Page 45 of A Cowboy to Call Her Own

Kelley glanced over her shoulder, waved to her sister, then shifted to jump down. Only her cowboy got to her first. He gripped her waist. Her hands barely settled on his shoulders, and he swung her gently off the fence. Her boots landed softly in the grass. Her breath swooshed out. Talk about careful handling.

Fortunately, she caught her heart before she went a step too far. She retreated to catch her sister and meet Wintermint and River Run Rebel. It didn’t take long before she learned Wintermint had the stamina for an endurance trail rider, Maple the temperament for pleasure trails, while River Run’s next gig was still being sorted. Introductions were made between Pride and the thoroughbred duo over the fence. Once again, there was little fuss between the horses.

Owen and Frannie headed back for their evening chores at the stables. Big E joined the pair after announcing that he could not be late for his evening check-in with his great-grandkids.

Once again, Kelley was seated on the fence with her cowboy right beside her. Asher hadn’t seemed in any rush to leave. That suited Kelley as she was in no particular hurry to call an end to their time together. The sun was only now setting, and night was still a while away.

Kelley said, “Sounds like you’ve got the pasture patrol’s second act pretty well figured out.”

“Apparently, Walter was working with them when he wasn’t focused solely on Pride,” Asher admitted.

“So, you’re going to pick up where your father left off,” she said.

“I didn’t say that,” he hedged.

“But you aren’t denying it,” she pressed.

“I’m considering it,” he said. “It means extending my time here. If I start, I want to see it through.”

“Is that a bad thing? Sticking around longer.” Because it sounded like a very good thing to her.

“It’s not a problem,” he said. “I’ve got the vacation time.”

“But…” she said and shifted toward him. This time it was her knee that connected with his.

“But if I stick around longer, I’ll want to see you more.” He scooted closer and motioned between them. “Like this.”

“And that’s bad?” Only it felt right to have him so close and all to herself. Except that was her hopeless romantic putting foolish thoughts into her head.

Asher nodded slowly and less than convincingly as if trying to convince himself. “I’m not the best long-term choice for anything romantic. I want to be clear.”

Now it was time for Kelley to be clear for her hopeless inner romantic and her cowboy. She did not want there to be any misunderstanding. “Asher Blackwell, what if I told you that you are not my second act?”

He tapped his cowboy hat higher on his forehead, revealing his sharp blue eyes, and blinked at her.

Clear enough for you, cowboy?Because she had just put her inner romantic on notice, too. Kelley continued with more of her clarity bombs. “You have nothing to worry about. You see, it’s very simple. I won’t be choosing you because you can’t choose me.”

“Fair enough,” he said and scratched his cheek. “What is your second act, then, if I may ask?”

“I’m sort of a work in progress, like River Run,” she said decidedly. “But it’s not a rebound relationship or any relationship for that matter.”

“Understood,” he said softly.

Yet, he kept his gaze fixed on her as if he searched for her secrets. Or maybe she was looking for his. Or something to make her change her mind or his. Their knees still touched. It was too much and not enough contact. She wanted to lean in, and she also wanted to hightail it right out of there.

Kelley curled her fingers around the fence post rather than reach for her cowboy. But if he reached for her…all bets were off. She tightened her hold. Splinters were far better than a bruised heart. And her cowboy could hurt her heart badly if she let him.

She sighed and tried to sound casual when she said, “I wonder if Big E made it on time for his family conference call.”

Asher held her gaze for a beat, then gave the tiniest nod as if he approved the conversation detour. He shifted and straightened away from Kelley. There was a hint of laughter in his words. “I don’t think I’ve ever looked forward to an evening call with quite as much enthusiasm as Big E.”

“Well, clearly, you’ve not participated in one of Big E’s video chats with his great-grandkids.” Kelley chuckled. “I was only on one for a minute or so the other night, but it was entertaining and mostly full of giggles.”

“Not a bad way to end an evening.” Asher braced his arms on his knees.

Neither was sitting on a fence at a pasture with a cowboy. Kelley asked, “How do you spend your evenings?”

“Mostly working at my downtown office or my home office,” he explained. “And if I’m on a phone call at night, there is usually very little to be amused about.”