5
Millie
I fell asleep. It’s morning, but the sun hasn’t come up yet. I’m tucked against Austin, his arm around my waist as we lie with my back to his front. I can feel the steady rhythm of his breathing all around me, and I bask in the safety I feel in his arms. It would be way too easy to get used to this.
I slide from his arms and onto the floor. On my knees, I look at him. Me getting up didn’t even faze him. He’s still sleeping. I look at the soft expression on his face, and I’m glad to see that he was able to sleep so well.
I tiptoe out of the room. Luckily, I have some things in the truck, so I go and grab them and freshen up. When I come out of the bathroom, Carrie is in the kitchen. She’s cooking breakfast, and I debate on whether I should leave or not. “I got a late start this morning. Breakfast will be ready in a little while.”
“Oh, I think I’m going to head out—"
But before I can even finish, she points the spatula she’s holding at me. “Don’t think you can just leave while he’s sleeping, honey. Knowing him, he’d just drive into town and follow you, and he’s not supposed to be driving for a week.”
“Okay, do you think he’d mind if I walked around the ranch? It’s so beautiful, I’d love to see it at sunrise.”
“He wouldn’t mind. Just stick close to the barn.”
I nod and head out the front door. There’s already a number of people out, and it looks like they are feeding the animals. I walk around, taking in the horses whinnying, the talking and laughter of the men as they work, and the hay being thrown from the hay loft. I take a deep breath, and the smell of dust, dirt, and horse hide fills the air around me. I couldn’t stop the smile that overcomes me if I wanted to. My family’s ranch and this one may be very different, but the feel and smells are the same.
I walk over to the corral and see the lone horse trotting around. She whinnies every now and then. I cluck my tongue, and the horse freezes. She holds steady and very slowly swings her head toward me. She twists and turns her head before slowly walking toward me. When she gets close enough to the fence, I climb up and sit on the edge with my hand held out. She breathes in my scent and moves closer, rubbing her head along my jean-clad thigh. I walk down the side of the fence and land in the dirt with my hand still on her velvet hide.
Running my hand along her mane, I ask her, “How are you doing, pretty girl? Why are you out here by yourself?”
I hear an intake of breath behind me, and I turn, expecting to see Austin but instead, Carter the foreman is standing there staring at me with his mouth hanging open.
The horse instantly starts to back up, and I start cooing to her to settle her. With one hand on her bridle, I stroke her nose with the other, all the time talking to her in a low encouraging voice.
“Well, I’ll be damned.”
“What was that, Carter?”
“Uh, sorry, ma’am. It’s just no one on the ranch has been able to do anything with her since Austin saved her from the slaughterhouse. Each day we get a little step closer, but she about bit the man that put the bridle on her this morning. She’s the one that threw Austin, too.”
“What? But you’re so sweet,” I tell the horse, instead of answering Carter.
He snorts behind me.
“Can I ride her?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Austin probably wouldn’t be happy about it.”
I look at him pleadingly. “Carter, I was raised on a ranch. I know about horses, and this one wants to go on a run. Just around the corral.”
“She won’t let you saddle her.”
If that wasn’t a challenge I’ve never heard one. I spot a saddle hanging over the fence and go to grab it. I approach the beautiful white horse, and she stands completely still as I saddle her and doesn’t even seem upset when I tighten the belt around her stomach. “You’re a good girl, aren’t you?” I look at Carter. “What’s her name?”
“I don’t think the boss has named her yet. We were waiting for her to name herself. Ornery comes to mind.”
“Bite your tongue. I’m thinking Patches. She looks like a Patches to me.” She’s white with brown fur in patches down her back.
I grab the reins and pull myself up on the horse. She tussles around, but doesn’t seem to object to me sitting astride her. I give her a small kick with my heel and cluck my tongue, and she starts to move. I start off slow, but it doesn’t seem either of us is happy with that. We take a few turns in the corral before I let her loose. We gallop around, and even though I have almost all the cowboys standing at the fence, all of them staring in amazement, I’m laughing and happy. It seems I’ve made a new friend.
Austin
I wake up, and before I get too far off the couch, Carrie lets me know that Millie is outside at the barn. I rub my hands across my face and go upstairs to shower real fast and go outside to find her. There are flutters in my stomach just at the thought of seeing her again.
