Boots and Bareback: Ugly Stick Saloon, Book 3 (11 page)

She’d stared across at him, her mouth dropping open. Doing it? “It’s not as if I’m holding out on you. I try.”

“Well, you’re not cutting it.” He shifted into drive and sped across the dry ground toward the ranch house. “I’ve had enough. We’re done.”

Isabella had straightened her shoulders and stared ahead, gripping the armrest on the door to steady herself on the bumpy ride. “You don’t want to see me anymore?”

“That’s what
we’re done
generally means.”

“What about my job?” Her chest tightened. The man was dumping her and all she could think about was her job. That should have told her something. “You’ll see me every day.”

“What part of
we’re done
don’t you understand?” Daniel’s lip had curled on one side. The same look he had when he was going to say something ugly…to someone else. Not her. “Let me make it plain enough for you.” He’d stared across the cab at her. “You’re done, finished, fired.”

Her mouth hung open, the wind knocked out of her lungs. For a second she had to tell herself to breathe. She’d struggled to retain control as her world spun around her. “All because I can’t have an orgasm with you?”

“We obviously don’t click and I need more from a woman than just a horse trainer.”

“Can’t I stay on and just be an employee?”

He shook his head. “You know it’ll never work for us to break up and you to still be around. You have to go.”

Her fingers dug into the truck’s armrest as her life fell to pieces. “What about Sundance?”

“What about him?” Daniel frowned.

“I’m the only one who can get him to perform.”

“He’ll have to learn to get along with one of the other handlers.”

“But—”

“It’s over, Izzy.”

Isabella had bitten down hard on her tongue. She hated being called Izzy. And she hated even more that she’d never see Sundance again, once she left the Circle C Ranch. “You’re sure that’s the way you want it?” she’d asked one last time, knowing the answer.

“Yeah, it has to be that way.”

In the course of the day, she’d lost her job, her home and the horse she’d nurtured and cared for. All because she couldn’t get off with the boss’s son.

Lost in the past, Isabella almost rammed into the back of Gabe’s pickup when he turned off the highway and passed through the gates of the Rockin’ O Ranch.

What the hell?

Her foot let off the accelerator and the distance increased between hers and Gabe’s trucks.

Pressure descended on her chest, making her want to turn and drive away. She hadn’t been on a ranch since she’d been escorted off the Circle C. An overwhelming flood of longing swept over her. Her fingers gripped the steering wheel to keep them from shaking.

Gabe’s brake lights flashed, bringing Isabella back to her senses. She stomped her foot to the accelerator, catching up to the infuriating cowboy.

Even if she didn’t stay, it would be rude to turn around without an explanation.

As she passed by a paddock with several quarter horses running alongside the fence, she bit down on her bottom lip to keep it from trembling.

God, she missed living on a ranch, being surrounded by animals and the scent of hay and manure.

Some girls would find that disgusting. Not this girl. She loved the earthiness, the hard work and the varying personalities of horses and ranch hands.

By the time she pulled up in the barnyard behind Gabe, she’d gathered her wits, took a deep breath and got out.

When Gabe joined her, she blurted out, “I can’t stay. I need to go to work.”

“You have at least three hours.” Gabe took her hand. “Yes, you can.” He tugged her toward the barn.

She dug her heels into the dirt. “I remember, I have to iron my clothes for tonight.”

“You don’t iron and it’s Ladies’ Night at the Ugly Stick Saloon. The customers won’t be looking at you anyway. They’ll be looking at the male strippers.” His brows rose. “Any other excuses you’d like to try?”

Out of reasons why she shouldn’t be there, she let him lead her into the shadowy interior of the barn. Isabella inhaled deeply, the aroma of hay and sweet feed bringing back memories of her father and mother and growing up on a small farm in the Texas Hill Country. Her father had worked in construction during the day and tended a small herd of cattle before and after work.

Isabella’s mother had taken care of the house and garden while Isabella cared for the only horse they owned. She brushed, fed and exercised Sassy, forming a bond with the horse that lasted even after the horse died of old age. Her love of horses had only grown with time. On her twenty-second birthday, her father had gifted her with a thoroughbred colt. Sundance.

“I don’t know about you, but I could use a little fresh air and exercise.” Gabe smiled. “I thought we’d go for a ride.” He led a dappled gray mare from one of the stalls and tied her lead to a ring on the wall.

Tears welled in Isabella’s eyes. The horse had perfect conformation, her bones delicate and strong, and she was so beautiful. A lump formed in Isabella’s belly. “I don’t think—”

“You’d be doing Stormy a favor.” Gabe grabbed a blanket and saddle from the tack room and returned. “We haven’t had time to get her out much. She loves to race across the meadows.”

As Gabe approached with the saddle, Stormy’s ears perked and she whinnied.

The sound brought a surge of joy and longing to Isabella’s chest. She leaned toward the horse, her hand reaching out to run down the mare’s smooth neck. “She’s so excited.”

“She loves getting out. Really, you’d be doing her a big favor.”

Wavering, Isabella sighed. “I wouldn’t want to disappoint her.”

“Hear that, Stormy?” Gabe settled the gear on the horse’s back. “You’re going for a ride with the pretty lady.”

Stormy tossed her head.

Isabella laughed, taking over the chore of saddling the mare. She cinched the girth and adjusted the stirrups to fit her legs.

“Meet Drago.” Gabe led a black stallion out of the stall at the end.

Isabella’s heart stopped, her breath lodging in her throat. For a moment, Isabella’s vision wavered.

“Isabella?” He stopped in front of her. “Are you okay?”

She shook her head to clear her vision. Drago wasn’t Sundance. She hadn’t seen a ghost and she wasn’t going crazy. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

He handed her a bridle and slipped one over his horse’s nose, buckling it in place.

Isabella finished a moment after Gabe. She gathered Stormy’s reins and led her through the barn door out into the sunshine.

A light breeze lifted the tendrils from the back of Isabella’s neck, taunting her with the promise of wind in her hair while flying across the ground on the back of the pretty mare. She swung up into the saddle and waited.

Gabe emerged from the barn, adjusted the girth on his horse and led Drago across the yard to a gate. He opened it wide and walked the stallion through.

When Isabella passed through the gate, Gabe latched it behind them and climbed up into his saddle. He glanced around at the sound of an approaching vehicle, his brows coming together. “Ready?”

Isabella glanced toward the sound, her hands tightening on the reins, the thought of Tanner and Sean joining them sending ripples of excitement skittering across her nerves. “Don’t you want to wait and see who’s driving up?”

“Nope.” He reined his horse in a one-eighty. “Race ya to the oak tree at the top of the rise.”

Isabella forgot about the oncoming vehicle. Giving the horse the slightest nudge with her boot heels, Isabella held on.

Stormy rocketed forward, kicking up grass and dirt in her wake.

Not to be outdone, Drago whinnied behind her, his hooves pounding against the ground.

With the wind whipping her ponytail, her hat hanging around her neck by the string, Isabella hadn’t felt this carefree in a long time. She laughed out loud, a shiver of anticipation and desire swelling inside. She reveled in the open air, the scent of fresh hay, and the power of bunching and flexing muscles beneath her. The combination made her believe she could conquer anything.

Including achieving an orgasm with a man like Gabe O’Brien.

Chapter Seven

Gabe gave Drago his head, urging him faster.

The stallion easily passed the smaller mare and moved ahead, the competitive streak hard to subdue in man or beast.

Once they reached the tree on the hill, Gabe would drop over the other side and out of sight of the barn. If he was not mistaken, Sean and Tanner had been in the vehicle they’d heard approaching the barn. Damn, they’d finished their errands in town much quicker than he’d anticipated. If they caught wind of Gabe taking Isabella out on the ranch, they’d want to tag along.

Brothers interrupting wasn’t in the plan Gabe had in mind.

The hot Texas sun beat down on his back, bringing a smile to Gabe’s face. Also part of his plan. Later.

As he neared the top of the hill and the lone, gnarled live oak providing the only shade in the vicinity, he reined in and waited for Stormy and her rider to catch up, which didn’t take long.

They arrived shortly after Drago halted.

Isabella’s face shone, her wind-kissed cheeks aglow, eyes alight, sparkling in the sunshine. God, she was beautiful.

Gabe’s chest swelled. He wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her, to press kisses to her apple cheeks, the curve of her breasts and…

Patience.

Isabella was like a skittish colt, needing much control and coaxing to bring her out of whatever hellish shell she’d wrapped herself in that kept her from committing to one man.

Gabe smiled at her. “Come on. I want to show you a special place.”

“Lead on. Stormy and I are along for the ride.” She leaned over, rubbing the horse’s neck. “She’s fast and beautiful.” Her gray eyes shadowed, the smile on her lips slipping. As quick as hitting a light switch, her sunny expression faded into the shadows of the live oak.

“Is something wrong?” Gabe asked.

“No. Nothing.” She smiled, her lips tight.

If Gabe was not mistaken, she forced the smile, and not very convincingly.

He had his work cut out for him to learn what made her lose the happiness she’d begun the ride with.

Setting off at a more sedate pace, he led the way, dropping over the ridge of the hill into a wide, green valley and rising up another hill beyond. Rolling plains of hayfields stretched as far as he could see. By the time he got close to their destination, the heat of the day bore down on them.

A thin sheen of perspiration gave Isabella’s face a warm, healthy glow. She’d settled her cowboy hat on her head, the shade hiding her expressive blue-gray eyes.

As they topped yet another rise, Gabe paused and waited for Isabella to move up beside him. He wanted to see her face when she gazed down at the little valley.

Isabella reined in next to him, a small frown wrinkling her brow. “Why are we stop—” Her gaze panned the valley below, her eyes widening. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

Gabe’s heart squeezed. He felt the same way every time he stared down at the valley with the sparkling clear stream running through, surrounded by old-growth live oaks, willows and cypress trees.

Drago and Stormy pranced, tossing their heads.

“I think they’re thirsty.” Gabe cast a glance at Isabella. “How about you?”

Isabella tugged at her shirt. “I could stand to cool off in the shade.”

“We can do better than that.” Gabe gave the stallion his head.

The stallion bolted forward, charging down the hill toward the banks of the creek.

A quick glance over his shoulder made Gabe smile.

Isabella wasn’t far behind. She was fearless on horseback.

When they reached the creek, Gabe pulled Drago to a halt and dropped to the ground.

Stormy arrived beside him, her rider laughing.

By the time Gabe reached up to help Isabella out of the saddle, she’d jumped to the ground.

Able and independent. Gabe liked that in a woman. Only it didn’t give him a chance to touch her. And boy, he wanted to touch her so badly it hurt.

After watering the horses, Gabe tied them to a tree.

He stripped off his shirt and hung it over a mountain laurel bush.

Isabella paused from dipping her hand in the water and glanced up. “What are you doing?”

He grinned. “I don’t know about you, but I’m hot. I’m going in to cool off. Join me if you want.”

“I didn’t bring a swimsuit.”

“Then we’re even.” His smile broadened. “Neither did I.”

She frowned. “I thought you said you wouldn’t try anything.”

“I’m not trying anything. Just going for a swim.” He shucked his boots and stripped his jeans down his legs. In two long strides, he launched himself into the wide, clear water.

Isabella stood like a fool with her mouth gaping open.