Page 41 of Wild

The mare shifted and chuffed, and I tried to tug my hand away, but Colton held it in place.

“She won’t hurt you, but she can pick up on your nerves. The truth is, horses are telepathic. She hasn’t seen me in years, but she’s comfortable because I’m letting her know I’m in charge here. I’m in control, and she doesn’t have to be afraid. I don’t hide my energy from her, or who I am.”

I looked up at Colton. “Like with me,” I murmured.

His dark gaze held mine, dropped to my lips. “That’s right. I’m in charge.”

A ripple of energy ran between us, but the sexual charge was laced with pain for me because he’d backed off. We weren’t having sex any more, apparently. I wanted to dare him, to say,show me, Sergeant Major. Maybe tease him into using one of those riding crops on me or something kinky, but I’d lost my nerve with him.

Instead, I returned to his earlier statement. “Do you think I’m hiding?”

“It’s hard to explain. You have to sort of let Lucy feel your energy. Try this. Tell her telepathically that you’re going to ride her, and you love her.”

It surprised me to hear Mr. Military Cowboy talking about energy, but I loved it. I followed his guidance and closed my eyes to project my thoughts to the horse. She whinnied, and when I opened my eyes, she nuzzled me. “It worked!” I exclaimed.

Colton grinned at me as he opened the stall door and fit a muzzle on Lucy. “See? You’re a natural.”

“But I’m not in charge of her. I think she might be in charge of me,” I said.

“Nah, she knows what’s up. Don’t worry, little girl. I’ll be here. We’ll make a cowgirl out of you yet.”

A cowgirl. I liked that. I pictured myself riding on a horse in braids and a cowgirl hat like Leigh from last night, and it made me smile. I looked down at my sneakers. “I think I need to start with some boots.”

“Sure, sweetness. You ride Lucy and show me how you can be a good cowgirl, I’ll get you the boots.”

Okay, maybe he was still into me. I couldn't be misinterpreting his attention, could I? Or the way he looked at my body? With heat smoldering behind those dark brown eyes.

He was probably into me but didn’t want to get too deep in this thing, since we were both leaving at the end of the week. I understood. I’d worried about the same thing.

I beamed at him because I had no idea how much I wanted a pair of dang boots. Or how much I like the way Colton was smiling at me. And we had our clothes on.

Despite the mixed signals from my military cowboy, Montana was soothing to my body and soul. Not just Colton, but this place. It was nothing like LA. When I pictured myself staying here, my whole body hummed with possibility. Kind of like some people pictured themselves on a beach to relax. Or by a waterfall.

For me, it was this. The open range. The broad blue sky. The majestic mountains. I felt like I was… home.

Add to that my very own military cowboy riding beside me—even though I was silly to think he was mine—and it was perfection.

I watched as Colton put a saddle on Lucy and led her outside, then readied a big brown mare with a black mane for himself. “This is Cinnamon. She’s got a little more spirit in her than Lucy, but she’s been well-trained.”

“Who trains the horses?” I asked as Colton beckoned me over to the fence and helped me climb it.

“Rob and all of the ranch hands. You met Johnny, Levi and Clint. Now Boyd, since he quit the rodeo. We breed horses here. Tame wild ones, too.”

“So it’s a horse ranch?” I felt stupid for not even knowing how the ranch made money.

“We have cattle, too.” He pointed to the fields in the distance where I saw black cows dotting the landscape. We’ve got bulls we stud and sell free-range beef.”

I noted that he still said, “we,” even though he hadn’t been here in a dozen years. That boded well for him moving back.

“The ranch is huge.”

“Sure is. Been in the family for generations.”

I studied him. “You’re proud of it.”

He frowned. “Damn straight.”

“Then why do you stay away so long? I mean, you could work here with your brothers, right?”