After our stop at the working facility to check on a grumpy Carson, we head for the feyard. While we ride, I give him the rundown on the ranch—how many head of cattle and horses, the feedyard, plus the hay ground production. I tell him how we train the young horses we breed and then sell them as finished horses after using them on the ranch for a couple of years.
I’d rather bring it all up now and gauge his response. I heard what he said to my dad about the ranch, but that could’ve been a normal compliment. He wouldn’t be the first to say it. I’m probably just paranoid.
“Originally, Dad bought calves to fill the feed
yard but once he and Grandpa brought in new genetics to the herd, we started producing super high-quality meat. That allowed him to open a locker and sell directly to high-end restaurants and ski resorts around Denver. We might have lost the ranch if Dad hadn’t started that program.”
“Wow, you all have a lot going on. Where is the locker?”
“It’s on the far side of the yard. We can’t see it from the side we were on.” I turn toward my favorite pasture at the base of a mountain, and we ride in silence for a while. I’ve been so busy on the ranch and with roping, I don’t remember the last time I rode this pasture. The grass is that bright green you only get in the spring and wildflowers are starting to sprout in the fence lines and under trees.
Knox clears his throat and looks a little nervous. I’m starting to wonder if he’s going to ask me to dinner again when he says, “So I could use a second set of hands with Buck for the next few days. I want to get him used to another person and get some weight in the saddle. Do you think you could help me?”
Oh, that wasn’t what I was expecting. “Yeah, of course.” I’ve seen him working with Buck, and I actually have a few questions about his training method. “Just let me know what time you think you’ll be over tomorrow, and I’ll make sure I’m around.”
He gives me a crooked smile. “Great, will do.”
I point out a few more things about the ranch, but for the most part, we settle into silence the rest of the ride. I expected it to be awkward, but it’s not. I’ve always been more of the quiet, introverted type. Maybe he is too—the silence doesn’t seem to bother him.
He hasn’t made me uncomfortable with any of his questions about the ranch, he never asked about money, or even how many employees we have. He seems more interested in my role on the ranch and what I enjoy about it.
Maybe Jessie is right, and this will work. Knox seems relaxed around me and hasn’t flirted or asked me out again on our ride. Maybe we could be friends. I could do that. We can work with Buck and shoe horses, maybe I can even convince Carson to give the guy a chance and we can go rope some steers. I remember Jack said he can rope.
Once we return to the main barn, Knox helps me unsaddle the horses, and I walk him out to his truck.
“Thanks for the tour,” he says.
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“You bet. Have a good night, Kace.” He smiles, and as I watch him walk away, I notice I’m biting my lower lip. He called me Kace, and I like the sound of the nickname on his lips.
Friends. Just friends, Kacey,I remind myself.
No chance of heartbreak with a friend.
Chapter 11
Knox
Three missed calls from Trey.
“Have kids,” they say. “It’ll be fun,” they say. Well, I have Trey, and I’m not having fun. This morning sucked, none of the horses stood, so it took way longer than planned, and I want to get to the ranch and see Kacey. But if I don’t call him back, he’ll just keep trying me.
Trey picks up on the first ring. “Can I come to Colorado?”
“What? No.” I climb in the truck and turn the key. My phone connects to the truck speakers that I had blaring this morning, so at full volume I hear, “But Daaad—”
“Stop it,” I cut him off. “What do you want? I’ve been shoeing asshole horses all morning and have somewhere to be.”
“Wow, someone’s crabby. You need to get laid. I know a girl in Denver, she does this thing with her—”
“NOPE. Stop right there. Any girl who has done anything to you, with you, or for you, is a no go for me.”
“You don’t even know her. She’s a nice girl, could be the future Mrs. Ward, for all you know.”
I sigh and put the truck in drive. “Again, I ask, what do you want, Trey?”
“I’m soooo bored. There’s nothing fun to do here,” he whines.
