanks. But I’ll warn you I’m not very good at dancing.”

  “And I don’t believe that for a minute but no worries. I’ll lead.”

  Her heart fluttered in her chest and anticipation filled her.

  When the band called for the wedding party—which consisted of her and Chase, he slipped his hand around hers and led her out onto the dance floor. Sadie and Rafe smiled from where they still stood swaying in wait of them to join them on the dance floor. Amber was startled by how nervous she felt as Chase took her into his arms.

  She placed her hands on his shoulders and butterflies tumbled and fluttered through her. She was more nervous than if she were standing on the edge of a skyscraper—and for a girl terrified of heights that was pretty nervous.

  “Relax, I’ve got you,” he said and took the first step.

  She stepped on his foot. “I’m sorry!”

  He chuckled. “I wore my protective footwear so it’s all good.”

  She laughed and immediately did it again.

  He grinned. “Breathe,” he whispered softly and she felt some of the tension ease from her.

  “Okay, let’s try that again,” he said.

  She held his gaze and when she felt him take a step she went with him—not on him.

  “You’re doing good,” he said after a few steps.

  “I haven’t ever been much of a dancer so it must be that you’re a good leader.” Oh he was that alright. The man moved smoothly around the room in perfect time to the music.

  “Why don’t you relax and let all the tension I feel in your back and shoulders ease up for a while?” He shifted her closer into his embrace and she found his smooth jaw against her temple.

  And there was no way she could relax then. Her pulse skyrocketed and her knees even felt weak as everything about Chase Hartley filled her thoughts.

  Engulfed her and Amber felt as if somehow she was floating.

  Chase was fighting hard not to pull Amber close. He’d known her for a total of barely two days and the attraction and protectiveness he felt for the strong-willed woman was nearly overwhelming. She smelled of soft soap, a simple fresh scent that drew him and tilted his senses off their axis. He’d been thinking about her situation ever since being told about the man stalking her. He planned on keeping her in his sights at all times while she was here but he knew she wasn’t going to be receptive to feeling smothered. That left him with a dilemma. How to keep her close without trouble.

  “Do you ride horses?” he asked as he led them in an easy circle in time to the music. He’d never been a huge fan of dancing but at the moment he was grateful for every moment he’d ever spent on the dance floor. It was now enabling him to hold Amber in his arms. He reminded himself that she was not his type. She loved city life and had no plans for small town life, so even a mild flirtation was dangerous in the event that there could be a possibility of more between them. He was playing with fire.

  “I ride,” she admitted lifting her face to his. A smile teased her lips and teased him. “But it’s a volatile proposition.”

  He laughed. “Well if I promised to give you a few pointers—or not—totally your call on that. Would you like to take a ride in the morning?”

  She studied him. “I would love that. I’m actually wondering what I’m going to do while I’m here. I’m not used to sitting around.”

  “You’ll figure something out. Main thing is that you’re safe.”

  She stiffened immediately and he berated himself for reminding her that she was in danger. The music ended and she stepped out of his arms. He wanted to pull her back and keep the dance going.“So will you go?”

  “Yes, I might as well get the whole experience while I’m here.”

  He smiled. Tomorrow was going to be a good day.

  By the time Sadie and Rafe had been covered in birdseed and driven away in Rafe’s truck, traditional cans and r
ibbons rattling behind them down Main Street, it was late. Amber offered to stay and help clean up but everyone waved her off and told her to go spend a little time with her mother. Sadie’s mother had left right after the newlyweds left so Amber followed her mother out to the Victorian B&B where they sat on the front steps and visited for an hour.

  “So tell me about Chase, the good looking cowboy you danced with tonight.”

  Amber should have known her mother had been watching. Unlike Sadie and her mother who had always had a strained and somewhat distant relationship Amber and her mother were close. They’d overcome a lot through the years after her father had left them.

  “He’s one of the partners of the ranch that Sadie’s husband is part owner of too. He’s a nice man. But, Mom, he’s a cowboy and he lives and breathes ranching.”

  “And you don’t?”

  “Funny, Mom. You know I don’t. It doesn’t matter anyway, I’m only here for a few weeks and then I’m back to my work.” She’d told her mother about Ned Talbert but she’d told her as little as possible. Mostly that she had an angry boyfriend on her hands and disappearing for a while was the best thing to do. She did not tell her that he’d been stalking her and that he’d started calling her. There were just some things a mother didn’t need to worry about.

  “You work too hard and worry too much about other people. Promise me while you’re taking this break you’ll consider the possibility of change in your life. I’m not saying this Chase is the man for you but I could tell he was very interested. And he held you so gentle and respectfully.” She smiled. “That’s what a mother wants for her child.”

  Her mother had never had that. Like so many women who’d been abused by their husband Amber’s mom had lived a lie for years before Amber’s dad finally left them. “Every night I try to help women realize they deserve a good and decent man in their life.”

  Her mother took her face in her hands and looked at her deeply. “And so do you. Just because your father left us when you were small does not mean you don’t deserve a good man. I just don’t want you to forget that.”

  Amber stiffened. She hardly ever let herself think of her father. “I know that, Mom. Me still being single has nothing to do with him. I just haven’t found the right man in my life.”

  Her mother’s expression softened. “I know. But just try to enjoy your time here in this darling small town among these sweet people.”

  Amber leaned forward and kissed her mom’s cheek. “You got it, supermom,” she said, calling her mom the nickname Amber had given her many years ago. “Now I guess I’d better hit the hay. I’m going on a horseback ride tomorrow.”

  Her mother clapped her hands to her cheeks. “With Chase?”

  “The one and only.”

  A smile of satisfaction lit up her mother’s face. “That sounds like the start of a perfect adventure.”

  Amber was still thinking about the adventure quote a little while later after she’d said goodbye and was at the ranch. As she crawled into bed she couldn’t let it go. This could be an adventure…she deserved an adventure. It wasn’t as if she truly believed Ned Talbert was going to get at her and hurt her. Ned didn’t scare her, not really. But he was giving her a break from her ordinary life and well, it wasn’t every day that you found yourself stuck in a small town with a hunky cowboy offering to be your protector.

  She crossed her arms and stared up at the ceiling where the reflection from an outside lamp had the lacy outline of tree limbs outlined. She smiled.

  Yes, whenever she was given the okay to go back home she would but right now she was going to relax and let herself enjoy a little adventure.

  Cowboy style.

  Chapter Seven

  When Amber walked into the kitchen the next morning Ty and Dalton were leaning against the counter drinking coffee while Chase was flipping pancakes. One look at her wearing boots with her jeans tucked into them and Chase completely forgot about pancakes. “You already look like a country girl. You brought jeans and boots with you?”

  She laughed. “Not hardly. I’m a city girl in disguise. I found these in Sadie’s closet. Thankfully my foot isn’t too much smaller than hers but my legs are far shorter therefore the pants had to be tucked in or rolled up and they really looked funny rolled up.”

  “All you need now is a horse,” Dalton drawled, reminding Chase his partners were there too.

  “And a hat,” Ty said, indicating with a nod the wall rack where their hats hung on pegs.

  Chase strode across to the rack and lifted one. “This one is Sadie’s.”

  Amber crossed over to him, took the hat and plopped it onto her head.

  “What do you think?” she asked with a sassy smile.

  He studied her. “Perfect.”

  She blushed and he realized he might have been looking at her like she was the last cinnamon roll on the bakery shelf.

  He smiled. “For a city girl, I mean.”

  “Great. Today I’m getting my country on. So, where’s my horse?”

  “Sit down and have a pancake or two and then I’ll introduce you to your ride.”

  He started back toward the stove and found Ty and Dalton both struggling to hide their laughter. He could only imagine what they were thinking because he knew they’d realized that for a moment there he had forgotten all about them being in the room.

  “You boys wanna grab some plates?” he drawled giving them both a warning look, daring them to say anything.

  Chuckling under their breaths they both dove into action, one grabbing plates the other silverware. Chase knew that for now they were going along with keeping their teasing to themselves but later…he’d better get ready because it was coming.

  Amber loved the beautiful horse that Chase saddled for her. The mare was a sweet tempered chestnut that stood completely still as Amber slipped her foot into the stirrup and hauled herself into the saddle. Being short made the learning curve of mounting a horse a little more tricky than if she’d had long legs.

  “I could have helped you,” Chase offered as she finally sank into the saddle and managed to get her feet into the stirrups.

  “Nope, thanks but I did it. Though I’m thinkin’ a pony might be more my speed.”

  “You'll get the hang of it after a while,” he said and then took the time to give her a few pointers on riding. “Now have her walk a little bit and then tug on the left rein and have her circle back to me. You can do it.”

  Amber did as he’d told her and gave Delta a little nudge with her knee more than clicking her heals against the horse like Amber had assumed was the way she should do it. But he’d told her that Delta reacted easily to nudges and it didn’t take more than a slight one to have her doing what her rider wanted. And he was right, just a few slight movements and the horse reacted with amazing obedience. “She’s so responsive.”

  “Yes, she is. That’s Ty’s doing. We all know how to tame a horse but Ty is the official ranch trainer and has a special touch with the animals. You’re seeing a product of his talented training. He takes pride in his job and is making a name for himself.”

  “Well I feel very safe on Delta.”

  He placed a hand on Delta’s shoulder next to Amber’s knee and looked up at her. “I just wanted to make sure you know how to give her some basic demands. You never know when something will spook a horse and if you know how to control her then the situation is not a problem. But if you don’t then it could be a wreck.”

  “A wreck?”

  He smiled. “Yeah, it means when the horse and the rider get into a bad situation—they have a wreck. Same as with a car it’s just a different mode of operation.”

  “I see. Well I’ll try very hard not to have a wreck.”

  “I’d appreciate that. We want you in one piece at the end of this visit.” He strode to his horse and Amber felt a bit jealous of his long legs when he swung easily into the saddle of his golden horse. Watching him, a lump lodged in her throat—goodness he made a horse lo
ok good.

  He led the way out of the yard and into the pasture behind the barn. Amber rode like she was sitting on a jackhammer and was beginning to think she was going to bounce straight out of the saddle.

  “This isn’t as easy as it looks,” she admitted, her words chattering with the jarring ride she was making. She had to hang onto the saddle horn and there was no doubt that tomorrow, if this kept up, she would be one sore woman.

  “Sit back in the saddle,” Chase urged then explained a few adjustments to the way she was riding.

  She shifted and was grateful when she found herself in smooth motion with Delta. “Amazing. Of course I could have lost a few pounds by the end of the day if I’d have been able to handle the reoccurring impact.”

  “Then again you might have lost a tooth or two.”

  She laughed then. “Most likely that would have been the case. Thanks. This is actually better than I thought.”

  “Well that’s encouraging since we haven’t even gotten out of sight of the barn. There’s hope for you yet, city girl.”

  She tugged on the brim of Sadie’s hat to straighten it since it had bounced to a crooked angle on her forehead. “I decided last night to look at my time here as an adventure. So that’s what this is. I’ll be heading back to the city soon enough but while I’m here I might as well enjoy it rather than gripe about it.”

  He looked thoughtful. “That’s a good way to look at it. I’ve always said living on a ranch is an adventure. When I first came here I knew ranching was where I wanted my future to be. I can’t imagine ever going back to the city.”

  Amber jerked her gaze to him. “You’re a city guy?”

  “Hey, don’t look so shocked. I spent time during college at my roommate’s ranch and I was hooked. My parents own a company that makes computer parts. The idea of being inside a building all day like my dad did not appeal to me so I made my own choice. I—”