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“Is Belle okay?” Brett walked over to her stall where the pretty mare stood with her graceful, chestnut head with the bright white star hanging over the half gate.
“She will be.” Slade sighed, stroking the mare’s velvet nose while he crooned to her. “I’ve wrapped an ice pack around her ankle and injected a pain killer. If the swelling hasn’t gone down by morning, I’ll call the vet. Fuck. I guess it could have been a lot worse, and the others won’t wander far.”
Brett figured his brother’s words were aimed at the mare’s injury. “If that’s your version of an apology, save it for the guys.” Slade’s temper, always a short fuse away from blowing when he was worried, could have ignited into a bigger explosion than the verbal set down he had unleashed on the younger cowhands. Giving his shoulder a brief squeeze, he said, “But it wasn’t worse. Are you going to let Riley go?”
Moving away from both the stall and Brett, Slade answered, “No, I need him, and he did own up to his mistake.”
Brett watched him mount Bandit, a tan stallion with contrasting black mane and tail, and went to saddle Shadow to join in on the late-day roundup. He didn’t see Reed’s horse, Apollo, and assumed Reed was already helping with the search. Swinging astride Shadow, he kicked him into a trot, glad for the diversion from questioning the wisdom of getting too involved with Allie.
Saturday dawned bright and sunny, the light breeze and cloudless sky favorable conditions for the fireworks planned for after dark. Except for a necessary skeleton crew, most of the hands were given the holiday weekend off. With Brett’s and his brothers’ help, the chores were completed by noon then Slade enlisted Keith and Evan’s assistance with setting up tables outside while Brett and Reed made room for the buffet inside his house.
Brett didn’t realize how tense he was until he and Reed stepped outside as Allie’s orange Karmann Ghia rolled to a stop on the long drive and his shoulders relaxed.
“I see your girl is here.”
Stiffening again, he bristled at Reed’s sense of humor. “She’s not my girl, as you well know. Don’t make too much out of my invite.” Brett was trying not to do that but failing all the way around, something he kept to himself. He hoped he wasn’t making another colossal mistake in deciding to get to know Allie better. He was still paying the price for marrying Gina.
Reed turned serious. “And what if she makes more out of it than you intend? Did her scare the other night pull so hard on your protective instincts you would risk giving her the wrong idea about your intentions?”
Brett cut him a sharp, rebuking glance. “You know I wouldn’t. Besides, she’s more inclined toward having a good time than seeking a relationship, which is good. She still wants to learn more about our sexual interests, so getting to know her more thoroughly will help me decide if I’m willing to go that far.”
“If you say so, but since I do know you so well, I’ll just suggest you go forward with an open mind. From what I’ve seen, Allie is nothing like Gina, and you shouldn’t judge her based on that error.”
Glaring at his brother’s back as Reed jogged down the steps, Brett cursed him for pointing that out but admitted that was one reason he found himself willing to spend more time with Allie. He could enjoy her company and make sure no one was stalking her without worrying about her getting too emotionally attached to him.
There is no chance of me leaning in that direction, either.At least, that’s what Brett told himself when Allie got out of her car dressed in bright turquoise jeans and matching Stetson. He strode to greet her with an undeniable, enthusiastic uptick in his pulse, belying his belief he could remain immune to her charm. The turquoise beaded fringe swaying from the scooped neckline of her white tee brushed the top of her breasts, the same colored beads decorating her white, ankle-high cowgirl boots. He wondered if she ever wore anything that wasn’t flashy or not designed to draw the eye and decided it was doubtful.
“I’m glad you thought to wear jeans for riding,” he told her, his eyes drawn to her shapely ass as she bent inside the car to lift out a pan covered with foil.
“And as much as I like the looks of a well-dressed man, you’re just as appealing in denim and boots.” She grinned, holding up the pan. “Mashed potatoes since you promised there were plenty of sweets already on the menu and I figured you had the meat covered.”
“Besides the smoked meats, we have fried chicken, so you made a good choice. Thank you.” He took the heavy pan and jerked his head toward the house. “Let’s put this inside then we’ll go for that ride.”
Her eyes lit up as she fell into step with him. “I’ve been looking forward to coming out here all week. Work has been crazy.”
Shifting the pan to one arm, he held the door open for her, following her inside. “What is it you do?”
“I’m an actuary with the county. Oh,wow.”
He assumed her awe was in response to the great room with its vaulted, wood-beamed ceiling, towering stone fireplace, and windows offering a stunning view of pine-covered mountain ridges until he turned around and saw her focused on the food table. Not much was set out yet, but Ina had already dropped off desserts from the diner and others prepared by several friends. Brett strode forward with a slow smile, amused by her sweet tooth, pleased she didn’t appear the least interested in his spacious home. “I’ll put this in the oven on low.”
“And I’ll try not to drool. I recognize Ina’s swirls in the pie crusts. Fair warning,” she said, turning as he came out of the kitchen. “I may not get to your smoked pork.”
Unable to resist, he took her hand and tugged her out the door. “She mentioned she’s your godmother and was going to invite you out today.”
“Yes, my brother and I grew up with her kids. So, it was her idea, your invitation?”
Brett paused at the stable, gazing down at Allie, unable to read anything in her bland expression. “No, I wanted to.”
The truth was as simple as that.
****
Allie liked the claspof Brett’s large, rough-skinned hand as much as his admission to wanting her company today. She shouldn’t given she’d started her flirtation with him for fun and out of curiosity over the activities that took place on the upper floor at Casey’s. Her brief glimpse of him at that bench and the tour Reed had given her only whetted her appetite for a hands-on demonstration, preferably with Brett’s hands. Spending more one-on-one time with him today might lead to deepening her feelings, a risk considering she hadn’t planned on falling for him, or anyone else anytime soon.
As he led her around the stable and she saw Slade with two saddled horses, she concentrated on having fun, shoving aside all other conflicting thoughts. “Is the palomino for me to ride?” she asked, hoping so. She had always loved the gold-toned coat and white mane and tail coloring, and the petite mare looking at her with large doe eyes tugged on Allie’s heartstrings.
Brett nodded. “Yes. That’s Honey. Her size makes her a good cutting horse, but I picked her for you today because of her gentle nature. Thanks, Slade.”
