by Imani King
Perhaps because the horse liked Logan…and you like Logan, too.
Ari ignored the taunting voice in her head. Whenever Logan’s name came up in any conversation, she suddenly remembered she’d forgotten something in her room or that she needed to check on the cooking. Seeing him was worse and she’d taught herself to watch out for him before taking a step out of the house. She wouldn’t even take him and Everett lunch if her life depended on it.
And it had been exactly two weeks since the incident in the car.
Nine days and she still couldn’t understand what the hell had happened that day. For the life of her, she couldn’t say what was wrong with her. Never in her life had she reacted in that way with another man.
Never.
Not even with Dan.
She couldn’t even describe properly how she felt. She’d been hot and cold at the same time, wanting to run her hand against Logan’s broad chest. She’d felt like leaning in to kiss him. The temperature in the car had gotten high and she’d actually been grateful for the horn that broke the spell, or else she would have been very tempted to remove her clothes.
She couldn’t understand it; she couldn’t understand any of it.
So, because she couldn’t understand, she ran from him. The air in the car as they drove home from the lawyer’s office that day was as frigid as ice. She’d cursed herself all the way, wondering if he caught her ogling him like some treat. Of course, he noticed. Why else would he have let such cold silence continue so? She couldn’t stand the shame.
The horse whinnied as if to call her attention which startled her out of her musing.
“Did you just call my name, eh?” she said in a cajoling voice.
It took another second to realize that the whinny hadn’t been for her. Then it took one more second to realize who it was for. She smelled sandalwood before she saw him.
“Hi Ari.”
He remembered not to call her Miss Ari.
Closing her eyes on a deep breath, she tried to calm the flutter in her stomach as she turned to him with what she hoped was a friendly smile. “Hi Logan.”
For longer than Ari cared to count, they simply stood facing and staring at one another. Ari took in the shirt and corduroy pants he wore. As always, a hat and pair of boots completed the ensemble. His shirt was opened at the chest and dark hairs winked at her. Quickly, she let her eyes fix on his face but even the contours of his face fascinated her.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” he accused softly.
So he had noticed.
“That’s not…” She wanted to complete the statement with ‘true’ but she detected a hint of hurt along with the accusation in his eyes so she said instead, “…entirely how it is.”
He rubbed his chin.
She sighed. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly, staring down at her feet. She couldn’t give him an explanation because she didn’t understand what had happened herself, what was still happening. He was a few feet away from her and she felt like stepping into his hands and asking him to hold her. How could she feel so with this man? She certainly didn’t feel the same way with Everett or with any other man on the ranch.
Logan didn’t say anything for what seemed to Ari like the longest time ever. She took a peek at him from under her eyelashes and noticed he was looking as confused as a stranger at a crossroad. She wished she could give a reason for her actions, but she didn’t know what to say.
“Your husband, when did you get married to him?” he asked suddenly.
“Two years ago,” she supplied automatically wondering why he was asking, yet grateful for the change in topic.
“Dated anybody before him?” he asked immediately after.
Her breathing was a bit rushed, but she answered him, “N—No…I met him straight out of college and we dated a while before getting married.” Her eyes were on his face now, searching and wondering.
A brief smile touched his lips at her answer and she couldn’t contain her curiosity any longer. “What is it Logan?” she asked as a thought occurred to her. “Is Dan causing any trouble? Is he accusing me of anything?”
Logan squished his eyebrows for a quick second before realizing what she was asking. “No, no, nothing like that,” he hurried to reassure her. “I was asking because I wanted to know.”
Ari frowned. What sort of an answer was that?
Before she could say anything, however, Logan said, “That apology of yours?”
At this, it was her turn to squish her eyebrows.
“I’m going to accept it only on one condition.”
Just then, Arrow neighed as if running out of patience with Logan. He hadn’t spared a glance at her since he came into the stables. He still didn’t, his eyes were solely on Ari.
Ari could only guess that she didn’t look intelligent because her eyes must’ve looked dazed in confusion. She couldn’t understand the sudden change that came over Logan. One minute, he was accusing her of avoiding him, the next, he was asking about her marriage. Now, he was giving a condition to accept her apology, and didn’t he look like the cat that got the canary too? “What condition?” she asked warily.
“I’m not going to pester you about what happened the other day and why you’ve been avoiding me if you let me take you riding on Arrow,” he responded.
Ari blinked, staring at him agape.
He walked around her to pet the horse, but his eyes were trained on her. The darned horse couldn’t even shun him a little bit. It whimpered like a baby at his caress.
Wench! Ari thought.
Logan wanted to take her riding on the horse, just so he could accept her apology. He must have no idea just how much she wanted to get on the horse. She pretended to think on his request while he ran his hands over Arrow’s flank. “She doesn’t like me,” she said slowly, eyeing the horse now. “I think she’ll throw me just for the fun of it.”
Logan laughed, a loud booming, pleasant sound that teased her eardrums and brought a smile to her lips.
“Surely, you exaggerate.” He caressed the horse.
Ari wished she was the horse, instead.
“Arrow’s as mild as a newborn, aren’t you, girl?” He was now cooing into the horse’s ears and Arrow wagged its tail in response.
Ari couldn’t believe how he could have such understanding with the animal without a treat while she had been bringing handfuls of carrots without even getting a friendly neigh in return.
“Come on, step closer,” Logan encouraged with a smile. His smile was filled with mystery and she wondered at it. However, she felt too excited at the prospect of getting near the animal that she ignored it. She took a bold step closer to Arrow.
It neighed threateningly, rearing up immediately.
“Come on now, dear girl, Ari’s a friend and she’s only going to rub your silky, shiny coat…”
Ari waited until Logan calmed the horse with soft words in its ear before taking another step and another, and another and another. She exhaled on a whoosh when she stood at the animal’s feet.
“Now stay absolutely still and look her in the eye, square like you respect her but also not afraid of her,” Logan instructed. “Let her know that you realize what beauty she is, but you’ve also got to know your own worth. Animals are sensitive to things like that, Arrow especially. If she smells fear coming off you, she’ll decide you’re not up to her standard.”
Ari wondered at an animal having any specific ‘standard’ but she did as he instructed. For all of thirty seconds, she and the horse stared at each other. She could do this, she kept telling herself. Perhaps, when she was the lowly wife who allowed herself to get hit, she wouldn’t have been able to stand so tall and confident in front of the animal. But she was no more that person and she could win an animal over, damn it!
At last, the horse sniffed as if in surrender and turned back to Logan.
“She just gave in.” Logan smiled, his eyes beamed with pride.
He was proud of her!
Wit
h a sense of feeling taller and being aware that she could possibly conquer the world, even the problems she faced with Dan, Ari stretched a hand slowly and laid it on the horse. It didn’t kick at her. “You’re such a tough one, aren’t you?” Ari said softly.
“That she is,” Logan agreed. “Now, how about that ride?” he asked with a wide grin.
Across the horse, Ari stared into Logan’s smiling eyes. She knew she owed this man a lot. He’d found her and brought her to the Westbrooke Ranch. Words of encouragement were never far from his mouth as he told her that she could get over her past. And he’d taken her to see a lawyer. Then now, he’d helped her to make friends with a horse. Gratitude and some other unnamed emotion welled up inside her. Because she couldn’t define the other emotion, she concentrated on the gratitude.
With a smile and a nod of her head, she said, “Is tomorrow too soon?”
“It is perfect.”
*****
The hills were a radiant golden color as they rode across the property. Arrow seemed to be enjoying the ride as much as she was. It was incredibly freeing to be back on a horse and she enjoyed the wind as it whipped at her hair. Arrow was pure pleasure and the horse seemed to be in the same frequency with her. At the slightest nudge, she seemed to fly, riding like the very wind itself.
At first, Logan had tried to lead her on a gentle stroll, but riding on the horse was like an aphrodisiac and she felt her power rise through her. On Arrow, she felt strong and free, so the urge to kick it up a notch was too great for her to resist. She’d prompted it to run, and run, it did.
Logan acted alarmed at first, but he’d quickly learned that she knew what she was doing and allowed her to do as she liked.
She liked having him behind her on the horse. His thighs grazed hers and she gloried in the feeling. She didn’t ask herself any questions; she simply let herself be enveloped in the wonderful feelings coursing through her.
“I see you like going fast?” Logan called over her shoulder.
“Doesn’t everybody?” she answered with a laugh. “I think Arrow likes running fast too.”
The sun was setting slowly and the orange hue across the sky made her feel like Alice in wonderland. Shortly, they passed what looked like a house under construction. There were lots of wood and nails scattered about, so she asked Logan about it.
“That’s something Everett comes out here to work on sometimes,” he replied. Don’t ask me why because I don’t know.”
Ari didn’t ask. The incomplete building was big and close to the stream. Ari decided Everett must have his reasons; he didn’t seem like a man who didn’t. Not much later, she put the house out of her mind.
They rode on until they saw another horse and its rider off in the distance.
“That’s Lyle and his horse, June,” Logan said into her ears. “He and Andy ride around the property to keep an eye on things. He’s from the old school, but he’s a great guy.”
They slowed down when they got closer.
“Lyle, this is Ari; she is joined Westbrooke Ranch recently.”
“I know about her, boy,” Lyle said, spitting tobacco on the ground. “You think because I stay out here, Val don’t tell me nothing?”
Ari winced. She could feel Logan grin even though she couldn’t see him. “How are you doing, Lyle?” she said in greeting.
“Oh, doing great, that I am,” the old man replied. “Just wondering where all the decency in the world has gone when a man and a woman ride the same horse without getting married first. But what does old Lyle know?” With that, the old man turned away and rode off.
“What was that about?” Ari stared after the man.
She could feel Logan shaking with mirth behind her.
“I did tell you he was from the old school, didn’t I?”
Ari laughed too. “You did.”
They rode on, still laughing.
“This place is huge,” Ari said after a while.
“Horses need space to run,” Logan said. “Plus, we grow enough wheat to keep them fed and make ends meet. Corn too.”
Ari felt sure that come harvest time, the entire ranch would be really busy. She couldn’t wait to have plenty to do. She just loved the work and companionship of the people here. Suddenly, she noticed a tall mountain that stood proud against the evening sky. She wondered idly how far off it was.
“That there’s Hope Mountain,” Logan said. He must have noticed her staring.
“You’re kidding.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know if that’s its official title, but that’s what we call it. Val said her husband’s granddad took his wife up there several times when things got difficult or they needed a getaway. They said they always came back home with new vigor and promise in their hearts. Said her husband took her there a couple of times too. I guess it gave them hope for new things and hence, the reason for its name.”
Ari smiled at the mountain. “That’s amazing.” The name was apt; looking at it gave her hope. Or perhaps, it was the man riding behind her. Ari couldn’t say which was which. She only knew she felt happy and that was all that mattered.
At least, for now.
Chapter Eight
“Ari agreed to go on a date with me.”
Everett was sitting outside the bunkhouse when Logan arrived. One look at his face and the older man had begun teasing him endlessly. At last, Logan had to admit to the man that he’d weaseled another date out of Ari. Everett’s shaggy eyebrows shot up as he stared at Logan pointedly.
Logan laughed. Not even Everett’s teasing could ruin his mood tonight. “Well, it’s not so much of a date,” he allowed. “We were in front of Hope Mountain and she seemed to love it so much, I volunteered to take her to an equally intriguing place tomorrow for lunch. She said yes.”
Everett nodded sagely as if he’d just announced that he was the new pope. “Ah, took advantage of the happy situation, didn’t you? Of course, she would say yes and I bet she wouldn’t think too much on it.” He smirked. “I see what you’re doing,”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Logan retorted, joining Everett on the floor. But of course, he knew. And so did Everett. With a contented smile on his face, he stared into the night sky, thinking it was a beautiful night.
“That’s all good for you,” Everett continued in a voice that alerted Logan to a warning in coming. “You deserve some quality time with the lady, and come to think of it, so does she. Word of advice though…don’t get ahead of yourself.”
Logan didn’t understand the man. “What does that mean?”
“I already figured you’re prepared to go slow-like with her and that’s fine. Then now, you have a date and it might turn the tides, give you ideas, if you get what I mean. This gal’s been through the wringer, Logan. Lord knows I don’t need to tell you this. And just because she’s smiling and rubbing butts with us right now doesn’t mean she doesn’t still have scars. A couple of months aren’t going to be enough to heal years’ worth of abuse. Believe me, these sorts of scars run deeper than anyone can ever imagine. It takes time to get over stuff, find oneself. Be careful with her. Handle her with care.”
Something in Everett’s tone spoke of a personal battle with scars that ran deep. Logan knew better than to ask. He knew everyone had their little secrets they didn’t want to share. “I know all that,” Logan said a little bit defensively before adding in a softer voice, “I’ve been thinking of that the whole time.”
“Oh, have you?” Everett asked, brows wagging like a caterpillar trying to get away from a predator. “Or have you been thinking about what you really want to do with her?”
Logan rose on his elbow to scowl at his older friend even though it was dark. “I really care about her.”
“I know you do.”
It was silent between them for a long while before Logan spoke up again, “The last thing I want to do is make her uneasy in any way.”
“I’m not saying you’d do it on purpose,” Everett said p
atiently. “I’m just reminding you that when you reach that point where you’re not thinking with your head anymore, she’s still going to be tender from her old life. Go on and lead the way if you like, but let her set the pace. Let her decide if she wants to be with you, go to bed with you and every other single damn thing. I’m willing to bet she didn’t get much say in that marriage of hers. She’s bound to appreciate feeling some sense of control. In fact, she needs to be in control.”
Logan couldn’t agree more. By now, he knew better than to rush things with her. That day at the stable when he’d confronted her about running from him, she had looked so beautifully confused. That was when he knew he was in love with her. It was such simple truth that he couldn’t deny it. Logan Cartwright also couldn’t deny that he would do anything to have her. He should have recognized the signs from the beginning.
That day at the stable, he had also come to one realization: Ari had no idea what he felt for her. She also had no idea she was attracted to him. Of course, Logan couldn’t be too sure she was attracted to him, but couldn’t have been avoiding him for any other reason, if her confused look that day was anything to go by. It was why he asked her if she’d dated before she’d married the oaf who treated her badly. When she replied in the negative, he was even more convinced she was pretty much naïve when it came to relationships.
He’d decided then and there to woo her slowly. He was in love with her and he swore to teach her to love him too.
Everett’s soft snore told him the man was now asleep. But sleep eluded Logan. All through the night, he tried to come up with a plan. It was high time he wooed Ari like the proper lady she was.
*****
For the umpteenth time, Ari tried to find out where he was taking her.
“It would have been so nice if I’d known just where we’re going,” she said, looking at him from under her lashes. “I could have brought a sweater if it’s on the outside or an umbrella or worn the new dress Khloe knitted for me…”
