Follow a Wild Heart: A Christian Contemporary Western Romance Series

by Natalie Bright

  “Nate, you can’t throw all your dreams away. You can’t live someone else’s life. We should make a pact. You tell your folks about your plans to become a world-famous bronze sculptor. And I’ll start the research to get serious about tracking my birth father down. Deal?”

  “I’ll think about it,” was all he said before turning his attention back to his lunch.

  Carli sighed. They were such a pathetic pair.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The drive home from the art museum was quiet, Nathan and Carli both lost in their own thoughts. Carli understood the turmoil that must be going on in his head. She had felt the same way trying to decide about giving up her life in Georgia and moving halfway across the country to claim an inheritance.

  Spending the day with Nathan made her realize how much she missed having a close friend. Her previous business partner, Mark, had been her sounding board. It never got too intimate, but they talked every day about the Georgia riding school, their boarders, and their shared passion for horses. She missed that companionship. Despite people being around at the ranch, she still felt totally alone in Texas. Sure, she considered Buck and Lola family, but she was their employer after all. They worked for her. And Carli kept walls up against everyone she met. She knew that, but she had done it her whole life. Maybe because her mother had left; it was self-preservation. If you don’t get too close, then nobody can ever disappoint you.

  Today with Nathan, she talked more than ever before. She didn’t remember sharing that much with anyone, even her former business partner and good friend, Mark.

  Nathan glanced over at her. A moment of surprise showed on his face as if suddenly realizing she was still in the pickup.

  “Where is Brad’s studio?” she asked, in hopes of getting Nathan to talk again. The silence made her think about the past and she didn’t want to linger there anymore.

  “I do plan to call him and set up a date to visit. I’ll let you know.”

  “And you’re going to talk to your parents. Right? After watching you today, Nate, you have to follow your passion. You’ll be miserable if you don’t.”

  They were on a dirt road, almost to her ranch, when Nathan suddenly pulled the truck over to the side and shut off the engine.

  “What’s the matter?” she asked.

  Slowly, quietly, he turned and leaned to her, putting one hand on her shoulder. “You’ve always been so encouraging, Carli. I have a lot to think about after today. You mean a lot to me and I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings at the museum.”

  She knew he was moving in for a kiss and her heart pattered in anticipation. Part of her wanted to just let go and see what happened, but then her radar or gut feeling or whatever it was, signaled some sort of an alarm inside her. She placed a hand on his chest but found him immovable. “Nate, we’re friends. I really like you. But I’m not sure about this. Let’s go slow. Okay?”

  His expression showed disappointment as he regrouped, leaned back in the driver’s seat, and cleared his throat. “Sure, Carli. Sorry. I guess I got caught up in the excitement of the day.”

  “It’s okay, Nate. It was a super day. And I like you. But my feelings are a little mixed up so I think we should go slow.”

  “What's his name?”

  “Who?” A flash of Lank’s face hit her brain. Surely, she wasn’t that transparent.

  “The guy in Georgia you decided to leave.”

  She chuckled with relief. “Yes. There was a guy in Georgia. I thought he was the one but turned out he had his eyes set on someone else.”

  “All right, Carli. Just know I really care about you and I’d like us to be more than just friends. But I’ll go slow and hope you catch up soon.”

  She placed her hand on his forearm for a second and smiled as he started the truck and pulled onto the dirt road.

  As they got closer to the Wild Cow Ranch headquarters, Carli snapped back to reality. She knew paperwork was waiting in her office, and she’d been wanting to ride Beau. She also wanted to give the other ranch horses a go in the round pen to determine if any of them might work for the riding school. Maybe she’d have more time tomorrow. Right now, she’d better be careful of Nathan’s feelings. Should she invite him in? Would it send a mixed message?

  As usual, he hurried around to open the truck door for her. She stepped down, and he blocked her path, holding his arms out wide. “We’re still friends. So how about a friendly hug?”

  She looked up to his eyes and they shared a smile. “Of course, we are, silly. We’ll always be friends.” She walked into his strong arms, warm and solid. Part of her was annoyed she hadn’t let him kiss her, but another part just couldn’t be that trusting. She wasn’t ready for anything serious yet.

  Abruptly, she heard Lank’s voice and twisted loose from Nathan’s tight hug.

  “If you two are done foolin’ around, I need to see you, boss lady. We have a problem in the barn.”

  Glaring at him, Carli bitingly said, “We’re not fooling around!”

  “Looks like it to me.”

  “You’d best be careful what you say, Lank. Don’t be disrespectful.” Nathan puffed up his chest and stepped closer to Lank.

  “What’s it to you, man?”

  Nathan moved in a step closer. They were nose to nose. “Don’t be a jerk, Torres.”

  Carli knew she needed to step in before things got out of hand.

  “Just a minute, you two. Lank, I’ll see you in the barn. Nate, thank you for a nice day. Now both of you get back to your own business. That’s enough.”

  “Yes, ma’am, boss lady. Whatever you say, boss lady.” Contempt shadowed Lank’s voice. He saluted and grumbled as he walked away. But not without first staring daggers into Nathan’s hide. Nathan glared back.

  “I thought you two were friends.”

  “Used to love him like a brother. Not anymore,” came the curt reply as Nathan climbed into his truck. “I’ll talk to you later, Carli.”

  “Sounds good. And thanks again, Nate. I had fun today.” She set her tote down on the front porch and then spun on her heels to follow Lank to the barn. She gave a quick wave to Nathan as he drove away. She couldn’t help but smile to herself. It had been a fun date. She glanced up to see Lank watching her with a deep scowl on his face. Her smile faded. He turned his back to her and kept walking towards the corral.

  “Are you two a thing now?” Lank flung the question over his shoulder, his voice hard and mocking.

  “Is it any of your business?” Carli wasn’t going to let him annoy her. She finally found a friend she could go places with, if she could keep him at bay about the kissing for a while longer, and she wasn’t going to let some smart-aleck cowpuncher ruin her mood. She glared at his back, broad shoulders, and lean muscles defined through his pearl-snap shirt. Despite the late afternoon chill, he wore no jacket.

  “Looked like you have something going on is all. Seems like the Olsen family has welcomed you with open arms.” He shrugged his shoulders as he opened the corral fence and stepped aside for her to go through the gate. She stumbled and her shoulder glazed his outstretched arm. She ignored the churning that grew in her belly.

  “What’s the problem?” Carli stopped in the middle of the pen and placed her hands on her hips. She looked around and saw nothing out of place. Returning from her date with Nathan who was all inspired, she had planned to work on the genealogy research tonight. But instead, she was standing in the middle of a horse pen.

  With one fluid motion Lank skirted past her and then was up and over the pipe rail fence. “This is the problem.” He stood next to her horse. “Beau has been acting strange. Almost colicky. I thought you should know.”

  “I’ll see if he wants some grain.”

  “I already fed your horse, while you were out partying with your boyfriend. He didn't eat much at all.”

  She faced him and jammed a finger in his chest. “For your information, we were at an art gallery event and then we went to eat. We’re friends. Not that
it’s any of your concern.”

  “Appears you’re settling into your new life in Texas just fine. Good for you. And that hug was way more than friendly.” He glared at her and she glared back.

  How this guy had the power to irritate her was beyond reason. Carli decided he was annoyed at something, but she couldn’t figure out what. Maybe even past the point of being a mild annoyance, as anger glinted in his eyes. She turned her back on him and walked to the tack room.

  “I told you, I’ve already fed him this evening.” Lank stayed close on her heels.

  “I have some extra supplements. And maybe a little mineral oil.” She stomped to the saddle house and flipped on the light switch. The outside light slowly faded as the setting sun disappeared from the horizon.

  “When’s the last time you rode Beau, by the way?” Lank was like her shadow, too close.

  “I plan to start riding him again tomorrow. What is wrong with you?” She turned to face Lank, staring directly at his face. In the beam cast from the one dim bulb, a darkness of a beard lined his square jaw making her heart flutter. His eyes still shined mean.

  It was a long moment before he said, “If you’re not happy with my work, just say so.”

  “I have never, ever said anything about your work.”

  He looked at her with defiant eyes, his jaw clenched. “If you keep coming behind me and doing my job over, then I guess I’m not up to your standards.”

  “What are you talking about?” Carli felt drained. She had no idea why Lank was confronting her on something that obviously had nothing to do with what he was saying.

  “Me doing your work and then you doing it again.” He grabbed a broom and began sweeping.

  “Can you be still for just a minute?” She placed a hand on his arm. “What work?”

  “Me feeding Beau, your horse,” he growled with a hard emphasis. There was that mocking tone again.

  Carli decided to end the conversation. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you are an employee at this ranch. You will do whatever work is required of you and whatever work needs doing. Why the attitude?”

  “I’m tired of being at your beck and call. You think you know all about cows. Now you’re in tight with the Olsen family. Big money. Ranching legacy. You're somebody now!”

  “Good grief. That's crazy.”

  “Think you’re some highfalutin ranch owner. Too good to even feed your own horse. Don’t lower yourself by speaking to me. I’m just the stupid ranch hand.”

  “If you don’t want to work here with me as your boss, Lank, just say so. Ranch hands are a dime a dozen.”

  “Really? Well, then I quit,” he yelled.

  “You can’t quit because I'm firing you first,” Carli yelled back. “I want you off my property.” She turned her back to him so he couldn’t see the tears in her eyes and half-ran back to her house.

  At her desk, Carli tried to sit at the computer and focus, but her blood was boiling. The nerve of that guy. Questioning her time with Nathan. Accusing her of abandoning her horse. With a heavy sigh she clicked off the computer and got ready for bed. She thought about how she would tell Buck that she had fired his only ranch hand.

  As she lay in bed, she played the conversation with Lank over and over in her mind. Nothing made any sense. What a stupid way to end a perfect day. He just made her so dang mad. She should have let Nathan kiss her. At least she could have ended the day on a more positive note. That was a moment she’d never get back. And then Nathan’s comment came to mind: “Used to love him like a brother.”

  Suddenly she sat bolt upright in bed. She was the problem. Her moving to Texas had caused a rift between two friends.

  Lank was jealous.

  Maybe the attraction she felt for him wasn’t just one-sided. She remembered the time Lank found her in the snowstorm. He was afraid for her and so attentive. He acted as if he wanted to say something, but he never spoke. Could he have feelings for her too? Stop it. She did not need or want to get involved with anybody.

  Carli's thoughts were reeling. She was curious about the missed kiss from Nathan, but it was Lank’s face that floated in her mind. He looked so darn cute when he was furious, and she hated how his glance made her heart flutter. And now she had fired him. What in the world had she done?

  Chapter Sixteen

  Seemed like there were always a pile of dirty jeans waiting to be washed around a ranch. Carli didn’t mind as she stuffed laundry in her washer before dawn. She couldn’t help but be energized this morning, except her stomach fluttered with nerves, and then to discover there were no clean pants to wear. In her excitement and work to prepare for riders, she had forgotten to do laundry. She sipped on coffee but did not find food appealing.

  After the dryer buzzed, she pulled on the warm pants, tucked the ends into her grandma’s turquoise boots, and found a fairly wrinkle-free, red-paisley, pearl snap shirt. So much for being a highfalutin ranch owner, as Lank had accused. She wanted to make a good impression with the parents and kids. No matter, she would always be just Carli. No diamonds or turquoise jewelry and fancy duds for her. She pulled unbrushed hair into a ponytail and shoved a brown felt hat on her head. Slamming the front door behind, she half-jogged to the corral.

  The kids were coming to LoveJoy Riding School today, her new equine program.

  She squinted at the sun and said a prayer of thanks for the Saturday in April without wind. So far, the morning was calm. The temperature was jacket worthy, but bearable. It was a good day for riding.

  According to the response from the online registrations made through her public page, she would have four kids. Two girls and two boys, one of the girls being Lexi. Carli was happy she wanted to come back.

  Lexi was the first to arrive. Carli said hello to the mother and while they chatted, a second car pulled to a stop next to the dining hall. Carli walked over and introduced herself. A young girl about the same age as Lexi, with board-straight red hair and a freckled face gave Carli a shy smile as her mother made the introductions.

  “We’re glad to have you here, Bianca."

  Carli waited a few moments to give the others more time to arrive. The girls stood awkwardly apart in the pen, without smiles and not looking at each other. Both were dressed in black, with the exception of pink highlights that now streaked Lexi’s hair. A fluorescent pink chain dangled from one ear. Lexi showed interest as Sally followed Carli into the pen. The girl obviously loved horses. Lola brought in another horse for Bianca.

  After a few more minutes, Carli decided the boys must not be coming. Nathan hadn’t shown up either. Lank wandered to the fence rail and crossed his arms along the top. He waved at Lola but paid no attention to Carli.

  Even though she had fired him several days ago, Buck rehired him the very next morning before she could explain what happened between them. The best thing for her was to have as little to do with Mr. Torres as possible. It seemed they couldn’t even be civil to each other anymore. The riding school took up her time, with little energy left to analyze what could possibly be going on in the crazy mind of a Texas cowboy. She made the decision to only go to Buck with any ranch business and ignore Lank as best she could.

  It didn't appear the two boys who had pre-registered would be arriving any time soon. Maybe running late?

  “I think we should get started, don’t you?” Carli turned to Lola. She was thankful for Lola's willingness to help and for her support from the very first. It meant a lot that Lola and Buck were supportive of her ideas.

  “Hello, I’m Carli and this is Lola. If you’re here, then you probably love horses as much as I do, so welcome to LoveJoy Riding School. We’re so glad to have you here today. I want you to know this is a safe place and I hope it will be a fun place for all of you. We’ll learn about horses and I think you’ll have a good time. So, please relax, breathe in the fresh air, and let’s get started. We have a few rules—”

  “Great. Here it comes,” Bianca murmured, as she crossed her hands over her chest and
rested one boot on the fence behind her.

  If Carli handled this right, these girls might become fast friends before the day was over. She glowed at the thought of doing some good and changing lives. Nathan had told her to watch for little signs from God which indicated she was on the right path. She'd be on the lookout.

  Based on Carli’s experience from working with clients in Georgia, she knew about establishing rules the very first day. She wasn’t intimidated by teenagers. She walked closer to Bianca. “A lot of times, rules keep us safe and help us to get along with others. So here goes: No cursing. No yelling or loud voices around the horses. No walking directly behind the horses. Be respectful of other riders. Listen to your instructors. The two-story building over there has restroom facilities. That’s pretty much it. Other than that, we are here to have fun and learn about horses.”

  Already, Carli noticed the eye rolling from both of her new clients. “Come with us. We’re going to clean some tack first, brush the horses, and then saddle up for a quick ride,” she said. The response wasn’t any better.

  Bianca shuffled her feet and mumbled, “I didn’t come here to be nobody’s servant or maid.”

  Carli studied the red-haired girl with the big attitude. She was going to be a challenge. “Around a ranch, everyone pitches in. Equipment like saddles and bridles have to be kept in good condition. We don’t want a bridle or reins to break in two while someone’s riding because the tack was dirty, dry, and cracked. So, we clean it, oil it, and keep it like new.”

  “I don’t know how to do any of that. My mom says I have to be here, but I don’t have to do a thing you say,” Bianca grumbled. “Besides, I don’t want to break my nails.” She held her hands out, fingers spread, admiring fluorescent orange polish.

  It was Lexi’s turn to roll her eyes and smirk. Luckily, she didn’t say any words, but the snort of escaping air, “Hmph,” was what set Bianca off.

  Bianca spun on her heels and faced Lexi. “You got somethin’ to say to me?”