Kamal let out a huge guffaw, turning to Adam. “I like this cowboy. I think he’ll work out fine.”
I found myself grinning as I removed the gloves and arranged the silky horsehair so the strands fell in attractive waves over Hunter’s thighs. I patted the ponyboy on the rear as he backed away and admired my handiwork.
Kamal put a hand on my shoulder as he told Hunter to stand and join the others. He held a hand out to me. “Welcome aboard, Jensen. I look forward to working with you.”
I took Kamal’s warm hand, shaking firmly but feeling less confident all of a sudden. What had I gotten myself into? A lot of hard work and torturous arousal was in store for me over the next few weeks. I’d be jerking off three times a night at this rate if I could keep control of myself during my daily duties.
“Come on, I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping, Jensen,” Adam said. “Stable hands sleep with the ponyboys in the bunkhouse.”
I had started walking toward Adam and Luke, but halted in my tracks. My eyes met the gazes of three handsome ponyboys as I stuttered my surprise.
“I’m—what?”
“Luke, Ben, Hunter, ten more laps around the ring please. Keep your knees up, especially you two with the beautiful tails,” Kamal ordered as Adam led me out of the arena and shut the door behind us.
I suddenly felt light-headed and took off my hat, fanning myself and leaning heavily against the arena wall.
“You okay? I know this place is a lot to take in, especially when you were expecting something completely different.”
I nodded, suddenly wanting to be alone. I cleared my throat. “Can I… Can I think things over? Or do I have to make a decision right now?”
Adam’s forehead wrinkled. “You could take a walk up to the resort if you want. It’s about twenty minutes along the path, and the site is pretty impressive. There’s a café if you want to sit and have a drink before you walk back.”
I felt relief wash over me. “Yeah, that would be fantastic.” I needed a minute to breathe and assess the situation with a clear head.
Adam put a hand on my back. “You were like a natural in there, by the way. I do think you have great potential here. But I know this was a pretty big shock.”
“I mean, yeah. For sure. But, honestly, my head is filled with what I’ve seen over the past hour and I need to sort it out before I make such a big commitment.”
“I’m glad you’re taking this offer seriously because our stable hand position is an important job and crucial to what we do here. It takes a certain kind of person to do the job well, and I think you really have the touch, Jensen. But you’re the only one who can decide.”
Adam showed me the path to the resort hotel and spa and assured me there wasn’t anything kinky about the restaurant and establishment.
“Just a run-of-the-mill high-end hotel. One of about fifty in this neck of the woods.”
I raised my eyebrow.
“Well, we needed something to make us stand out.” Adam laughed. “Be back here in an hour or so and tell me what you’ve decided. I’ll take you to the bunkhouse then.”
“Why do the stable hands stay in the bunkhouse with the ponyboys?” I asked, curious as to the unusual set-up.
“Why does a real stable hand stay in the barn with the horses when one of them is ill or not-quite-right?”
“Well, to keep close and make sure the horse knows it’s being looked after. Oh,” I said, illumination dawning.
“We find the intimacy of bunking together facilitates and enhances the bond between stable hand and ponyboy. You all get to know one another as people, and the things going on in the grooming barn don’t seem so unusual,” Adam said. “Sometimes a—” Adam struggled to find the right words. “—more usual kind of intimate relationship develops between ponyboys, or between a stable hand and a ponyboy. We don’t have any rules against sexual relations in those circumstances, in case you’re wondering. But be careful. Some of the ponyboys can be jerks when it comes to personal relationships.” Adam shrugged. “Like anyone else.”
*
The paved path to the BCR resort began behind the main offices, skirted around the barns and outbuildings, and weaved through the forest until the landscape opened up beside a magnificent lake.
Welcome to the Braided Crop Ranch Resort and Spa.
Adam Marsland hadn’t been kidding when he’d said the ranch resort was a high-end hotel. The large three-story building was painted a bright white with grey trim. A massive porch wrapped around the building, on which were scattered a number of deck chairs and small tables, with decorative lighting draped over the railings and hanging from the roof.
My eyes were drawn to the large beach fronting the lake, where numerous adults enjoyed the strong afternoon sun, dressed in swimwear and light clothing, stretched out on towels or on lounge chairs with umbrellas blocking the worst of the heat. The entire scene wouldn’t have been out of place on the French Riviera; luxury and wealth seeped from everything.
I wandered up to the cheery café called the Saddlery, ignoring the feel of several gazes upon me. I opened the glass door and stepped inside, gazing around the pleasant open space of the small eatery filled with light from a number of skylights and large windows. The room was devoid of other customers at the moment.
