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“Then do you accept my terms?”
She came another step closer. “So let me get this straight. You will fix my car—”
“With your help.”
“Right, with my help. If I teach you how to stay on a horse?”
“And help me find an event I can do reasonably well in.”
Faye snorted, which wasn’t what he’d expected. “When do you want to be able to compete by? I hope you’re not dimwitted enough to think that you can just learn how to compete with the big leaguers in a couple weeks. Those people have been riding since they were in diapers. They know their stuff.”
“It can’t be that hard to hold onto a bucking horse.”
She shook her head. “That’swhat you want to compete in? Bronc riding? Are you crazy? No. Forget it. I’m not going to sit back and watch you make a fool of yourself and possibly get killed in the process.” She turned to march back up the stairs, but his hand shot out to grasp hers. Faye turned to look at him once more.
“Then teach me to ride and a few techniques.”
“What does your dad have to say about this? Or your girlfriend?”
His face heated. “My dad has long since stopped caring what I do. He didn’t care when I left town, and he’s not going to care if I enter a competition. And I don’t have a girlfriend…yet.”
Something flickered in her eyes. He wasn’t sure what it was, but there was some kind of understanding that passed between them.
“You’re doing this to impress a girl, aren’t you?”
“So what if I am?” This was the biggest reason he preferred not to spend time with women. They always had to get in his business when it came to dating or other girls. Guys were more straightforward. They’d ask a question here or there, but they never judged him for the answers he gave.
Her eyes dipped to where he still held her hand which prompted him to release her. Faye turned to face him all the way but leaned her hip against the stair railing. “If you need to get bucked off a horse to impress a girl, then she’s not the right girl for you.”
As hard as he fought it, Adam couldn’t help rolling his eyes. “What is it with women and all the judgment? Don’t forget that men competing for a woman’s attention goes back centuries. Today it might not be duels or jousting, but it’s still prevalent. She hangs around tough guys all day—guys who know how to handle horses. So what if I want to throw my hat into the ring? Look, if you’re not willing to help me, then your truck doesn’t get fixed and I just find someone else who’s willing to give me lessons.”
Faye studied him as if her next words were going to be the most important ones she’d need to utter. For a moment he thought she would decline just like she had a few minutes ago. But then she let out a resigned sigh. “Fine. I’ll teach you about horse riding. But I’m not going to support you getting your butt kicked in the rodeo ring.”
“Fine. You don’t have to help me learn how to ride a bronco. Just help me figure my way around a saddle and stuff.”
She pressed her lips together once more. “You’re not going to give up on this, are you? You’re still going to try to compete in a rodeo this summer.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know why that matters.”
“Because—” She cut herself off and shook her head. “Never mind. You’re right. It doesn’t matter. I’ll teach you what I can. You do whatever you want.”
3
Faye
It had been one week since Faye had agreed to teach Adam to ride a horse, and today was the day he said he’d come by the ranch to get started. Her father was aware of their arrangement, and she couldn’t tell if he was upset about any of it. When she’d told him, he’d just grunted and turned back to the magazine he was flipping through.
The agreement Faye had made with Adam suited her just fine. She itched to get out of the house more and more as of late due to how quiet it had become. Adeline still hung around even though she was married and lived in the head-ranch-hand’s cabin. But she didn’t share meals with them anymore. Half of her sisters were married now, leaving only Brielle, Eloise, Grace and herself—though Grace would be getting married this summer and soon clear out of their childhood home.
These thoughts led her to observe her father a little more. What would he do when they were all gone? It wasn’t too hard to imagine the strict rules he used to force on them were to keep them around just a little longer.
Well, she wasn’t going to leave any time soon, so he wouldn’t have to worry about being entirely alone for a good couple of years.
Faye kissed the top of his head after clearing her breakfast plate. He offered her a smile and she headed for the door. She didn’t have any idea as to how well Adam would take to riding. For all she knew, he’d be just like the newbies down at the Equestrian Therapy Center that Shane ran. Or he could be a natural.
Either way, she didn’t think the trade was all that fair. She was getting a great deal more out of it than he was. She just hoped he didn’t realize it before he was done fixing her truck.
Right as Faye exited the house, Adam’s truck pulled up in the driveway. She slowed and then came to a stop as he climbed out of the truck and headed toward her. Her gaze swept over him from head to toe. He wore a baseball cap, T-shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes. And that’s when her cursory check stopped.
