The Reluctant Cowboy

by Ullman, Cherie

  Sierra smiled as she saw Quinn glance in her direction to make sure that was the proper term. She adored Quinn. She had a school girl crush on him years ago, when she started training in his barns. He was tall, dark and handsome. When he married Riley, she thought he was the most handsome man she had ever seen, wearing his tux. He looked like a movie star, with his striking looks.

  Watching Quinn and Cole interact made her smile. She watched as the men were talking with each other. Quinn was about 6’2” and was wearing his t-shirt with faded blue jeans and his straw cowboy hat. He was the epitome of the rugged cowboy.

  Standing next to him was her own fantasy. Cole stood a little taller than Quinn and had a slightly larger build. He was broader across the chest and had a more athletic build than Quinn. Standing together, they would make any woman swoon.

  She listened as Cole asked Quinn a lot of questions about the business side of the Quarter Horse Industry and Quinn took the time to answer them. They seemed to be getting along fine, so Sierra left them to find Brent and see if Tinker was ready.

  Sierra kept her personal tack at the stables and Brent had Tinker saddled and ready. She didn’t realize how much she wanted to ride until she saw Tinker nod his head in her direction as she approached him. She enjoyed riding Tinker because he had personality. Sometimes the horses were so well trained that they become “push button” ready and almost robotic.

  One of the reasons she respected Quinn and his trainers were because they made sure the horses were all trained differently, adjusting to the horse’s personality. They didn’t want them to get bored during training and “customized” the training to each individual horse and rider, for that matter.

  Dana and Doug were both wonderful trainers, too, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before they had their own stables. They were learning so much while training with Quinn and would be ready when they got to the opportunity to branch out on their own.

  She mounted Tinker and headed back down the aisle to find Cole and Quinn.

  “There she is,” Quinn spoke and ran his hand along Tinker’s shoulder and flank to pet him.

  Sitting on this 16 hand horse, she had to look down at Cole, who flirted, “How’s the view up there?”

  She saw his smile as he looked up at her, so she played right back, “It’s great. I’m hoping to get you up here on one of the horses with me. You can see for yourself.” She watched as he tentatively stroked the horse’s head, face and large jaw.

  “I’ve got just the horse for him,” Quinn said, as he started to walk away. “I’ll go get her saddled up and ready for him. I’ll let him use my saddle.”

  “Thanks, Quinn,” Sierra said to his retreating back.

  “Sierra, I’m not sure I want to ride. The ground feels pretty good from right here.”

  Sierra grinned at his unease, but understood, explaining, “We won’t push it. Come watch me warm Tinker up and see if you change your mind.”

  She turned the horse toward the arena entrance and started off in a slow trot around the arena. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Cole watching her as he stood, resting his hands on top of the wall he was leaning on. She greeted a few of the other riders in passing, as she adjusted her seat and boots in the stirrups.

  She brought Tinker into an easy lope around the arena and as soon as she started, she felt the tension leave her body. It was amazing to her that she could actually feel the stress exit her body as she became one with the horse. Her arms and legs relaxed and her stomach muscles weren’t as constricted. She let out a sigh as she rode this wonderful horse.

  She was doing small circles at a lope and then larger ones at a faster speed. Tinker was working with her and they made a good team. If she asked him to perform with a squeeze of her leg or legs, he responded immediately to her.

  She saw a straight view down the center and squeezed his flanks to ask for speed. Tinker started to gallop and she guided him down the center of the arena in a sprint. She asked for a sliding stop at the end of the arena, then spun him around to race down to the other end. Tinker performed another sliding stop and Sierra was grinning from ear to ear.

  She started to walk him around the edge of the arena while talking to him and petting his sleek neck. When she got around to where Cole was standing, she stopped and asked, “What do you think?”

  “Honestly, I think you look like you were meant to do this.”

  Sierra smiled at him, then added, “I was actually asking if you were ready to ride yet, but I appreciate the compliment.”

  “It wasn’t a compliment. It’s a fact.” She saw him lean closer, so only she could hear him, whispering, “Do you have any idea how sexy you look riding that horse? I’m not sure I’m in any “condition” to ride a horse right now, if you get my meaning.”

  Sierra blushed, as she looked into his cloudy, smoldering eyes and completely understood his meaning. Seeing him looking at her like that made the butterflies in her stomach do crazy things.

  Before she could reply, she saw Quinn leading another mare towards them, saying, “This is Sally. Cole, meet Sally.”

  Sierra watched Cole blink and mask his features as he turned to Quinn, “Hello Sally. Finally, a horse with a normal name.”

  Quinn laughed out loud at Cole’s comment, elaborating, “Actually, her full name is Lay Down Sally.”

  “Of course, it is. Let me guess, her sire was Eric Clapton.” Sierra and Quinn were both laughing hard at Cole’s sarcasm, “Why is it that a horse has multiple names? Why not like a dog or cat? You don’t hear a person calling a dog with three names. Can you imagine? Come on, boy! Come here, He’s a Tinker ! Or Where are you, Lay Down Sally? I mean, come on….”

  Sierra was doubled over laughing and Quinn was trying not to lose it completely. She had no idea how funny Cole could be. When the laughter finally subsided, Quinn asked if he could show Cole how to sit a horse and give him a lesson. Cole reluctantly agreed and walked out into the arena with him. Sierra watched as Quinn patiently and thoroughly showed Cole how and what to do on a horse. It was easy to see what made Quinn the exceptional trainer he was.

  Cole may not yet understand, but Sierra knew he was learning from one of the best trainers in the world. About fifteen minutes later, she watched Cole swing his leg up and over Sally’s back.

  “Sally is a sweetheart, Cole. She is very easy and you won’t need to pull on her mouth or bit much,” Quinn explained, showing Cole how to use his reins.

  “She’s easy, huh? Kind of got that from her name,” Cole joked. Sierra couldn’t help but wonder if he was trying to use humor to hide his nervousness. He was doing a good job of it.

  Quinn made sure Cole’s stirrups were set properly and showed him how to sit up straight in the saddle. He pushed the heel of Cole’s boots down and commented on the pair, “Good boots.”

  “Thanks, I had help from a friend picking them out.” Sierra couldn’t contain her grin as Cole gave her a wink.

  After a few more minutes, Quinn let Cole take Sally at a walk around the arena. He walked beside them and showed Cole how to “steer” her in the direction he wanted to go.

  Sierra rode up on the other side of Cole, encouraging, “You got this, New York.”

  “Oh…no, I don’t need you or anyone else calling me that. Rocco owns the rights to call me that,” he was grinning as he said it, jokingly.

  She watched him and could tell that he was concentrating on what Quinn was telling him. Once they completed a full lap around the large arena, Quinn left them to stand by the railing.

  “This isn’t too bad. How am I doing so far?” Cole asked, winking again at Sierra.

  Sierra admired him, sitting atop the sweet mare, “Looking good. Looking real good.”

  “See, this reluctant cowboy is now riding a horse.”

  “Not looking so reluctant now.”

  “So, how do you shift the gears to go up a speed?”

  Sierra chuckled and showed him how to squeeze with his legs. Sally began a
slow, smooth trot and Sierra watched as Cole’s grin grew bigger, then he uttered, “This is incredible. I barely feel her moving.”

  Sierra was impressed with how he was sitting the mare’s gait. He was looking more relaxed and comfortable in the saddle. “Once you get the hang of this,” she teased, “you may not want to stop.”

  “Oh, I disagree. I have a feeling I will feel it later.”

  “Ready for another speed?” She sensed his hesitation as brought Sally back down to a walk. “It’s okay if you’re not, but I think you would enjoy it.”

  Sierra demonstrated how to ask the horse to lope with the reins and proper leg pressure. She took Tinker around the arena in a slow lope, before stopping again beside him.

  “Yeh, I want to do that. I can do it,” he said, confidently.

  Sierra watched as Cole got Sally into her lope. Sierra knew that Sally had an easy gait, which was perfect for a first time rider. It wasn’t rough like some horses, it was smooth and light.

  When she brought Tinker into a lope and rode up beside Cole, she was happy to see him smiling and shaking his head, “Wow. I’m really doing it. I’m riding a horse.”

  “How do you feel?”

  “Amazing! Like you are connected to the horse. It feels great!”

  They rode around the arena a few times before he asked Sally to slow down. Sally eased down to a trot and then to a walk. Cole and Sierra were both laughing and talking as they made their way to the open end of the arena.

  “You ready to take them out in the woods for a walk?” Quinn asked them.

  Sierra saw a moment of panic in Cole’s expression before he hid it, saying, “But it’s nice in here, with walls and the arena. What if Sally doesn’t like the woods?”

  Quinn patted Sally on the butt as he replied, “Sally loves to walk in the woods, Cole. I promise you will be fine. Besides, you have one of the best horsewomen I’ve ever worked with by your side.”

  Grinning at Quinn for the confidence boost, Sierra urged, “It’s a beautiful day, Cole. We won’t stay out long.”

  “Okay, lead the way.”

  Sierra was glad he agreed and they made their way to the woods, showing him, “See, the trails are clearly marked.”

  She took the lead with Tinker and relaxed, as she looked at the trees and scenery. The woods got pretty dense in some areas, but she could look up and see large patches of puffy, white clouds against the blue sky. They came upon a clearing with an open field.

  Sierra turned to see if Cole wanted to run the horses. She told him to hang on and cued Tinker to run. Tinker took off in a fast gallop and she turned to make sure Cole was right behind her. He was holding on, with one hand on the pommel of the saddle, but he was laughing as Sally was staying right behind Tinker. Sierra laughed and pulled them up after about a football-field-length of a dead run. She didn’t want to scare Cole. Still laughing, she asked him, “So, did you like that?”

  Cole ran his hand through his hair before saying, “That was awesome! I want to do it again.”

  She laughed at his enthusiasm, “We may get another opportunity down the trail. I don’t want to push it for your first time.”

  For a while, Cole and Sally rode beside them as the trail was wide enough for two horses. “Speaking of first times, Sierra, how did you pick the name Skye?” Cole asked, honestly.

  Sierra turned sideways in her saddle to talk with him, “Her eyes. She had your dark blue color and I remembered how much you said you liked mine. I wasn’t sure if they would get lighter as she got older, but I had hoped they would be a mix of both of ours and I knew they would be a beautiful blue, like the sky.”

  “What is her middle name?” Sierra laughed as a reply. “What, what is it? Please tell me it’s not an old name like Edith or Beatrice…no offense.”

  “No, it’s Sara.”

  “Sara. I like that name. Why Sara?”

  “Now, you will laugh at me and only Dana knows the truth.” Cole raised his eyebrows, waiting for her reply, “Okay, here comes the dorky side of me again. You know how much I love Buffy and Sex and the City, right? So, both of the actresses’ names are Sarah: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sarah Jessica Parker. That’s how I chose her middle name.” She was blushing profusely as she answered him honestly.

  “Hmm, could have been worse. Glad you didn’t mention Star Wars. You could’ve named her R2D2 or C3P0.”

  Sierra laughed, but quipped, “Oh, I love Star Wars, too.”

  “Of course, you do. I do like her name. Skye Sara….Morgan?”

  “Yes.”

  “I think I’d like it more as Skye Sara Alexandar.”

  Sierra didn’t say anything, as she studied him. She liked the sound of his name, too. She adjusted her seat and Cole turned his head to look at her, speaking softly, but honestly, “I don’t know what happens next for us, Sierra, but I want to be a part of Skye’s life. I hope the two of us will be able to find an agreeable solution.”

  “I’d like that, too. I should have told you. I’m truly sorry that I didn’t.”

  “I believe you. It’s going to take me some time to forgive you, but I know you didn’t have bad intentions.”

  The path narrowed and she again took the lead to head back to the stables. They didn’t say anymore to each other as they enjoyed the rest of the ride.

  Chapter 22

  Cole was learning how to take the saddle off and brush Sally, with the help of some of the high school girls working in the stable. Sierra had headed to the house to say hi to Riley, as Cole was left with the young ladies, only too willing to help him. He enjoyed their banter and obvious attempts at flirting with him.

  He was still amazed at how this day was turning out. His mind was still focused on the horse he was brushing and how much he found himself enjoying it. He had no idea how much work went into caring and training such wonderful animals. He thoroughly enjoyed riding and even knowing he would be a little sore, he looked forward to doing it again.

  Sally seemed to like him, too, as she would bend her neck back and nudge him, while he brushed her sides and down her legs. “I wish all women were this easy to please, Sally,” he said, rubbing his hand down her long face.

  The girls showed him how to pick up a hoof and gently clean it out. It didn’t take him long to understand that they were enjoying watching him bend over, as he managed the other three hooves on his own. He could hear their giggling and couldn’t stop his own grin forming on his face, while he was thinking, “Oh, to be young and carefree again.”

  The girls got called off to do another chore and he had some time alone to reflect, while he continued brushing and stroking Sally. It had a calming effect on him, to be standing next to this majestic animal. He felt more at peace in these few minutes than he had in years.

  He started to think of ways he could keep a horse of his own in New York. He was sure they had stables and he would ask Denise to help him find some. Maybe he could rent a horse like Sierra suggested and go riding on the weekends. He may even be able to convince Christine to go with him, to have some company.

  For some reason, when he thought about New York, he just couldn’t wrap his head around going back. He loved the city, but this peacefulness that captured his soul seemed to be here. What if he bought a stable, here, in this area? He could be close to Skye and learn more from Quinn and Doug. They make excellent teachers and he enjoyed their company. He could see himself becoming friends with them.

  He shook his head, knowing Sierra may not like that idea. She had avoided him for two years. She probably didn’t want him imposing on her life, which included her friends and family. She should have thought of that, though, knowing he was close with Vanessa. There was a lot she should have considered, mainly telling him she had his baby.

  His hands started brush the horse a little harder, thinking about all he had missed out on already. He imagined what Sierra had looked like pregnant. She would have been glowing and beautiful, he was sure of it. He should have been given a cho
ice to help her through it and be present at Skye’s birth.

  He missed Skye’s first birthday and the many milestones between her birth and her first birthday. He knew with certainty he didn’t want to miss any more of her firsts. He knew how it felt to not be wanted as a child and would make damn sure his daughter never felt that way.

  He paused his administrations and took a deep breath. He was trying not to get upset again and reached for the pretty mare’s mane as he ran his hands through it. He was close to her ear and whispered to her, “What am I going to do, Sally?” The mare nudged his hip in response and Cole smiled, “Exactly.”

  “You ready to lead her back to the pasture?” He turned to see Quinn standing near them.

  “You heard?” Cole said, slightly embarrassed.

  “Nah, wasn’t trying to ease drop. Horses can make the best of friends. My big guy has heard a lot of my troubles and he still likes me.”

  Cole nodded and reached for Sally’s lead rope to walk her down the aisle and into the sunshine. Quinn, walking beside him, said, “You know Cole, if you are truly interested in learning more about the industry or horses in general, I’m here. To be honest, I could use a business man to help me with some of the investments and to make sure I’m setting up the business properly.”

  Cole smiled over at Quinn, replying, “I’ll schedule something next week, when I return to my office. I would like to see your business model and overhead.”

  “See, you lost me already. I hire people like you to understand the lingo. I’d like to have someone I trust to look over where I am and where I need to be in the future.”

  Cole was a little taken back with how easy Quinn seemed to trust him. “Pardon me for saying this, but you don’t know me.”

  Looking at Cole, Quinn chuckled, “It’s not hard to trust a man who just rode a horse for the first time. Vanessa speaks highly of you and I trust her judgment.” He paused, gauging Cole’s reaction, then continued, “Not to mention that you just found out yesterday that you are a father, and the way that you handled that news has been impressive.”