“Ready to try this on your own?”
“Yes.” She smiled nervously and giggled, but at least she wasn’t too petrified to react. “It is like rocking in a rocking chair, Jesse.”
He handed her both reins. “We’ll ride side by side. That way we can talk.”
“Okay.”
He swung up onto his palomino.
They walked their horses. After several minutes of silence, alternated with giggling and finally the hiccups, Sara turned to Jesse. “Is Mickey still reading?”
“Absolutely. He can’t put Black Beauty down.”
“Thank goodness. I owe you big-time for getting him to read, especially during Camp Care.”
“You don’t owe me anything.”
Sara smiled. “Tell me more about the Calgary Stampede. Did you win the rodeo there?”
“You mean, did I win the bull riding? A rodeo has several events like bronc riding, steer wrestling, steer roping, barrel racing and bull riding. I won the bull riding last year. My brother Reed won it two years ago, and Luke won it three years ago. I won’t be able to defend my title this year.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m here at Camp Care.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.”
“I’m not,” he said, shrugging. “I like being here at Camp Care and being with the kids. I love seeing their faces when they accomplish something that they never thought they’d do in a million years. This is really a great place. I was skeptical at first, but have really come around to admire the program and what they do for kids.”
“But you said that you have some equine therapy weekends at your ranch.”
“We do. But I usually don’t get that involved because the PBR events are on the weekends. But, the kids stay over in our bunkhouse with their chaperones and equine therapist for some weekends scattered throughout the summer. I’d like to expand it someday because we only reach Beaumont County kids. Maybe when I’ve retired from the PBR, I can expand the program.”
Sara nodded, but didn’t look at him. She seemed to be relaxing, but she had a death grip on the reins, just like Mickey, and wouldn’t look at him, not even a quick glance.
He kept on talking to further get her to calm down and enjoy the ride. “It’s a full-time job, organizing everything and making sure that all the releases are signed and whatever. My brother’s wife, Callie, does everything. And Callie is busy doing our accounting, making our plane and hotel reservations for the events, and whatever the hell else she does. She can’t take on much more, but she insists that she wouldn’t give up the Beaumont Ranch Equine Therapy Program for all the help in the world.”
“She sounds like a great person.”
“Callie is a gem. So is my brother Luke’s wife, Amber. She’s a full-time cop and is currently pregnant, so she’s a bit busy. Callie lets her help out, but not much.” He chuckled. “Both my brothers married great women.”
“They really sound wonderful.”
“That’s a perfect way to describe them.”
Sara was pretty wonderful herself.
Even though she overdid it sometimes, Sara was like a mother bear with her cub. She worked hard in the kitchen, wasn’t too proud to take a scholarship. And she was beautiful, even though she seemingly didn’t know it. Above all, she wasn’t a buckle bunny. She really didn’t even know about bull riding at all.
He’d like to take her to a bull riding event. Or maybe bring one to her.
Jesse reminded himself to talk to Lori Floyd about bringing several bulls to Camp Care. If they had a break from building their houses, maybe he and his brothers and a couple of other cowboys could put on an exhibition here. The Beaumont brothers had the fencing and the bulls, it’d be easy; it could be part of the rodeo at the end of the season.
“Jesse, you never mentioned your parents. How are they?”
“My mother died several years ago.” He left out the fact that she had died after being kicked by a horse. Sara didn’t need to know that, not when she was a new rider. “And my father fell apart. He’s had trouble with drinking, and right now he’s on probation for a bar fight.”
“Is he doing okay?”
“He’s doing great. He lives in town, has a lady friend and comes out to the ranch a lot. He’s still pining for my mother, and I think it pains him to be at the ranch, instead of it comforting him.”
“Maybe that’ll change when Amber gives him a grandbaby.”
Jesse nodded. “How about your folks?”
“They’re fine. They live in Oregon. I don’t see them much, but we talk a lot on the phone.”
They walked their horses in comfortable silence until Sara turned to him. “This is really fun, Jesse. I’m so glad you suggested riding.”
“Walking,” he said, echoing what she’d said earlier. “But I think it’s time to go back. I don’t want you to ride in the dark. I’ll turn and Midnight will follow Sunshine.”
“How do I do it?”
“Let the reins go against her neck in the way you want to go.” Sara obeyed, and he exclaimed, “That’s it! Excellent, Sara!” The horses were trained so perfectly that even first-timers could handle them, but he was also proud of her for confronting her fears.
“I’m riding a horse!”
“You are.”
“I have to show Mickey!”
“Maybe we’ll see him on our way back.”
They talked about the weather, yoga and horses, and when they got back to the barn Jesse led the horses to the corral. One of the workers was there, and Jesse asked her to get Mickey.
Jesse led Sunshine around the corral, and Midnight followed. Mickey arrived, looking surprised. He grinned widely and clapped.
When Jesse looked back at Sara, her green eyes looked like shimmering pools. He assumed it was because of Mickey’s reaction. The boy responded to stimulation, and he was doing it more and more.
He was proud of himself. He’d taught two city slickers how to sit on a horse and be comfortable.
He dismounted from Sunshine and then helped Sara off. Touching Jesse’s arms, she said, “That’s the best reaction I’ve seen from Mickey in a long time. He’s definitely coming alive, and I have you to thank.” She leaned forward and kissed him. It was too quick a kiss for him. He wanted more, and maybe she did, too. “Naw. It’s the Camp Care environment.”
“Maybe, but you are part of the environment, Ramrod Jesse.”
He chuckled. “Go and see your son, and I’ll be waiting for you in the barn to show you how to brush Midnight and clean tack.”
“Okay.”
Wanting to see what Sara would do, Jesse slowly walked the horses into the barn, but he watched as Sara fussed over Mickey’s hair, combing it with her fingers. The poor kid. He was surrounded by a group of his fellow wranglers, who were clearly trying like hell not to laugh.
If she wet a finger and wiped dirt off his face, Mickey would never live it down.
Oh, no! She started to, but Mickey ducked away. Then he left with his group. Sara looked hurt, but she trudged up to the barn.
“He didn’t want me there,” she sniffed.
“Sara, you embarrassed him in front of his friends. You’re still treating him like a three-year-old.”
She put her hands on her hips. “And how many children have you had, Jesse?”
“None. But I was a young boy once, and I saw the reaction of his fellow wranglers just now. Didn’t you?”
“Uh...no. I was looking at Mickey.”
“Exactly. And I wasn’t, so I could see the bigger picture.”
She sighed. “I don’t want to fight with you, Jesse. Every time we talk about Mickey, we seem to fight.”
“We’re not fighting. I’m just pointing out that you embarrass the kid in front of his friends. Unless you want your son to avoid you like the plague, s
top fussing over him.”
He made his tone direct and to the point.
“Just show me what you want me to do with Midnight. I want to go to the chuck wagon and help clean up. I think we are down a dishwasher,” she said, her voice expressionless.
Yep. He’d made her mad, but maybe she’d think about what he’d said.
“I’ll take care of Midnight for you, so you can help out at the chuck wagon. I’ll see you later.”
“Thanks.” She walked to the side door, then turned back. “And thanks for a great time, Jesse. I mean that.”
“Would you do it again?”
Her face brightened. “I would.”
“Next time, you can try bull riding.”
Sara whirled around. “In your dreams, cowboy.”
She had a smile on her face, and hopefully her anger was evaporating. Maybe she’d take his comment for what it was intended to do: help both her and Mickey.
* * *
As she walked to the chuck wagon, Sara mumbled, “That man is insufferable. Why can’t he just be a cowboy and leave the therapy to those with degrees in that field?”
She was just doing things that a mother would do.
Maybe he had a point. Maybe she was embarrassing him in front of his fellow campers.
Yeah. Okay.
Maybe she should go into Bunkhouse 13 and apologize to Mickey. Yes. That’s what she would do. Later, when he was ready for “lights-out.”
So, after she was done washing dishes and cleaning up after dinner, she knocked on the door of the bunkhouse. Jesse opened the door widely, then when he saw it was her, he closed it until she could barely see him.
“What’s up, Sara?”
“I’d like to see Mickey and apologize.”
“Not a good idea. Not now.”
“Why not?”
“Because all the boys are in their pajamas, and we are about to have storytelling.”
“Then I can’t tuck him in? I miss tucking him in.”
“Are you insane? Mickey could never hold his head up in this camp, maybe not even this state!”
Sara giggled. “I’m only kidding. This time.”
“You gave me a heart attack.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Look, let’s talk later. The wranglers are waiting for me.”
“Can you get a roving ramrod tonight?”
“It’s already done. Meet you at the lake for yoga at nine thirty. Bring a lantern.”
She was looking forward to it.
Chapter 11
As she walked to her bunkhouse, Sara wondered if she was actually getting her sense of humor back. She’d been at Camp Care only several days, but she hadn’t felt this relaxed since the accident.
She even slept through the night. Maybe the scent of cedar in the air was a type of aromatherapy, or maybe it was because she wasn’t worrying quite so much about Mickey.
Thanks to Jesse, Mickey was relaxing, too. Okay, perhaps her constant vigilance in the past had made her son edgy, so it was good that they were apart a little. Just a little.
Then she remembered how Jesse got Black Beauty out of the camp’s library for Mickey, and how Mickey was still reading it.
What a blessing! Maybe she was just getting the wrong books for him, but they were recommended by the librarian for his age group. They sat unopened on the desk in his room.
If she tried reading aloud to him, she received eye rolling in return. Okay, maybe he was too old to be read to.
But Mickey was only ten years old. He was still her baby.
Jesse would disagree with her. He’d tell her to leave him alone and let him grow up.
Sara opened the door of her bunkhouse, and was greeted by raucous noise, which stopped when she walked through the door.
“What?” Sara asked.
“We saw you riding with Jesse Beaumont,” Jules said.
Tiffany said, “Everyone’s talking about how the two of you are always together.”
Sara shook her head. “Jesse is just helping me with Mickey. He’s gotten him to read.”
“He’s helped me with my J.B., too, but he’s never taken me riding with him.”
Meghan yelled over the noise that erupted, “The same goes for my Ty. I’d love to go riding with Jesse. No. I’d just want to stand there and look at him,”
Sara grabbed her Camp Care sweatshirt and shrugged into it. “Don’t wait up, ladies.” She grinned. “Jesse and I are going to do yoga.” She purposely got them talking again, and wasn’t disappointed with the results.
“So that’s what they call it these days,” Meghan laughed and the rest of the bunkhouse chimed in.
Once Sara got to their place by the lake, which gave her a chance to relax and meditate, she couldn’t clear her mind. Thoughts of Jesse whirled through her.
Fling. She wanted to have a fling. Just lovely, meaningless sex without any ties.
Jesse had a reputation for being a party boy, so why couldn’t they have their own party together? Alone.
They did share some wonderful kisses by the water, but Sara wanted much, much more.
Then they would continue with their own lives when July was over.
Her life would be devoted to finding another job, trying to pay for the roof over their heads and going to counseling alone and with Mickey. Jesse would go back to his ranch and the PBR. She hoped he’d win the Finals. It clearly meant so much to him.
She felt bad that he was going to miss the Calgary Stampede. That showed how dedicated he was to Camp Care and to completing his community service.
A twig snapped and she heard, “Sara, it’s Jesse. Don’t be alarmed.”
Her heart did a flip in her chest, not because she was scared, but because it was Jesse.
Sheesh. She was getting to be a buckle bunny!
“I’m fine, Jesse. Just doing some meditating.”
“Sorry to disturb you.”
“You didn’t. Not at all. I really couldn’t concentrate.”
He smiled, and she could see his bright white teeth by the glow of the lantern. “What are you thinking about? Something bothering you?”
“Nothing much,” Sara shrugged. “Just my past, present and future.”
“Nothing much? That’s just your whole life!”
Along with her thoughts, she waved his words away. She wasn’t about to tell Jesse that she was aiming to have a fling with him. “Let’s do yoga. You lead this time.”
“You might be sore from your ride, so let’s shake it off,” Jesse said.
They did several poses and Sara sneaked glances at Jesse in his boots, jeans, long-sleeved shirt and cowboy hat. It made her smile and feel flushed at the same time.
“That’s it, Sara.”
“Awesome. I feel great, and this is a wonderful place to do yoga and meditate.” She looked at the sparkling lake and smelled the air, laden with cedar and moisture. “And, Jesse, it’s nice to be here with you.”
“Thanks.”
“I mean it.” And she did. It wasn’t as if she was flirting; she really liked his company. She might as well tell him just that. “I like doing yoga with you, too,” she added, sitting on the big rock next to Jesse.
He stared deep into her eyes, and she thought she was going to melt. She remembered their kisses here the other day.
“I’m going to kiss you, Sara. If you have any objection, you’d better tell me now.”
His low, sexy voice heated her face, her whole body. She was glad that she was sitting, or her legs wouldn’t hold her up.
“No objection,” she said.
His soft lips met hers, and she kissed him back, tentatively at first, then she put her heart and soul into it.
“Mmm...” Jesse murmured.
He traced her lips with his tongue, and she opened her mouth for him.<
br />
They soon both came up, gasping for air. Sara backed away, smiled and then pulled him to his feet. This time, she initiated the kiss, and couldn’t keep her hands still. They traveled across his back, threaded into his hair and cupped his face.
“Sara. Wow!”
“Wow! Just what I was thinking.”
With their arms around each other, Jesse moved them both down again, to the soft, damp grass. Sara could feel every hard muscle of his body. His heavy belt buckle pressed against her stomach. She groaned.
He played with a piece of her hair. “Jesse, it’s been such a long time. I—I...”
“It doesn’t matter.” He kissed her again, his hand cupping the back of her head.
“What if someone sees us?” she whispered.
He nuzzled her neck. “They all go to the dock at the other end of the lake to hang out.”
Suddenly, Sara didn’t care if they were caught. She just didn’t want Jesse to stop kissing her neck.
She felt his hand under her Camp Care sweatshirt, warming her stomach, then higher. His palm settled on her breast, and she felt dizzy. She wanted to feel his hands on her bare breasts.
Sitting up, she pulled her yellow sweatshirt over her head. The cool night air hit her heated skin, and she shivered.
“Cold?” Jesse asked.
“No. Not at all.”
“But you shivered.”
“But not from the cold.”
“Yeehaw!” He took his hat off, and tossed it nearby. “Come here, Sara.”
And she did.
Before Jesse shrugged out of his jeans, he took out his wallet and pulled out a square packet. He tossed his wallet and his jeans near his hat. His formfitting underwear looked like a pair of shorts. They were red with white stripes, and Sara laughed.
“What? You don’t like my underwear?”
“They look perfect for Santa Claus.”
“Let’s see yours.” With an index finger, he pulled at the waistband of her jeans, and she couldn’t wait to get rid of them.
She sighed, reached for the snap, but he stilled her hand. “Let me.”
Leaning on an elbow, he popped the snap, and slowly—oh-so-slowly—he unzipped her jeans, one rung at a time. She could have screamed, he was taking so long.
Home on the Ranch: Oklahoma Bull Rider Page 11
