Always, Clay (Three Rivers Express Book 2) by Nan O'Berry

Author:Nan O'Berry [O'Berry, Nan]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2017-06-20T04:00:00+00:00

Emma’s horse bounded up the rise. Her hat had long fallen against her back, only held to her throat by a thin band of lattigo. The pure joy of being on horseback caused her heart to soar. Pulling her mount to a halt, she turned in the saddle and waited for Clay’s horse to meet her.

The Appaloosa’s legs dug into the soft ground turning chunks of sod over as he climbed to the top. Clay reined in Spirit and glanced around the horizon.

“You can get a full view of the ranch from here,” Emma explained. She pointed to the north. “See those hills?”

Clay nodded.

“From the edge of those hills all the way to the Stage road is ours. It stretches twenty five miles to the east and another thirty three to the west.”

Clay shifted his gaze to follow her directions looking to his left then to his right, before turning in the saddle to look at the western horizon. When finished, he let out a long low whistle. “And all cattle?”

“Yes, except for the horses, Drew is breeding.”

“How many head?”

Now, it was Emma’s turn to shrug. “I can’t give you an exact number. Dad says somewhere around fifteen hundred depending on birth rate and loss to wolves and other predators.”

“That’s a good size herd.”

She watched his brow furrow.

“And he runs it himself?”

“Well, not exactly. There’s my brother, Drew, and about eight other cowboys that come in seasonally.” She locked her elbows and rested her hands over the pommel of her saddle, then sighed. “One day, the land will belong to Drew and Stephen.”

The melancholy tone of her words made Clay question, “And you? What is left to you?”

She turned and offered him a wan smile. “Nothing.”

He blinked. “Nothing?”

Emma nodded. “I shall go wherever my husband determines. This land, the Rocking R will be their legacy, not mine.” She took a deep breath and stared at the horizon. “My legacy lies beyond the border of the Rocking R. A new ranch, shaped by two hearts beating as one. A place where you can set down deep roots that lasts for generations.”

For a moment both were silent, then he responded, “Beautifully said.”

“You must think me foolish.” Emma felt her cheeks grow warm.

“No, not at all.”

Lifting her reins, Emma tapped her horse’s sides with her heels. “Let’s go this way.”

Clay followed.

“What about you?” she asked.

“Me?”

Emma nodded. “Don’t you want to set down roots?”

“Yes.”

Silence filled the gap between them. Emma wondered what his dreams might consist of. “Shall we water the horses?”

With Emma leading, they made their way toward a slow moving stream that meandered through the ranch. Reaching the banks, she dismounted and Clay followed suit. Holding on to the reins, she led her horse into the stream. As she watched, the animal blew across the water then stuck his nose into the clear, cold stream. “Do you plan on riding for the express for the rest of your life?”

Clay fiddled with the leather reins he held before answering, “No.” He squinted his eyes against the sun’s reflection off the water.

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