Her Country Heart

by Reggi Allder

  Amy seemed fascinated with the panorama before her. Today would be a day of rediscovery for her. Time enough later for her to learn the weight of responsibility and accountability the land demanded from an owner. Soon she’d understand that a sale of the property was the best thing for her.

  A twinge in his back reminded him to move carefully. This was his first time back in the saddle since being thrown from a bucking bronco.

  Spirit snorted. He wanted his head, needed to gallop in front of Sal as he always did. But Wyatt reined him in. Sorry boy, maybe when we get to the meadow. For now they’d stay on the trail and take it easy.

  The path widened and there was room for the two horses to ride side by side as they had done many times before, Spirit just slightly ahead of Sal.

  “How did you get involved in the rodeo?” Amy broke the silence.

  “Granny and your Grandpa introduced me to it. They took me when I was a teenager. They could see I needed something to focus on beside my own problems.”

  “I never knew. I mean I saw you around the farm but I didn’t really think…”

  “You were a little girl. I was a wild teen after my mom died. Granny kind of kept you separated from me. I can smile now, but in those days I was trouble. The rodeo was as untamed as I was and just what I required.”

  He swiped his brow with the back of his hand and remembered. “The rodeo animals looked me in the eye and said, ‘Your mom died and your dad doesn’t want you near him so you think you’ve got it tough? You don’t know from tough.’ Then the horses would take turns throwing me on my ass and snorting in my face.”

  “And you got back on again?”

  “I watched them buck to get a guy off their back only to have another cowboy get in the saddle. They knocked him off too. Again and again they sent cowboys onto their backsides. But there was always another man ready to try. It taught respect for the animals and I learned tenacity. By the time I could stay in the saddle for more than eight seconds I was too damned tired to be ornery, too exhausted to go out and cause any trouble.”

  They both laughed.

  “It’s all thanks to your granddad and his love of horses.”

  “I never knew Grandpa cared about them that much. All I remember him talking about was his apple trees.”

  “What I heard from the old timers around here is that was he was a budding jockey when he was a kid. He just grew too tall for that dream to happen. But he never lost his love of horses.”

  “Well, I never…”

  “If times had been different he might have been a trainer. I know he wanted to start a breeding farm. There’s an old corral out here.”

  “I’d love to see it.”

  “Okay.”

  The horses sauntered as Wyatt listened to the sounds of the foothills, the rustle of the leaves and the call of a crow. He glanced at Amy. She scanned the panorama too. The corners of her mouth turned up into a smile.

  “I thought the trail would be all over grown.” “Granny didn’t mind, so I often brought horses here to exercise.” Wyatt said. “It kept the trail open. I couldn’t think of a more beautiful place to ride. The sky’s blue and the air is clean. In some of the cities where I travel, the air’s become so polluted a person would be better off inside. Nice for the animals to breathe good air here on the farm.”

  “Mm. San Francisco has pretty good air. But one of the things that got to me was the twenty-four seven noise, sirens, car horns. It’s quiet here. Peaceful. I can hear myself think.”

  He watched as she pushed her sunglasses up on the bridge of her nose and viewed an eagle soar and then circle in the clear sky.

  “I love it here. I hope Bobby does too.”

  “Any kid would.”

  “When I was little, I’m afraid I didn’t. I thought it was boring. I spent my childhood thinking about living in the city. Telling Granny that’s where I was going to live when I grew up. I wish I could tell her how much the farm means to me now.” She sniffed. “I had this crazy idea that living in the city with the fancy stores and high rise buildings would be paradise.” She shook her head. “Stupid.”

  “I guess that’s the grass is always greener syndrome.”

  “I just wish I could tell Granny how wrong I was.”

  They rode past the last row of apple trees and toward a stand of Ponderosas. Pine needles and cones littered the area. Shaded by the trees, the air cooled somewhat and the breeze became saturated with the scent of pine.

  “There’s a lot of timber up here. Your Grandpa talked about clearing some of it and increasing the apple output. He had a lot of ideas, but like many people, lack of funds got in the way of his big plans.”

  “I know he talked about planting some of the “new fangled” apples as he called them. There are so many new types now.” She adjusted her position in the saddle and pushed her hair out of her face. “The red delicious has lots of competition these days. Guess he hoped to plant new orchards of Spartans or Galas.”

  They let the horses gallop then slowed them to a canter before stopping in a meadow for a moment. Then they continued up the trail.

  “The Christmas Trees are up ahead.”Wyatt pointed.

  “As a kid it was one of my proudest moments when Grandpa let me choose a tree for the main street Holiday display.”

  She reined in the horse. “The trees are so big now.”

  He smiled. She was like a little kid on Christmas day.

  “You’ve got a good crop. The last few years your grandmother was too sick to cut and sell them so they just kept growing. She told me the apples and the berries were all she could manage.”

  Her smile vanished. “I didn’t know. I should have understood. Should have asked Granny, but I didn’t. I’m not making excuses, but Granny wasn’t the kind to ask for help.”

  “No.” He watched the joy drain from Amy’s features. He should have just let her enjoy the place. Now a frown marred her pretty face.

  They rode in silence.

  A granite out-cropping narrowed the trail and they slowed the horses. “Whoa boy.” He waited for Amy to join him.

  “I used to crawl all over these rocks as a kid, but I never noticed how stunningly beautiful they are.”

  “Funny how kids love climbing on rocks. Sad city kids only have the fake rock walls in the gym to climb.”

  I think I’ll pass on climbing them today.” She laughed.

  “Probably a good idea.”

  His stallion pawed the ground and snorted. “Listen, why don’t you stay here for a couple of minutes? There’s an open meadow ahead. I’m going let Spirit have a little exercise. I’ll be right back.”

  “Okay.”

  He let Spirit have his head and felt the horse spring into action under him. The stallion wasn’t the only one who needed the exercise. Being around Amy made his blood pulse and his body heat.

  ***

  Both he and the animal were breathing hard when he reined in the stallion to a walk and turned back. Amy’s waiting.

  She grinned when she saw him. “You two make a great team.”

  He shrugged. “The old corral is down there behind the grove of trees. When we get there we’ll take a break.”

  “Great.”

  The remnants of a fence poked through the tall golden grass. But the corral was basically a ruin. He tied up the horses to a Manzanita bush. Then he helped Amy off the tall mount holding her to him, feeling her softness and breathing in her floral perfume, before setting her on the ground.

  “Thanks.” She rubbed her backside. “Wow, it’s been too long since I’ve been in the saddle. No muscle memory.” She chuckled.

  He glanced at her nicely shaped rear. “There’s some shade over here.” He took a bed roll from Spirit’s western saddle and tucked it under his arm and walked toward a huge spreading oak.

  He slowed his stride as she rushed to keep up with him. They passed through the meadow to the small stand of California Black Oaks. With the blanket rolled out under one of t
he trees, he sat down and from a pocket in the blanket he pulled out two bottles of water. He handed one of them to her.

  She drank the water and then sank slowly onto the blanket next to him. “I think I’m going to be sore tomorrow. But it’s worth it. I love riding.” She pushed her sun glasses to top of her head. “I like the farmland best in the spring. As a kid I remember the rolling hills in bloom with wild flowers. Blue lupines covered this meadow. They’re my favorite flower.” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “The word means Wolf in Latin.”

  He stared at her.

  “Weird, I know. When I was kid I spent a lot of time looking things up in the library.”

  “You were a book worm. And you wore horn rim glasses. I remember you.”

  “Yeah. Thank goodness for contact lenses.”

  He laughed, gave her a hug and then quickly let her go. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “I’m glad you did.”

  Her response startled him. What would she say if he kissed her? Was he crazy to even think of it?

  He reached for her. She came willingly and pressed close to him. The smell of vanilla from her shampoo wafted to him and he felt the warmth of her small breasts as they pressed against his chest. He gazed down at her. Her eye lids fluttered closed and her lips parted.

  His lips brushed hers. Then with a sigh, he took her mouth. It softened under his. He deepened the kiss with the penetration of his tongue. A small moan escaped her. Her breathing quickened. He pulled away when his breathing increased too.

  What the hell am I doing? This wasn’t part of his plan. It was against his better judgment to kiss her and darn it, he wanted to do it again.

  She adjusted her tank top, jumped up from the blanket and ran out to a patch of blue lupines. While he admired her, he saw her pretend to admire an exceptionally well formed flower. She picked it as he caught up with her. “The last one of the summer.” She held it up to him. “Autumn is almost here,” she said lightly.

  “It’s getting late. We better get back.”

  They didn’t talk on the way back to the barn.

  When they got to the farmhouse, he helped her down and she ran inside. He heard the kitchen door close behind her.

  The horses needed him. He went straight to the barn to cool them down. Then he’d pump iron to cool himself down.

  ***

  Amy leaned against the back door and listened to her pounding heart. Calm down. With her hand to her chest she tried to stop the hammering.

  This day had turned out to be much more emotional than she could have ever imagined. She anticipated being affected by seeing the land. She didn’t guess Wyatt would kiss her or that she’d respond to his kiss with so much need.

  The hot air of the kitchen surrounded her. Fresh air was what she needed, but she didn’t want to run into Wyatt again. She threw open the window and inhaled. Seeing him would be more than she could handle right now.

  No matter how much her body reacted to his touch, men were persona non grata in her life. After the divorce from Robert almost four years ago, she’d realized she didn’t need them. All she wanted was to raise Bobby alone. no men, no sex, no problem. She’d been fine with that.

  Without knowing what he was doing to her, Wyatt had touched a nerve with his kiss. Longing for him pulsed through her. Desire threatened to overwhelm her. That wouldn’t do either of them any good. Wyatt had changed everything for her, but he didn’t need to know.

  Sophie had told her about Wyatt’s women. Young beauties that followed him on the rodeo circuit, groupies much more gorgeous than Amy could ever manage. They were volunteering to be his whenever he wanted to take them.

  For him the kiss was just a nice time spent on a warm summer outing, nothing more. He’d probably gone on many such outings.

  “You mean nothing to him,” she whispered in order to brand it on her brain. You mean nothing.

  “Enough!” You’re being ridiculous, acting like a teenager. You’re a grown woman with your own child.

  Okay, it didn’t matter that since the first day she’d seen him so many years ago in high school, she’d wondered what it would be like to kiss him. Today’s kiss made her body sing and was far better than any she’d imagined in her daydreams. His skin hot, muscles taut, mouth soft, whoa, definitely better than her imagination. But that was no reason to run from him as if she were a scared kid running from her first kiss.

  Shoulders back, hand on the door knob, she opened the kitchen door and walked toward the barn. The least she could do was behave like a grownup and help with the horses.

  The barn smelled of new oats when she entered. The horses were in their stalls, saddles and tack already removed. The horses didn’t even bother to whinny when she came near.

  The lights over the exercise equipment were on. As she moved closer she could hear grunts coming from the space. Wyatt was on his back on the weight bench pressing an enormous weight above him. He set the weight on the stand and sat up.

  Dressed in only jeans, the deep breath he took expanded his muscled chest, his golden torso glistened with moisture. When he saw her, one eye brow rose as if to ask, what are you doing here? Or, I certainly didn’t expect to see you here. She wasn’t sure which.

  “I came to help with the horses.”

  “Done.” He grabbed a big towel from a hook near the bench and wiped his abs.”

  She couldn’t stop staring as he made small circles on his skin.

  His mouth turned up slightly at the corners and she was barely aware that he had moved a few steps closer. “I’ll give them some feed when they’re completely cooled down.”

  Before she realized what he was doing he’d thrown the towel around her as a lasso and held her. He dragged her to him and his mouth came down to meet hers.

  Her lips parted to speak, but it was too late. His tongue teased hers. Without volition her tongue teased back. She couldn’t pull away from what he offered because she wanted it more than he did.

  As her lips opened further, she reached forward and pulled him nearer to her. He pressed against her until their hips met. She sighed and ran her hand through his thick hair. Her eyes closed as she tasted him.

  He walked her back a couple of steps, still holding her to him and slowly, gently lowered her to the fresh hay by the stall. The smell of man, hay and leather sent a shot of adrenaline through her body and her hips jerked upward.

  His tongue fluttered around her neck and her body tingled. She moaned just before he returned to kiss her again.

  Gently, he caressed her breasts first one and then the other. Her nipples tightened waiting for more attention.

  Too long. It had been so long since she’d been touched. She didn’t know her body would cry out for it. But it wasn’t consideration from any man she wanted. Only Wyatt’s embrace could cause her thunderous reactions and her wish for more.

  Her heart slammed against her rib cage when he slid the straps of her tank top and bra off her shoulder. Her breathing quickened. His breath was rapid too. Soon their inhalations became synchronized and their bodies began to move in an undulating chorus.

  “Mommy. Mommy.”

  “No.” Amy pulled away from Wyatt and jerked to a sitting position. “It’s my son, Bobby.”

  CHAPTER 8

  “I thought he wasn’t coming here until tomorrow.” Wyatt said, brushing hay from his shirt.

  “Me too,” Amy whispered.

  “Where are you?”

  “That’s Nan. She’s taking care of Bobby.” Amy jumped up. “I’ll be right there Nan,” she shouted and hoped her friend would stay outside. She ran from the barn and the door slammed behind her.

  Nan dressed in black jeans, a black t-shirt and hooded sweat shirt, her hand on her slim hip, stared at her.

  “God girl, at least fix your bra and get the straw out of your hair before Bobby see’s you,” she scolded.

  “Where is he?”

  “I told him to get back in the car until I found you. If you like,
I can take him to a McDonalds so you can finish what you’ve started.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, it’s not like that. And I’ve been waiting for days to see Bobby. Anyway, there’s no fast food in town.”

  Wyatt came out of the barn. Still shirtless, he nodded as he walked by Nan, but he didn’t stop.

  “Is that the handyman?” Nan whispered.

  “Hush, he can hear you. He’s not a handyman. Well, I mean he is— sort of. Uh, it’s a long story.”

  “I just bet he is. And it looks like you were ready to take all of it.” Nan winked and unzipped the hooded shirt and fluffed her short spiky brown hair. “It’s hot up here.”

  “Nan, for pity’s sake.” Amy watched her friend’s mouth open wide about to speak again.

  “I’m warning you.” She glared at Nan, but couldn’t help smiling. The woman always spoke her mind, called them like she saw them. That was one of the reasons they got along. She always knew where she stood with Nan.

  She watched her friend stare at Wyatt until he disappeared into the cottage.

  “Girlfriend, I didn’t think you had it in you. I leave you on your own for a short time and you do all right. More than all right.” She reached up and yanked a piece of straw from Amy’s hair and laughed. “Does he have a brother?”

  Amy rolled her eyes and yanked the strap of her top up before she walked toward her friends car parked at the end of the driveway.

  “Mommy!” Bobby ran from the car and jumped into her arms.

  “Honey, I missed you so much.” She kissed his cheek and ruffled his strawberry blonde hair. His blue eyes sparkled. Always small for his age he seemed smaller, paler. Maybe it was because she’d grown stronger and tan since coming to the hot climate, while her son had been living in the foggy city.

  “Can we get a doggie now?”

  Amy laughed and hugged him again. “I’ve missed you baby.”

  “But can we?”

  Wyatt appeared in the doorway of the barn. Amy hadn’t seen him return from the cottage.

  Bobby wiggled out of her arms. “Mommy, who’s that?”

  “Uh.” She glanced at Wyatt.

  He grinned, but didn’t say anything.