Western Blue by Suzie Clarke

Author:Suzie Clarke [Clarke, Suzie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2023-10-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Isa saw the tension in Blue as she rode. Her fingers gripped the reins, her legs were stiff, and the muscles in her face were drawn.

Should she have made love to her like she’d asked? Was it right to hold off? She wasn’t sure now, only that it’d felt right at the time. She hated second-guessing herself. They had to let it go for a while longer. They had too many unknowns to resolve. But when would it happen? Blue was beautiful, and her charms were more than Isa had imagined. She breathed deeply and tried to clear her head.

They reached the ranch by noon. Laurel had prepared a delicious meal of elk, cooked apples, green beans, and potatoes. She’d even made a spice cake. Isa had never eaten such a fine meal.

After they rested a few hours, Isa gathered the bronc saddle, harness, and rope, and tethered the buckskin. She took him into the corral and lunged him for a few minutes to settle him.

Gertie and Rosemary climbed onto the fence and watched.

Martha, Laurel, and Blue came out to see the show.

“I’d be pleased if you’d let me break him,” Gertie said.

Isa waved her over. “Are you sure? He’s going to be a handful.”

“I’ll give it my best,” Gertie said.

“Be careful.” Isa blindfolded the horse, positioned the blanket and the riding saddle on his back, then cinched it.

Gertie slipped on her gloves, pulled her hat low, and ambled up beside her.

Isa adjusted the stirrups to the first opening. “Up you go,” she said. “Seat him deep. He’s all muscle. He’ll buck high and to the right.”

Gertie was barely tall enough to reach the stirrup and get on. She positioned herself in the seat and grabbed the ropes on each side of his neck as Isa handed them to her.

“You ready?” Isa asked.

Gertie nodded and lowered her chin. “Let him buck.”

“Ride him,” Rosemary yelled.

Martha cupped her hands to her mouth. “Be careful, cowgirl.”

The others clapped.

Isa removed the blindfold, then darted to the fence and hopped up on it.

The buckskin kicked out a back leg and swished his tail. Gertie circled him hard to the right.

“He’s trying to get into position. Get ready,” Blue yelled.

The horse dug his front hooves into the dirt, reared, and then hopped. He bucked, lifting his hind end to the right as Isa had predicted.

“Keep his head up,” Blue yelled. She put her hand on Isa’s thigh. “I think he’s too much horse for her. He’s going to toss her like she was a fly.”

“I don’t know. She’s a determined little sprout,” Isa said.

The horse spun and bucked. He hopped again, trying to get height, then kicked his hind legs in the air.

Gertie stayed with him until he dipped his head and bucked higher. She lost her balance and went sailing over his head. She landed on her bottom and slapped the ground. “Damn it.” She leapt to her feet, brushed herself off, and reset her hat. “I’m going again.”

Isa grabbed the back of her shirt as she went by.

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