Page 24 of Untamed Heart
‘Never say never, right?’ he replied. ‘But we’ve been so busy up here in the last year, trying to get things working for Lil, there hasn’t been a whole lot of time. But rodeo season starts again real soon, so I’ll be roping, and who knows, maybe I’ll meet someone.’
He shrugged, but there was an undertone there that was quite the opposite to the flirty, light quality of his earlier words.
‘Someone a little more permanent?’ I asked, then, realizing that I sounded like I was volunteering myself, added, ‘I mean, I’m not suggesting it’s the best solution – I can definitely see the benefits of staying single.’
Jesse glanced at me more intently. I felt a real curiosity growing.
‘I’d like to, one day. It can take me a while to get to know someone, you know?’ he admitted. ‘Parties, girls, rodeo . . . it’s a surface thing, fun. The other stuff, the stuff you need for a real relationship? That’s something to work on.’
His honesty was like a gut punch, worded without ceremony. I was struck by just how lucky someone might be one day, to be with this man.
I nodded, inspired to share my own thoughts in the same way, but knowing it would take a little more time to process what I was feeling.
‘What about the others? Did you know them before this place?’ I asked, hoping he would take the cue and move on.
As if he could read my thoughts perfectly, after a brief hesitation he gave a quick nod.
‘Yeah, I knew of Bailey, but Cole and I had been buddies for years on the circuit. He was the one that told me about a job up here.’
I nodded, my mind snagging on his friend’s name.
‘What did Cole do?’ I asked lightly, moving to put Jasper’s bridle on, waking him up a little, realizing how long Jesse and I had been chatting.
‘Bronc riding and roping – best in the whole damn state,’ Jesse replied, finishing up the two other horses.
‘Why’d he stop?’ I asked, unable to help myself.
Silence. Jesse walked around Jasper, looking round the side of the barn down towards the guest accommodation.
‘That’s not my story to tell,’ he replied finally, satisfied that no one was arriving imminently. ‘Now Bailey, well she’s a barrel racer. Still does it. She and her horse, Dunkin, move at the kinda speed that cricks my neck just to watch.’
‘Dunkin?’ I asked, trying not to smile again. ‘As in . . .’
‘Donuts, yeah. No idea why. Listen, I’ve got an idea – why don’t you take Jasper around the corral for a minute or two? Get yourself used to it all again. We’re driving some of the cows down this weekend – we could use extra hands if you’d be willing?’
I hesitated again, recognizing the loss of control I was stepping into, how uncomfortable it felt.
‘Sure,’ I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. I needed to help Lil, and getting used to riding again would be a start.
Jasper followed me willingly into the soft dirt ring, and before Jesse could come over to offer me a hand into the saddle, I’d hooked my new boot into the stirrup and, grateful for all the hours I’d put in on the StairMaster at the gym, pushed myself up and into the saddle.
‘Seems like you remember just fine,’ Jesse called from the fence, leaning against it with one leg up on the lower bar and his arms crossed.
From way up on Jasper’s back, the ground seemed a long way off, but he stood and waited patiently.
‘I’ve missed you, old boy,’ I whispered, gathering the reins and smoothing his neck again. ‘Will you show me the ropes again?’
I nudged him gently into a walk and trot, then, as I found my balance easily enough, one further nudge took us into a canter. His ears perked up as he listened to both my voice and my body. From nowhere, tears threatened and I blinked hard, touching my hand to my eyes to stop any falling.
‘How it’s feeling? He’s behaving himself at least.’
‘Good,’ I replied, slowing Jasper back down to a walk and wandering over to Jesse. ‘Just like I remember.’
Voices sounded from our right, and Jesse turned to the three people approaching, two adults and a boy.
‘Howdy! Y’all ready for a ride out? Beautiful morning!’
They fell into easy conversation as I dismounted, bringing Jasper around to the yard and handing him over to Jesse.
