Page 72 of Indigo Ridge (The Edens 1)

“Coming.” I chugged the rest of my cup, then strode down the hallway and out the door, where my men were waiting.

After grabbing my favorite Stetson, I waved goodbye to Mom and headed for the barn. Everyone had saddled their horses, so while they visited, I made my way to Jupiter’s stall.

“Hey, fella.” I ran my hand over his buckskin cheek, letting him nuzzle me for a moment before I went through the motions I’d done a thousand times, combing him off before strapping on his saddle.

Jupiter had been my horse for the past decade. He was the best I’d ever had. Strong and confident with a tender heart. On days I needed to clear my head, he’d do it with me. We’d ride off through the valley or into the forest and I’d unload the burdens with the steady sway of his canter.

I led him from his stall, snagging my favorite pair of chaps from a hook on the wall, then together we walked into the sunshine. “Ready for a long day?”

Jupiter answered by nudging my shoulder.

I grinned, ruffling the black tuft of hair between his ears. “Me too.”

As promised, the day was long. We rode for miles, moving the cattle into their summer grazing home in the section of the mountains that we leased from the forest service. The animals would have more grass than they could consume, and with them there, they’d help alleviate the risk of a forest fire.

On the return trip, I broke apart from the guys. They headed to the stables at Mom and Dad’s place, where they all kept their horses. It was a benefit of working on our ranch—free boarding. While I continued on alone to my place.

Home was a happy sight.

So was the woman standing beside her Durango in my driveway.

I swung off Jupiter, my legs stiff as I walked to Winn. Wearing a pair of jeans and a simple sage-green blouse, she was breathtaking.

“When I show up here, I’m going to need you to be wearing that.” She pointed from my hat to my chaps to my boots. “Every time.”

I chuckled as she moved into my space. “I’ve been in the saddle all day. I smell like a horse.”

“I don’t care.” She stood on her toes, going for my lips.

I bent, ready to take her mouth, when my horse shoved his nose between us. “Do you mind?”

Winn laughed. “Who’s this?”

“Jupiter.”

“Jupiter. Interesting name for a horse.”

“Eloise named him. Dad bought eight horses ten years ago. She was into some science project for school about the solar system, so she named them all after planets.”

“I like it.” She reached up, hesitating for a second before touching his cheek. “Hey, Jupiter.”

He nuzzled her palm. My horse was as smart as they came. He knew quality attention when he got it.

“Let me get him put away. Head on in. Make yourself at home.” I took the kiss I needed, then winked and escorted Jupiter to the barn. After get

ting him settled, I returned to the house, finding her on the porch, rocking in one of the chairs.

She had a beer in her hand and another ready for me.

What a sight she was.

Most days like this, I’d come home to an empty house and pray that no one showed up at my doorstep. I craved the time alone, the time to decompress. But I hadn’t had a night alone in a week. And at the moment, I didn’t want one.

“I figured you’d want one of these.” She motioned to the beer as I walked up the porch.

“Yeah.” I sat down, tipping the beer to my lips and quenching my thirst.

She took her own drink as her eyes raked over my legs. “You are sexy on that horse, cowboy.”