by Vivian Arend
“I’m good.”
“If you get a chance, nab the gelding. Don’t try for the stallion. If we find them, my job is to drive Thor off while you deal with the others.”
It was a quick and dirty plan, but pretty much what would’ve been offered in any situation Karen had dealt with before.
They spread out, moving slowly through the trees toward the waterfall. The source of water for the town namesake rushed from higher in the foothills until it gathered on the heights at the very edge of Silver Stone ranch. The pool at the base was a lopsided oval with an indent at the top.
Thus, heart-shaped.
The water cascading down the jagged granite cliffs on the far side crashed into the pool with a spectacular rush because of high spring runoff.
The near side of the pool was where the exit creek lay, sliding to the east before meandering its way across the Silver Stone property with stops at Big Sky and Little Sky lakes.
The mouth of the creek was shallow enough that water bubbled over the smooth river rocks.
A herd of horses was gathered, their heads down and drinking, ears pricked up even as others kept watch.
At the far edge stood the biggest, shaggiest stallion Karen had seen in a long time. She pulled her horse to a halt well within the tree line, glancing to the side to see her sisters had done the same.
By some chance she was closest to the wild stallion. Kelli was at the far end of the lineup, impossibly close to what had to be the gelding that was tempted away from his home ranch.
Karen’s gaze met Kelli’s. The other woman lifted her hand to slowly point at herself then at the gelding.
Karen silently nodded her agreement. She repeated the motion, pointing at herself then the stallion. The roles were now reversed. It only made sense, and she was comfortable taking on the challenge.
A soft snicker rose from the herd, and movement started. A shuffle of hips and a swaying. Heads rose as one of their sentries sensed the newcomers in the trees. Karen wrapped her fingers tighter around her reins, sitting motionless until it was time—
The stallion nickered loudly then charged toward the trees as if about to attack.
Kelli was already in forward motion, rope twirling as she headed straight at the gelding. Lisa and Julia moved as well, but that was the last Karen saw as she focused on her task.
It was time to cut Prince Charming off from his ladies.
She urged her horse forward, shifting to the right as soon as possible to intersect the stallion’s path.
He saw her coming and whirled, storming toward the river ford hard on the heels of his stolen mares. Karen went straight into the river as well, water rising up in arcs on either side of Starlight’s pounding hooves.
On the other side, the chase began in earnest.
The stallion no longer watched behind him. All his attention was on forcing his mares farther from civilization. They moved quickly, rushing down one gorge and up the other side. Karen held tight, gripping the saddle with her thighs and trusting Starlight to keep them upright.
It was humbling to have the riderless horses slowly pull farther away from her. Karen did her best to keep up, but though she could go over and around obstacles with the best of them, the wild stallion began cutting through low hanging trees and under widow-makers.
She had to keep adjusting her path to avoid being swept off Starlight’s back.
By the time they broke into the open, the stallion and his reduced herd of females were far enough ahead that Karen didn’t have any hope of catching them.
Still, she stayed on their heels, driving them farther to the west as they returned to their home territory and away from Silver Stone.
No longer at a hard run, Karen followed until she’d travelled for an hour before pulling out her phone and touching base with Lisa. “Hey, I’m good but definitely do not have any horses to bring back. How did you guys do?”
“Kelli’s got the gelding. Damn, he’s a mean one. We got back the Silver Stone mares—they came easily once you chased off the pretty boy tempting them with wild nights of passion. What about you?”
Karen glanced around, amused to discover she was nearly back to her temporary home. “I chased them farther into the foothills, so it seems I might’ve turned them into Finn’s problem instead of Silver Stone’s.”
A snort sounded from the other end of the line. “Way to go, sis. Although I think that is closer to the stallion’s new regular territory.”
An unfamiliar vehicle was parked in front of Finn and Zach’s temporary house. Another expensive white car was just pulling out of the driveway, turn indicator on even without another soul around.
Karen stifled her grin as she turned Starlight’s head toward the shelter behind her cottage. “Well, I’m home, so I may as well stay here. It wasn’t exactly how I thought I’d get my horse moved, but it works. You want to drive my truck out and join me for dinner?”
“Drat. I can’t. Josiah and I are getting together with Sonora at the animal shelter. I can bring your truck in the morning,” Lisa offered.
Karen could also ride back and then use the horse trailer to get Starlight home. Or…
Finn and Zach were visible on the platform behind the house. Some kind of serious conversation was taking place.
While she still wasn’t sure exactly how the summer would go, her sisters were right about one thing. It would be silly to not take the job Finn had offered.
“Don’t worry about it,” Karen told Lisa. “I’ll find another way to grab it. Have a good evening.”
“Don’t forget you’re coming over Saturday night,” Lisa said.
“I won’t forget,” she promised.
Getting Starlight settled in his new temporary digs felt comfortable and right. The lean-to had recently been repaired, and there was a sturdy, protective area to hang all her gear.
She’d bet anything that Finn had prepared the place for her. It was no less than she’d expected, though, once he’d said he’d bought the place with purpose. Finn Marlette was a thorough man.
It was something to put on the positive side of the ledger: his attention to detail and stubborn determination. Attention to detail had all sorts of wonderful consequences as it came to comfort for her animal.
That thoroughness in the bedroom? It had to be said. Karen had never had a man like Finn before or after.
She took her time caring for her horse, letting the warm wind rush over her with comfort and invigorating freshness. Then she slid into the cottage and got freshened up. It only took a moment before she was crossing the distance between her place and the beat-up ranch house.
She had a place to stay, and she was about to have a job to do.
If only she could decide how to deal with her third dilemma.
Alan left shortly after dropping his bomb with a promise to get the paperwork and the actual deadline decided before the end of the week.
Zach glared after the departing car, pivoted on his heel, then stomped into the house.
Finn followed a little slower, attempting to put this twist into perspective. While he appreciated what his mentor had intended with the inspiration from beyond the grave, the all-or-nothing situation was complicating matters beyond the cut-and-dried setup he’d hoped for in Heart Falls.
So be it. It wouldn’t be the first time they’d buckled down to get a task done.
Zach dropped into one of the beat-up Adirondack chairs on the deck and stared forlornly at the foothills.
“Well, that was entertaining,” Finn offered dryly as he settled beside his friend.
An enormous sigh bubbled from Zach, and he spoke without meeting Finn’s eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“Not your damn fault.”
Zach made a face. “If I’d bought the Brewster building with corporation money like you told me to, that would’ve been the project we had a deadline on.”
Of all the mixed-up, irrational leaps of logic…
Finn leaned forward and examined his
friend intently. “You think I’m mad at you for that? Hell, if anything, I think we’re in a better position having to deal with the dude ranch than convincing a bunch of beer-drinking fanatics we’ve come up with the be-all and end-all of small craft brew.”
“It’s something that might be accomplished in a short period of time. And it’s also something that doesn’t require good weather to bring in clients.” Zach shook his head. “You always tease that I’ve got magic timing, but I wish this time I hadn’t.”
“Drop it,” Finn ordered. “I’m the one who needs to apologize because you have to put your idea on the slow track until we get this place operational.”
“Up and running before Christmas?” Zach looked doubtful. “You really think we can do it?”
“We’re damn well going to do it. No way in hell is that bastard Brandon invading Heart Falls. He’s the last thing I’d inflict on her friends and family.”
“Who’s invading?”
Finn and Zach jerked upright, glancing over their shoulders to discover Karen at the foot of the rickety stairs from the ground level to the deck.
Finn hit his feet, holding out a hand to stop her before she took another step. “Hold on. I haven’t checked those yet.”
Karen paused with one foot on the bottom riser. She moved back and glanced underneath before pointing toward the house. “If you don’t mind, I’ll take the stable route.”
“Front door’s open,” Zach said. He waited until Karen strode out of sight before turning to Finn. “Quick. Are we taking this challenge?”
“Absolutely. I mean it, I don’t want Brandon anywhere near our friends.” Only Finn didn’t want to complicate matters any more than they already were. “No mention of the deadline or consequences unless we need to. Agreed?”
“Agreed.” Zach raised his voice and waved a hand. “Karen. Nice to meet you. I’m Zach Sorenson.”
“I’ve heard about you,” Karen said with a smile as she stepped through the sliding door onto the deck.
“Only good things, I hope.”
She arched a brow. “I hear you’ve got a poker face that my brother-in-law can’t read. That’s a good trait in a man.”
Finn stepped closer. She was dressed in casual cowboy, and he wanted to pick her up and eat her in one bite. “Didn’t expect to see you so soon. Hope it’s for a good reason.”
“Might be,” she said before her head tilted to one side and she stared him down intently. “Whose plans to invade had you sounding so thrilled?”
Damn. He’d hoped she would let that one slide. Finn opened his mouth to come up with a story that was the truth without spilling all the beans, but Zach interrupted.
“You saw the car that just left? Had to deal with some legal stuff for getting the ranch up and running. There’s somebody who wants to be involved we don’t like very much. We were just chatting about making sure he won’t be in the picture.”
Her gaze danced between the two of them before she nodded. “Sounds like a good thing.”
Zach gestured to the chairs on the deck. “Want to sit for a while? I can grab some drinks.”
She eyed the chairs, and the railless platform. “Is this part structurally sound?”
“Mostly. We think,” Zach admitted.
A snort escaped her, and her gaze met Finn’s. Their eyes stayed locked for a moment before she dipped her chin again. “If you’ve got a beer, I’ll take one. We should talk.”
Zach took off into the house. Finn pulled the chairs so they were close enough to have a discussion while still looking over the land.
Karen rested a hand on his forearm to get his attention. “How much does Zach know about us?”
She spoke softly, with a quick glance toward the house as if checking his friend was still out of earshot.
Finn straightened. “I would guess he knows about as much as your sisters do.”
He got an epic eye roll for that one before she shook her head and settled in the chair on the far right. “Didn’t take you for the type to kiss and tell.”
“Trust me. Or more to the point, trust Zach. He’s not going to say a word out of line, and he’s already your biggest supporter.”
That one made her start with surprise.
It was his turn to glance toward the house, thankful that Zach was taking the longest time ever to grab and open three beers.
“Karen?” He waited until she glanced up. He maintained eye contact as he settled in the farthest chair from her. “Zach is like family, but he is first and foremost a hell of a good guy. You need anything, you trust him.”
She took a moment as if letting that soak in. Her expression softened. “Thanks for that. I appreciate it, and I’ll remember it.”
“Do I need to bring a notepad?” Zach poked his head out the door.
“Just get out here with the damn drinks,” Finn muttered.
Karen snickered, pulling her expression back into a warm smile as she accepted a longneck with thanks. “Now it feels as if I’m on holiday. Day drinking and all.”
Zach lowered a bag to the ground beside his chair then examined his beer label briefly before raising the bottle in a toast. “To our last time day drinking in a long while.”
They all lifted their bottles.
Finn got down two and a half swallows before he stuttered to a stop, coughing while beer dribbled from his mouth to splash over the deck. “Dear God, what the hell is that?”
Karen was eyeing her bottle with disgust.
Zach alternated between sniffing the contents while swilling liquid around in his mouth. He lifted a finger, got to his feet, and walked to the edge of the deck to spit the liquid out of sight.
He turned back as he wiped his mouth. “Sorry about that. I take it yours were no better than mine?”
“Is this from that microbrewery outside Fort Macleod?” Karen made a horrified face. “I wondered what their beer was like.”
“And now we know,” Finn said dryly. He glared at his friend. “Zach, I thought we agreed you would warn people before you use them as guinea pigs.”
Zach reached into the mystery bag he’d dropped beside his chair and pulled out three new longnecks. A familiar, national brand. He popped the tops like a pro, handing them over immediately with a wink. “I forgot.”
They drank deeply. Finn was hoping to wash the god-awful taste out of his mouth, but he was amused.
Laughter danced in Karen’s eyes as well. She leaned forward in her chair. “So. You mentioned a contract job here at your nameless dude ranch. Want to tell me more?”
Hallelujah. She was going to do it.
What before had been an offer so she could use her talents had now become a very serious asset to winning the challenge.
Finn pointed toward Zach. “He’ll be your boss. We’d be working together to brainstorm and figure out exactly what we need, by when. Some of the dates are still up in the air, but we’ll nail them down as soon as possible.”
“You need trail ride guides? Horses? Barn staff or anything else?”
Zach coughed apologetically. “All of it. We’ve got leads on some, but once Finn mentioned your name as a possible coordinator, I figured we’d wait to see how you wanted to deal with it. If you knew people who are good to work with. That sort of thing.”
She looked thoughtful. “Depending on when you open, I might have a couple of very experienced guides available. I don’t know if you remember, Finn, but the summer you were out at Whiskey Creek, I was setting up a side gig. Wilderness trail rides in the Willmore area outside of Jasper.”
It had been one of the things she’d been so proud of. “I checked out your most recent website update. You’re doing great.”
Her smile lit her face. “The camp leaders, Dani and James, have a lot to do with that, but Willmore is definitely a seasonal camp. They’ve been wintering at a different ranch, but I might be able to talk them into coming here if there’s a salary involved.”
Zach actually rubbed his hands together. �
��That’s what I like. Problem-solving before problems even present themselves.” He glanced at Finn. “I think Karen would work great as a member of this team, and if you’re okay with it, I’ll set up a job description and compensation package then go over it with her.”
Sounded brilliant to Finn. He tossed the question to Karen. “Does that sound like something you’d like to do while you’re here? I know you want to spend time with your family, and we’ll make sure that happens, but this will be a real job.”
She glanced over the fallen buildings and unkempt fields. “It looks like enough work to be a real job, but you know, that’s okay.” She nodded slowly as she brought her gaze back to meet both of theirs in turn. “I don’t think I really get the concept of this holiday thing. I like to work, and I like to spend time with horses, so it sounds a lot like a working vacation.”
In spite of his uncertainty about the twisted challenge presented to him and Zach earlier that day, the knot of tension inside Finn eased.
She’d said yes to part of it. It meant she was staying, which meant he had longer to make his case.
They belonged together. Now he had time to prove it.
Zach rose to his feet, holding out his hand to Karen, who gave it a firm pump. “Welcome to Nameless Dude-town. Glad to have you.”
“From me as well. You’re going to be a huge help,” Finn assured her.
Karen accepted Finn’s outstretched hand. Her handshake was firm, but the expression in her eyes was soft and slightly teasing. “Let’s see what we can do to make this a memorable summer.”
6
I’m not sure if I’m even madder after reading your note or if it worked a little. A flower and an apology—awesome.
