Rancher Woman by Lois Breedlove

Author:Lois Breedlove
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: second chance, small town, cowboy, rancher, single father
Publisher: L.J. Breedlove
Published: 2022-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Marilee couldn’t remember the last time she took a man riding with her. An attractive man who appealed to her. Let’s just admit that to ourselves, right now, she thought. He’s made an appearance in every dream you can remember for the last two weeks. And, he’s the reason Zac is fast becoming ‘what was his name — that coach’? Instead of Mr. RN.

And damn if he didn’t look good in a saddle. She encouraged him to put his weight on his feet, although she didn’t mention that if he didn’t he’d have bits that hurt — bits he’d rather didn’t hurt, ever. Watching him now, she figured he must have been an athlete when he was younger — maybe still. His body knew how to move, how to balance. He looked graceful, especially for a beginner.

They rode along the fence line in companionable silence. She didn’t feel like shouting at him to make small talk. He seemed OK with that.

She found the first weak spot about 30 minutes into the ride. She swung off her horse, and grabbed her saddlebags with her tools, and the bits and pieces it took to mend fence.

“What do you want me to do?” he asked.

“If you would lean on that post down there, it would help.”

He swung off the horse, mimicking what he’d just seen her do. It wasn’t a perfect dismount, but she’d seen a lot worse. She remembered Gail’s first dismount: she’d swung a leg over and slid down the horse on her butt. She was long-legged enough to get away with it, which made it even funnier. Truly teaching a New Yorker to ride had been a trip.

Trent leaned on the fence post pushing it toward her. She pounded in some staples to tighten the barbed wire. When Trent let go, the post settled into place and tightened the wire further. Marilee nodded in satisfaction.

“Good,” she said. “Next section.”

She tightened up the barbed wire on about three posts, and then they saddled back up and rode on. She watched the time. An hour, at most two, was plenty for a first ride. She wanted her pupils to like it.

“Was Bethany sore after last week? It was a bit more rugged than I’d intended.”

He laughed. “She was. Hobbled around like an arthritic old woman for a bit, but then did what you told her and went for a walk. No complaints though.”

“She’s a good kid,” Marilee said. “I like having her out here. Let’s head back. This should do for today.”

“How long do you spend in a saddle?” he asked.

“For a pleasure ride? Maybe four hours. I go out a couple of times a week. But during round up? Ten-hour days are not uncommon.” She laughed. “Maybe you’ll be around still to watch that. Looks like something right out of a western. But my friends usually come out one day and we do a short bit with a barbeque. Dad did the ‘see the hill take the hill’ kind of roundup.

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