Taming the Cowboy

by Aarsen, Carolyne

  He could hear Mason’s low murmur as Tricia adjusted the saddle portion of the harness.

  Seamus looked up as they approached, whickering lightly.

  Tricia looked over her shoulder and smiled her welcome.

  “I’ll be with you in a minute,” she said, turning her attention back to the harness she and Mason were working with.

  Then, when she was done, she walked backwards from the horse then climbed up the fence and jumped down, hurrying over to them. “Hey, brother,” she called out, launching herself at Elliot, throwing her arms around him. “I’m so glad to see you again.” She squealed and hugged him. Hard.

  Nothing like a happy homecoming, he thought, stepping away from Tricia.

  “It’s only been a few weeks since I was here,” he reminded her.

  “Doesn’t matter. We haven’t seen each other much the past while. I celebrate any time you’re around.”

  “Well I’m glad to be home to help with the wedding.”

  “Are you? That’s not what Faith said,” Tricia said with a chuckle.

  “I imagine you met Kinsley already,” he said, shrugging Tricia’s comment off as he caught Kinsley’s wry glance.

  “We said hello last night, but it was a gong show. Kids were tired and cranky from the long drive and Mason was bushed from all the driving. I tell you, we’re not heading down to Sweet Creek again anytime soon.” Tricia flashed Kinsley a smile. “Hope the kids weren’t too noisy for you.”

  “It was fine,” Kinsley said. “I hardly heard them.”

  “Where are they now?” Elliot asked.

  “Dad’s watching them. Just for a few minutes, then I got to get back until it’s time for them to have their afternoon nap.” She sighed, glancing at Mason, who was adjusting the harness. “This horse training business is taking more time than I figured on. I might need to look at getting a nanny for the kids.”

  “Don’t look at me,” Elliot said, raising his hands in a defensive gesture.

  “As if I could count on you to stick around,” Tricia snorted. She turned back to Kinsley. “And I hear the wedding plans are coming around? I saw the flowerpots. That’s a genius idea.”

  “Thanks, but it wasn’t mine. That was Faith’s vision.”

  “I was wondering. Doesn’t seem like the usual wedding planner concept I see on my Pinterest boards.”

  “Ah. Pinterest. The bane of many a wedding planner,” Kinsley said with an unexpected touch of wry humor.

  “I bet. I’m sure there are more Mason jar ideas than you know what to do with.”

  “They have taken over the wedding boards for the past few years. I think they’re a little overdone, but it could work with Faith’s overall rustic theme. And I found some unique ideas we could use. I’ve seen some spray-painted or frosted—”

  “I’m here to see the horses,” Elliot said, breaking into the scintillating conversation. “Mason jars are just things to put peaches and plums in. Can we go now?” He took a step away from the girls, hoping he wouldn’t get roped into painting said Mason jars. “I thought I should introduce Kinsley to the horses. Just so she knows what to expect.” He gave Kinsley an encouraging smile. “So. Should we go?”

  “I guess.” Kinsley pressed her hand to her midsection then took a deep breath.

  “You make it seem like an ordeal,” Tricia joked.

  “Speaking of ordeals, you might want to go help Mason with that crupper,” Elliot said before Tricia could get started on another topic.

  “Right. Of course. We’ll talk later,” she said to Kinsley, then jogged off to join her fiancé.

  Elliot resisted the urge to take Kinsley’s arm to help her along. Though part of the reason for the hitch in her step, he was sure, was her sore ankle, he also suspected the other was her previous injury. And he knew she wouldn’t thank him if he tried to help her.

  “I thought there were two horses,” Kinsley said as they walked to the gate.

  “There will be. I think the other one is still in the corrals. They’re both part of a team that Zach talked about training to use in chuck wagon races at one time.”

  “He never competed?”

  “They were still young when he bought them,” Elliot said as they came closer to the pen. “Training horses for the chucks requires a lot of commitment, and by the time we all came around I think he shelved that dream. It also costs a lot of money, and I don’t think us kids were cheap to have around.” He added a smile just to make sure she knew he was teasing.

  “I can imagine the grocery bill was fairly enormous.”

  “Hence the canning of the peaches,” Elliot added. “So if you’re looking for Mason jars, I’m sure there’s dozens and dozens of them downstairs in the cold storage room.”

  “Well, we’ll see how that all comes together.” Kinsley bit her lip and rested her hands on the top railing of the fence panel between the large posts of the round pen.

  “This one’s Seamus. He’s probably about eighteen years old. Tricia used to compete with him once Zach gave up on said chuck wagon racing, so he’s been around the block a few times. His teammate, Sancho, is a little younger, but they’re from the same stud and mare. So brothers, if you will.”

  Elliot tried to look at the horses through her eyes. Tried to see what could possibly terrify her and understand her point of view. To him they were just horses. Calm, quiet. Bombproof.

  Her hands were clenching the top of the fence, and he easily saw the hurried rise and fall of her chest.

  “So just look at them for now,” Elliot said. “Just get used to being around them.”

  “I’m hardly around them if I’m on this side of the fence,” Kinsley said with a shaky voice.

  “Every journey starts with one small step,” Elliot replied.

  She shot him another wry look. “I didn’t know you were so profound.”

  “I have depths yet to be plumbed. I’m a man of hidden thoughts and complex ponderings.”

  “I’m intrigued,” Kinsley said.

  Elliot grinned. It was worth spouting off just to see the twinkle in her eye, the curve of a smile on her lips.

  The longer they stood there the looser she clung to the fence. It helped that despite Mason and Tricia struggling with the harnesses, Seamus stood patiently, flicking his ears at a few stray flies, but otherwise unfazed at the incompetence that Mason and Tricia were displaying.

  “I’d offer to help, but I know even less about that business than you do,” Elliot called out.

  “Not really a spectator sport,” Mason returned, sounding annoyed.

  Elliot rested his arms on the top rail of the fence, grinning. “I should get some popcorn.”

  But Mason just ignored him, still working on the breeching, getting it under the horse’s tail. “I sure hope Faith appreciates all the work we’re doing for this,” Mason said as he walked around the horse, adjusting and pulling on the belly band. “Not exactly what I signed up for when I agreed to help Tricia train her horses.”

  “You’re gonna be part of this family,” Elliot said. “May as well get used to getting roped in to help with things you know nothing about.”

  “Good thing I’m a fast learner,” Mason said.

  “I take it you’ve never harnessed a team of horses before?” Kinsley asked him.

  “It’s been a few years,” Mason admitted, looking at her over the top of Seamus. “Thank goodness I’ve got a patient team to work with.”

  “You can come in the pen if you want,” Tricia offered. “Seamus is so calm. He won’t mind the extra people.”

  Elliot wanted to take Tricia up on the offer, however, he also knew that it had to be up to Kinsley.

  But Kinsley was already shaking her head no.

  “Are you sure?” he asked. “I’ll come in with you.”

  To his surprise his offer made her hesitate.

  “I don’t know.”

  Should he push? Hold back?

  Her reluctance bothered him. He sensed if she w
ould just make one small move, he could build on that.

  “Or we could just step inside the pen,” he said. “You don’t have to do anything more than that.”

  “One small step for Kinsley, one giant leap for overcoming my fears,” she said, rubbing her hands against her legs again.

  Her answer surprised him but also generated a spark of hope.

  “Okay, follow me,” he said.

  He walked toward the opening, watching her the entire time. When he unlatched the gate to get into the round pen, he saw her hesitate, but then she lifted her chin and walked slowly past him.

  He was right behind her, vigilant, making sure she wasn’t going to either fall or freak out.

  He heard her long, slow intake of breath and had to curl his hands into fists to stop from touching her. Supporting her.

  A pause in her step, a faltering movement, her limp suddenly more pronounced.

  Seamus nickered softly, as if inviting her to come forward.

  “Just wait a minute,” Mason said to Kinsley. “I’ll take the harness off. He’ll feel more relaxed then.”

  This made Kinsley stop but, thankfully, she didn’t step away.

  It took Tricia and Mason less time to remove the harness and the collar than it did to put it all on, and then Seamus was free.

  “Just take a couple of steps toward him,” Elliot said, keeping his voice quiet more to keep from spooking Kinsley than Seamus. “Then stop and wait.”

  “What will happen?”

  A tiny reed of fear threaded her voice, but Elliot was so proud of her for not leaving. For at least trying.

  “He’ll come to you and then stop to see what you want to do.”

  “But he’ll stop.”

  “He will.” Elliot kept his focus on Kinsley but was also keeping part of his attention on Seamus, making sure he didn’t come too close.

  Kinsley clenched her fists but stayed where she was. Sure enough, Seamus was curious enough about their presence that he took a few ambling steps forward and, as Elliot promised, stopped. He snorted but stayed where he was.

  “And now you can move a bit closer,” Elliot said, his voice persuasive.

  Kinsley hesitated a moment but then took a few halting steps toward Seamus who, thankfully, stayed where he was, watching.

  “Lift your hand slowly and just touch his head.” Elliot was right beside her, hovering but trying to look like he wasn’t hovering.

  Again Kinsley wavered, but, to Elliot’s surprise, she did exactly what he told her to do. While she moved, Elliot sent up a silent prayer that Seamus would behave. Not make any sudden movements. But Seamus lived up to Elliot’s expectations and even lowered his head as Kinsley’s shaking hand reached out.

  She touched the blaze on his face, withdrew, but then reached out again with more confidence.

  “You better behave yourself,” she said to him as she stroked his head.

  Seamus blinked slowly, looking the picture of relaxation.

  “Do you want to come in closer?” Elliot asked, pleased at her progress. “Stroke his neck.”

  “Um, I think I’m okay for now,” Kinsley said, but she continued stroking Seamus’s nose, looking far more relaxed than she had when she stepped into the pen.

  He wanted to encourage her, tell her she was doing great, but realized how patronizing that would sound. She’d been around horses before. She knew, roughly, what to expect. She just needed to find her way around them again.

  Seamus nudged her hand, as if he too was pushing her to do more than stroke his forehead. She chuckled lightly then took another uncertain step closer.

  Then she was standing beside the horse, rubbing her hand over his neck, her mouth wreathed in a smile that made Elliot jealous of Seamus.

  “You’re a good boy,” she murmured as she rubbed his neck, patting him lightly. Then she looked up at Elliot. “You were right. He’s very calm.”

  Their eyes met, held, and he couldn’t look away. It was as if everything else faded and it was just the two of them, their gazes locked.

  His breathing shifted and, before he even realized what he was doing, his hand was resting on her shoulder, his forefinger gently caressing her neck.

  Her lips were parted and her breath came quicker. Elliot shifted just a little closer. Nearer.

  Then she seemed to come to herself, blinked, and broke the connection by looking away.

  What was he thinking?

  Elliot dropped his hand, suddenly flustered. Suddenly aware of Tricia and Mason watching him.

  “So, I better get back to working on that wagon,” he said, shifting his stance. Moving away from Kinsley.

  “Of course,” she said, her smile suddenly forced and wooden. “I should go too.” She sounded breathless, and he wondered if she’d been as affected by their brief connection as he had.

  He knew he should leave it be, but he wasn’t ready to let her go. He wanted to talk to her. Alone.

  And what? Ask her if she would let you kiss her? Because that wouldn’t be stupid at all.

  Yet he felt as if he was on the cusp of something different. As if maybe, possibly, things were shifting between them, and he wanted to see where it was going.

  He gave Mason and Tricia a half-hearted wave, ignoring their knowing looks. He opened the gate for Kinsley, not trusting himself to look at her as she walked through.

  He latched the gate and slowed his pace to match hers, his thoughts racing. She had affected him in a way that was surprising and not unwelcome. He wanted to spend more time with her. And not working on the wedding.

  “Hey, I was wondering if…well…” his words drifted off as he found himself, for the first time in years, unsure of what to say around a woman.

  “If what?” she asked, looking at him, a faint smile curving her lips.

  He hesitated, not sure how to ask.

  “So this is where you all are hanging out?”

  The horses in the corral beside them whinnied as the familiar voice sounded across the yard. Elliot turned to see Denise, astride a horse, coming at a trot toward them.

  Elliot stifled a stab of annoyance at her sudden and inconvenient appearance.

  And then he heard Kinsley’s swift intake of breath. He shot her a concerned glance and saw, again, the same look on her face that he’d seen when he almost ran her over the first time they met.

  “Slow down, Denise,” he called out, taking a step between Kinsley and the oncoming horse. “Pull up right there.”

  “Sure. Of course,” she said, sounding puzzled as she stopped her horse. “Everything okay?”

  “Kinsley is…uncomfortable around your horse.” He didn’t know if Kinsley would appreciate the comment, but he didn’t know what else to say.

  “Pinto is fine. You know that.” Denise sounded put out and puzzled at the same time.

  His old girlfriend had been riding since before she could walk. Elliot knew she couldn’t imagine why anyone would possibly feel uncomfortable around a horse.

  “I do, but please, just keep your distance.”

  “Sure.” Still puzzled, Denise vaulted off her horse in one easy movement. She slipped the reins over Pinto’s head and then hesitated, unsure what to do next.

  Elliot saw Kinsley’s hands curl into fists, could almost feel the tension radiating off her. She had been so comfortable with Seamus, he was surprised she was this upset with Pinto. The horse was just standing there, as quiet as Seamus had been.

  “Come and say hi to Pinto?” Denise was asking Kinsley. “He’s extremely well behaved.”

  Kinsley licked her lips, then lifted her chin in a defiant gesture. Elliot thought she would say no. He was surprised when she moved past him. She was walking stiffly, as if trying to hide her uneven gait, but she had a determined look on her face.

  Pinto turned toward her, lowering his head as she came close.

  “He loves getting scratched between his eyes,” Denise said, her tone encouraging.

  Kinsley hesitated for a f
raction of a second, then, moved closer and rubbed Pinto’s head.

  Elliot grinned at the sight. She was more confident this time than she had been with Seamus.

  “Hey, Pinto,” she murmured as she scratched his head. You’re a pretty horse.”

  “He’s the best,” Denise said. “Do you want to take him for a ride?”

  Kinsley took a quick step back at that, giving Denise a quick, decisive shake of her head. “Thanks. That’s generous, but I should get back to…back to work.”

  “Right. You’re planning the wedding. Sure hope the weather holds for it.”

  “Me too.” Another bright smile, a hesitant look back at him, and then she was leaving them. Elliot could tell she was trying hard not to limp, but her step was still uneven. His heart broke for her.

  He wanted to rush after her, to tell her how proud he was of her, but guessed it would A, look patronizing, and B, sound patronizing.

  Neither of which she would appreciate.

  Denise walked her horse over to the corral where Mason and Tricia were putting the harness back on Seamus. Guess they wanted the practice. While Denise had ridden up they had gotten the collar on and wrestled the harness on the horse more quickly this time.

  “She scared of horses?” Denise asked once Kinsley was out of earshot. He hoped.

  Elliot didn’t want to talk about Kinsley without her there. Nor did he want to expound on why. Kinsley had confided in him and he didn’t want to betray her trust.

  “So what brings you here?” he asked, shifting the topic.

  “Just wanted to say hello. Not often we’re both in town at the same time.”

  “That’s true. How’s the job?” He would have preferred to catch up to Kinsley, talk to her, explore the changing emotions between them. But Denise had ridden all the way over here, he had to at least be polite.

  Denise chattered on about her new job working as a consultant for a feed company. How much she loved it and how she got to travel.

  Elliot wasn’t the least bit interested, but he played along, determined to be polite.