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“He is beautiful.”
It took him a moment to realize she was talking about Cash. “He is.” Cash’s light gray coat shined in the morning sun. His mane was longer than most and he was as ornery as he was beautiful.
“Does he have a name?”
“Cash.” He patted the horse’s neck. “Holden Avery has the best horses in Montana as far as I’m concerned, and Cash is the finest he’s ever bred. He cost me a small fortune too, hence his name.”
She smiled. “I am sure he is worth every penny you paid for him.”
“He is.” She said nothing else and looked toward the house. He took that as a sign their conversation was over. “Well, I guess I better head home and get cleaned up. Holden’s probably wondering where I am.”
The climb into Cash’s saddle hurt like hell, but he managed to do it without groaning in pain in front of her. “So, I’ll see you at the Avery’s party?”
“Aaron and Betsey will insist I go so, yes, I suppose you will.”
“Good.” He clicked his tongue to get Cash moving. “Don’t forget to bring my cookies.”
Her growing smile chased him out of the barnyard.
Chapter Three
The Avery ranch stretched across the valley clean to the mountains. The green pastures were dotted with cows on one side and horses on the other and there were so many cowboys working the land, it was hard to tell who was at work and who was actually here for the party.
Morning Dove found a shady spot under one of the big trees dotting the property and watched Samuel for Betsey and Aaron. The people in attendance were their friends, not hers, and it seemed as if everyone wanted to talk to them.
Aaron had once worked the ranch along with Ben and dozens of others, but since taking a job in town, he did not get to see these men often enough. Percy Goins, the livery stable owner, and his boss, had given Aaron the day off to enjoy it with his family. Ben, on the other hand, still had to work.
She looked for him off and on all day and had yet to see him. Not that it would be easy to do. It seemed as if the entire town was here. There were tables set up filled with so much food it would never get eaten. There was music and baked sweets and James Avery, who she was told lived inside his own head most of the time, appeared to be enjoying his party. He sat nearby under another shade tree, his grizzled face weathered with lines and tanned despite looking too old to do much outdoors. But it was clear his family loved him, especially his granddaughter, Alexandra. She and her twins had not left his side all day.
“You don’t have to sit here by yourself, Morning Dove.” Aaron squatted near the edge of the blanket she was sitting on, looking down at Samuel. “He’s sleeping so go grab something to eat.”
“I have already eaten.”
“Then go stretch your legs.”
She stared at him, her eyes narrowing. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“No.” He sat back on his haunches and braced his hands on his knees. “But you shouldn’t hide out over here by yourself.”
“I am not hiding. I am in plain sight of anyone looking this way.”
He leaned his head to one side. “You know what I mean.”
She looked away. She did. He expected her to mingle with the townsfolk and laugh and talk with them as he and Betsey did. Even if she made the effort, those things would never happen. All she had to do was get near someone to have them walk the other way.
Instead of arguing, she nodded and stood up, her bones popping from sitting in the same position for so long. She walked toward the horse pasture avoiding everyone who was congregating. Horses by the dozens roamed the green grasses, a small cluster of mares near the fence.
Several cowboys were riding in the distance, and she wondered if one of them was Ben. It would explain his absence at the party.
He had been on her mind since he stepped in between her and those men in town. The beating he had taken for it—for her—was not something she would ever forget. It made those tender feelings she had for him grow exponentially, and try as she might, she could not push them away.
One cowboy headed straight for her. She backed away from the fence, thinking perhaps she should not be leaning on it, but stopped when she recognized Ben, or rather, Ben’s horse, Cash. His gray coat shined in the noonday sun. It was hard to mistake him.
Ben was smiling when he reached the fence line. He slid from Cash’s back, letting his reins dangle as he left him to graze. Sweat slicked his skin and ran down his neck into the collar of his shirt. He lifted his hat and wiped his face with his shirt sleeve before placing it back on his head.
“Please tell me you’re hanging out over here in hopes you’d see me?”
She felt herself blush, knowing she had been looking for him off and on all day. She hid a smile when he leaned against the fence, bracing his arms on the top rail. He smelled of sweat and horses and his shirt was more wet than dry, but he had never looked as rugged as he did now.
