Page 54 of Secret Heart
“I have them,” Logan calls from the back of our line. He holds up the little blue instant camera high enough to be seen around Jude. “And we have plenty of time before dinner tonight.”
A chorus of noise greets us as I guide them into the main pathway leading to the various trails. Beau tilts his head back and laughs, the sun catching the lighter strands of his dirty blond hair that’s grown longer than typical the last few week, and Carter grins beside him. Penny and Rue are digging through the dirt with sticks a few feet away, still within touching distance, not paying any attention to all the horses around them. Even as we approach, Dahlia runs toward Carter, holding out a rock for him to see.
“Dada! Rock!”
Carter smiles as she holds the rock up and presses it against his stomach. Beau looks over his shoulder and then frowns.
“Whoa, you arenotsupposed to try and roll when you’re saddled, bud. Can we go one day when you’re not trying to give everyone a heart attack?”
He starts over the fence but then pauses. A hat pops up between the horses prepped for rides later today, and I relax. One of our staff is already on top of it. I bring the Bennetts to the long, raised platform that helps inexperienced riders mount and dismount with more confidence. I help Faedra off first and then the twins. Logan and Jude manage without any help, and Logan hands Iris the instant camera before kissing Faedra’s temple and giving her the larger camera bag he’s had draped over this shoulder for the ride.
Beau’s quick to cross the path and ease the horses back along the fencing, tying them out and working to unsaddle them alongside me. Rose comes up as I’m pulling the bridle from Toto.
“Thank you,” she says, wrapping her arms around my waist. “That was so much fun.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you at dinner tonight.”
I can’t help but smile as they wave and start toward the mini goats closer to the main lodge. And then my heart is in my throat, warmth spreading out from my stomach like the branches of a shade tree, as Triston climbs over the fencing. He’d been moving cattle this morning. How is here before lunch? His gaze goes straight to me. He smiles, his cheeks flushing, and then pulls Havanna across the field, guiding her into the larger pasture for the horses who won’t be ridden that day.
Penny looks up as he walks away, her lips pushing into a pout. She starts toward him, but Beau scoops her up, the saddle blankets in his hand dropped in favor of keeping her from getting hurt.
“Whoa, Penny bug. He’s coming right back. No running while we have horses out, okay?”
When Triston passes me to grab one of the other horses, I grab one of his belt loops and pull him toward me. His eyes widen, but he doesn’t tense. I kiss him, long enough it’s probably way too flagrant for the ranch I help run, but I can’t seem to care, the need to mark him and claim him riding me hard again. His cheeks are flushed and his breathing is choppy when I finally let him go, but his clove scent stays hidden under scent blockers.
“Hi,” I whisper.
“Hi, baby.” His smile is slow and sultry as he presses a thumb to my lips.
For the first time in almost two years, everything feels balanced. I lean into him, soaking in the sensation.
“Not to ruin the moment,” Beau says dryly, “but Sage is about to be bringing in the next actual trail ride group.”
I sigh, and Triston laughs. When he pulls away, I bite the crook of his shoulder, grinning as he gasps. Vanilla wraps around us, more overwhelming than it’s been in a long time, like I’m the Omega and not him.
“Fuck,” he groans.
Toto stomps, and his tail hits Triston. He chuckles and takes a step away from me, turning toward the horse and quickly unsaddling him. With a sigh, I work through the steps with the other horses, letting the feeling of contentment swell until it threatens to burst. When the last of the horses are back in the pasture and we’re walking toward the main lodge, Triston clears his throat.
“What’s up?” Beau asks, adjusting Penny and taking Triston’s hand in his.
A couple cars pass us on the dirt road, turning toward the main road that leads back to the highway. Rose and Iris wave at us as we pass the chicken coops and the smaller field where themini goats spend most of their time. I smile as I wave back, then lean against Triston, letting my fingers lace with his.
“There’s a showcase rodeo in Billings over the holiday weekend,” he says after a minute. “It’s raising money for an Omega retreat that’s opening there this fall.”
“You’re riding?” Beau asks.
Triston nods. “Lance said he has tickets if you’d like to go with me. Access passes, not just tickets to the rodeo.”
Beau sets Penny down when we reach the grass and wildflowers just outside the lodge. She walks a few feet away from us and then sits down, picking at some of the grass. Triston purses his lips and looks at the ground, clearly nervous.
“I know it will be the second weekend in a row that I’m missing the cattle, so I understand if you can’t make it or don’t want to,” he says.
I cut him off before he can talk himself back into thinking we’re only tolerating him.
“Of course we’ll be there,” I answer.
I’ve never let myself watch his professional rides, not after that first showcase event where he went viral and that bitch doxxed him.
