Page 22 of Untamed Heart
‘Bullshit,’ I teased, watching her indignation turn to amusement as I grinned at her. ‘You telling me there’s no time for a night out? Some whiskey and live music? There’s got to be someone to have some fun with?’
Laughing now, she put her head back against the chair. It felt good to see a glimpse of the old Lil, the one I remembered. Silently, I vowed to use this trip to bring her more of that, a small relief from the heavy duty across her shoulders.
‘Maybe, honey, maybe.’ She considered me for a moment. ‘We always had a lot of fun, didn’t we?’
I nodded, flooded with memories.
‘But everyone here is really great. I mean, I know I only just met them but they seem like a good team,’ I said quietly, just in case any of them suddenly appeared from around the side of the house. ‘Although . . . what’s with Cole? He seemed a bit . . . off with me?’
She studied me for a moment, expression shifting from the thoughts that creased her forehead to something else I couldn’t quite define.
‘Oh, pay no attention to him. It’s just his way, he doesn’t mean anything by it. Or if he does, it’s all his own shit.’ She paused, taking a sip of her coffee. ‘He’s been a lifeline to me these last few years. He’s not perfect, but I’d have lost the ranch a long time ago without his help.’
‘I had no idea things were so tough,’ I replied, my voice quiet. ‘I want to help. I mean, I need to figure out a job and straighten my life out too, but I’m here because I want to help you, however I can.’
‘I’ve missed you, Princess.’ Her smile was sad.
I returned it, remembering the nickname her parents had given me one summer, when they’d declared I could pass for a younger version of Kate Middleton.
‘Princess? I thought you said Lottie was just a regular girl,’ Jesse announced, approaching the deck and leaning a foot against it.
‘She lied,’ I jumped in, trying to save Lil from explaining the origins, from making her think too much about her parents, about the way things used to be here. ‘I’m actually an undercover princess escaping the paparazzi in the mountains.’
He chuckled.
‘Well, Princess, if it’s not too much trouble for a royal such as yourself, I could use a pair of hands saddling up the horses for a ride. Got a few guests going out and Bailey’s had to run down to the river meadow with Cole to patch up a fence.’
Lil groaned.
‘What happened this time?’
Jesse shrugged. ‘Think it’s just old. There’s no real damage, the wood’s rotten is all.’ Lil made a sound as though this was a well-trodden conversation. ‘Lil said you’re good with horses,’ he added. ‘You in?’
CHAPTER7
I barely contained a squeal as within minutes of arriving at the stalls, Jesse led out a tall, rangy black horse, distinctive white socks on his back legs.
‘Jasper!’
Taken aback, Jesse stood aside as I walked towards the horse that’d become as precious to me as family, as the ranch itself, on my visits. I extended my hand towards his nose, letting him make up the distance. He lowered his head and stepped towards me, passing his velvety soft muzzle over my skin as he fixed his wide liquid chocolate eyes on my face.
‘Well hell,’ Jesse said, his voice soft as Jasper came to stand right by my side and I ran one hand across his neck, the other scratching right behind his cheek. The hours I’d spent grooming this sleek coat, the scratches I’d given him as he’d fallen half asleep, head resting on my shoulder. ‘This grumpy old mule barely keeps it civil most days; almost took a chunk outta Domino just last night.’
‘He’s not grumpy,’ I said, voice almost a whisper as I smiled at the big animal’s groans. ‘He just knows what and who he likes, that’s all. I had no idea he was still here.’
Jesse chuckled. ‘Well, he sure likes you. Why don’t you take him out and get him started, then? I need to get the other three.’
‘Three guests then?’ I asked, noticing the fine white hairs now sprinkled across Jasper’s face.
‘Yep,’ he replied. ‘I could get another out if you want to come along?’
I hesitated, tempted. Fear won out.
‘It’s okay, another day maybe. I need to ease in slowly, haven’t ridden for years.’
He shrugged, handing me Jasper’s lead rope and pointing towards the tack room as he headed to the back of the stalls. ‘His name’s above the pegs.’
I nodded, leading Jasper out and tying him up, my hand still grazing his neck. A strange sense of wonder passed through me as somehow, eight years concertinaed into nothing, as though it hadn’t passed at all.
