Hunter's Moon (Hunter Family Saga; Half-Moon Ranch 1) (17 page)

"Yes."

"She was lovely."

"I know," Abby answered; then she quickly
changed the subject as she led the way down the hall.
"There are some extra clothes in a trunk in Papa's
bedroom. Why don't you wait in my room while I
see if there's anything that'll fit you."

"Thanks." Crystal went into the bedroom Abby
indicated to wait for her return.

Abby went into her father's room and opened the
chest that had been her mother's. There wasn't a lot
to choose from, but she did find her mother's split
leather riding skirt. She hurried back to Crystal.

"Here," she said, handing her the skirt. "You can wear this and one of my shirts. I've got a pair of
boots that ought to fit you, too."

She quickly gave her the other things.

"I appreciate your help, Abby."

"You're welcome. I'll leave you here to change.
Just come on out when you're ready."

"I will."

With that, Abby left her, closing the bedroom
door behind her to give Crystal privacy.

Crystal grinned to herself as she quickly stripped
off her day gown and shed her petticoats and
slippers. She had been trapped for so long working
in a saloon that it was a real adventure for her to don
the riding wear. The skirt was not a bad fit, and the
shirt was fine. The boots were a little tight, but
Crystal figured that didn't matter, since they
wouldn't be doing too much walking that afternoon.

Crystal went to stand before Abby's full-length
mirror to study her own reflection. She was amazed
at how different she looked. Any vestige of the
sensual singer from the Lone Star was gone. In her
place stood a true woman of the West.

For a moment she wished her hair were its natural
blond color, but she pushed the thought away. She
was Ruby now, and that was how she had to stay.
Determined to put the ugliness of her own life out of
her mind the rest of the day, Crystal left the room to
find Abby.

"It looks like everything fits," Abby told her as
they came face-to-face in the sitting room.

"I'd like to dress like this more often," Crystal
agreed, "but I don't think the men in the Lone Star
would appreciate the change."

Abby had always heard that only tarnished
women worked in places like the Lone Star, but
Crystal didn't seem tarnished.

"Let's go find Brent and see what he thinks."

They left the house and started down to the stable.
Brent and Jack had just come out of the building
when they saw Abby and Crystal approaching.

Brent's gaze skimmed approvingly over Crystal. "I
see you got a change of clothes."

"Abby was kind enough to help."

"You look like you're ready to go to work." Jack
said to her.

"Looks can be deceiving." Crystal laughed.

"Come on and take a look around the stable,"
Brent suggested.

They all went in, and Crystal admired the horses
in the stalls there.

"These are three of our best thoroughbreds,"
Brent told her. "Moon Racer is Abby's stallion."

The stallion was a big roan with a blaze down his
forehead. He was sleek and powerful, and she could
see the intelligence in his eyes.

"He's gorgeous-if a horse can be gorgeous," she
corrected herself.

"You're right, Crystal, he is," Abby agreed. "Brent
traded for him a few years ago for me. He is one of
Half-Moon's best, for sure."

"I can see why, but I thought you said you
worked with mustangs, too?" She looked over at
Brent. "What's the difference between a mustang
and a thoroughbred? I know mustangs run wild, but
they're all just horses, right?"

"Just horses?" Jack gave a snort of disgust. "Don't
insult Moon Racer. Thoroughbreds are refined
stock. They're long-legged, they're graceful, they're
elegant, and they're fast. That's why I started this
ranch. I wanted the Half-Moon to be known for its
racing stock."

"Mustangs aren't fast?"

"Mustangs aren't-" Jack began, ready to tell her
what he thought of the wild stock that roamed the
Texas land.

But Brent interrupted him before he could go on
with his tirade. "Mustangs may not be the most
beautiful horses in the world, but they serve their
purpose. They're smaller than thoroughbreds, but
they're strong. They've got better stamina and
endurance, and they're smart."

"Could you race a mustang against a
thoroughbred?" Crystal asked.

"Why would you want to?" Jack said
disparagingly.

"You could," Brent answered her with a grin,
knowing she was just trying to understand the
differences between the horses, "but the mustang
probably wouldn't win-not unless it was a long
race.

"There are some mustangs in the corral out back,"
Abby told her. "Just take a look at them, and you'll
see.

They went outside to show her the mustangs so
she would be able to understand the difference.

Crystal studied the smaller, more sturdily built
horses and couldn't help admiring them. They
didn't have the finest of bloodlines, but from what
she was coming to understand about them, they
were survivors. She found herself identifying with
mustangs. She saw a palomino grazing among
them.

"The palomino is pretty."

"That's Honey. Do you want to ride her?" Brent
offered.

"I'm not the best rider," she admitted.

"That's all right. Honey's gentle. You'll be able to
handle her," Brent assured her.

"Her name suits her."

"She can be yours whenever you come out to the
ranch," he told her.

Brent went to get the mare, and Abby went along
with him. Brent cast his sister a quick look.

"Don't you have some chores you have to take
care of?"

"I do need to help Curly groom some horses this
afternoon."

"Good."

Abby had never known Brent to be so interested
in a woman before. He'd rarely had time for fun, and if Crystal could make him forget about work for
a while, that was fine with her.

Abby helped Brent with the horses, and they led
the mounts to where Crystal was waiting with their
father.

"We'll just take a short ride today, so you can get
used to being in the saddle again," Brent said,
handing Crystal the reins to the palomino. "Do you
need any help?"

"We'll be fine," Crystal said as she stroked the
mare's neck. "Won't we, Honey?"

The mare was calm, just as Brent had said she
would be, and Crystal took heart. She swung up into
the saddle without any difficulty.

"You look like you were born to the saddle," Jack
complimented her.

"Thank you, sir."

Brent mounted up, too, and they rode off at a
leisurely pace, away from the house.

"We'll be back," Brent called to them.

"Why didn't you ride along with them?" Jack
asked Abby.

"I've got some chores to do," Abby answered
casually, casting one last quick look toward her
brother and Crystal as they rode off. She was
impressed by the way Crystal was handling the
horse. The singer didn't seem as unschooled as she'd
said.

Jack watched them ride off, too. Crystal had been
the only good thing to come from his trip to Diablo. Well, he amended, Crystal and the bottle of whiskey
he'd hidden in his bag on the trip back.

Seeing that Abby was going stay at the stable,
he started back up to the house. He needed
to be alone for a while. His thoughts lingered on
their time in town, on the social, and,
worse, on how he'd been treated at church that
morning. Those he'd once considered friends
had shunned him even after the minister's
sermon on loving one another. He'd expected it,
but it still troubled him. Edmund was the only
friend he had left, and Jack knew he was lucky
to have him.

Feeling the need for a drink, Jack went up to his
room when he reached the house, and got his
whiskey. He didn't bother with a glass, but opened
the bottle and took a drink. His thoughts were
troubled, and he felt very alone.

Jack was glad Frances wasn't around as he walked
through the house. She was a stranger to him. She
couldn't understand what he was going through. No
one could.

Memories of better times haunted him-times of
loving and being loved. He stopped before the
portrait of Beth and stood there staring up at her.
She had been a beautiful woman and a wonderful
mother. Even now his heart ached. He took another
deep swallow of the potent liquor as tears burned his
eyes.

He had loved her. Oh, how he had loved her. Beth had been his whole world. Everything he'd ever
done in his life had been for her.

"I'm sorry, Beth. So sorry," he whispered.

He sank down in a chair nearby and continued to
drink as he gazed up at her image.

The sky was blue and cloudless. The sun was warm.
Horses grazed in the pasture before them. In the
distance a small cabin was nestled among a grove of
trees, and a tree-bordered creek wound its way across
the land.

"I'm glad you brought me here. I think this is as
close to heaven as you can get," Crystal said to Brent
with a sigh.

"It is peaceful here," he agreed. This was his
favorite place on the ranch. He came whenever
things got tough and he needed time alone to think.

..Who lives in the cabin?"

"Nobody right now. We use it whenever we're up
this way, working a herd," Brent explained. "Do you
want to ride down to the creek? Or are you ready to
head back?"

They'd been gone from the house for almost an
hour, and he wanted to make sure she wasn't getting
too tired. Crystal had proven to be a better rider
than she'd thought. She was having no trouble
handling the mare.

"Let's go down to the creek," she answered, not
ready to give up her time alone with Brent just yet.
Then, suddenly feeling almost wild and carefree, she
dared him, "And you know what? I don't care what
anyone says about mustangs and thoroughbreds; I
know Honey can take Storm any day! Let's race!"

Without waiting for a response from Brent, she
urged the mare to a gallop and raced off.

Brent was caught off guard by her unexpected
challenge, but he was up to the dare. He was
laughing as he gave chase.

Crystal reached the creek first and reined Honey
in triumphantly. "I won!"

"You cheated!" Brent declared when he reached
her side.

"You and Storm are no match for us," she
bragged, stroking the mare's neck. She dismounted
and led the mare down to the water's edge for a
drink.

Brent had deliberately held Storm back to let her
win, but he wasn't about to tell her that. He let her
enjoy her glory as he, too, dismounted. He walked
Storm down to join her.

"There's a prize for the winner, you know," he
told her.

Crystal was very aware of his lean, powerful
presence beside her. She turned and lifted her gaze to
his. "What kind of prize? Do you have a trophy for
me? Or a big purse?"

"No, your prize is even better than that."

"It is?" she asked, delighting in his teasing.

"That's right. Your prize is a kiss."

"Oh. That is more valuable," she agreed
breathlessly.

Brent took Crystal in his arms and bestowed her
prize upon her, claiming her lips in a hungry caress.

She needed no urging to surrender to his embrace.
She met him in the exchange, eager to be close to
him, thrilling in his nearness. When she was with
Brent she felt safe-and she was happy.

When he ended the kiss and stepped back, Crystal
smiled up at him, her eyes twinkling with delight.

"Do you want to race again? I like the prize for
winning."

"So do I." Brent laughed and drew her back into
his arms. He couldn't remember the last time he'd
laughed so much or felt so lighthearted. When he
was with Crystal he was relaxed and at ease. Brent
kissed her again, cherishing the moment.

Only the horses' stirring forced them regretfully
apart. They were discovering heaven in each other's
arms. Brent went to tie the horses' reins to a nearby
low-hanging branch.

"Let's go look around the cabin," Crystal said,
intrigued.

She led the way, and Brent followed her. The
cabin was run-down. It hadn't been used in a while
and was definitely in need of some repairs. She
stepped carefully onto the porch, completely
avoiding the broken steps, then opened the door.

"What do you think?" Brent asked as she went in.

Crystal took a quick look around the two small,
sparsely furnished rooms and came back outside to
where he was standing on the porch.

"I love it. The view is wonderful," she told him as
she stood at his side and gazed out across the
countryside.

"I love it here, too. One of these days, if I can
figure out how to do it and still run things, I'd like
to live up here."

"How far are we from the main house?"

"It's about a twenty-minute ride."

"That's not too bad. I can understand why you
like it here." She looked down at the stream
flowing by. An idea came to her as she watched
the sparkling waters. "Come on. Let's go down to
the creek."