“Not like I’d envisioned it. I hit the dirt hard after about the fifth buck. And I got stomped on my back and the breath knocked out of me. Don’t get riled up. I know that brings back bad thoughts for you. It did for my mom. She’d been dating a banker and he’d asked her to marry him but she was hesitant. When she caught me in the bathroom and saw the bruising on my back in the shape of hoof prints, she went ballistic. Fear took over. She demanded that I stay away from the horses and she said yes to my step-father’s proposal and moved us off the ranch. And she did it all within a month. I turned fifteen the day we climbed into the car and drove away from the ranch and moved into town. It broke my heart.”
Austin saw the emotion in Jolene’s tense expression and had conflicted emotion for what her mother felt and what Jolene felt. “I’m sorry.”
“It was hard. I was very resentful and it started my rebellious years.”
“Oh no. What do you mean?”
“I was not giving up what I had found there on that ranch. I hitchhiked to the ranch the next day. Yeah, it was a horrible, dangerous thing to do but I caught a ride with the driver of a fertilizer truck that I had heard was expected at the ranch the next day. Problem was, my mom didn’t know where I was. I was at the ranch having a good time, doing what I loved. The cowboys thought I had permission to be there. When my mom showed up that evening and was livid, it wasn’t pretty.”
“You strike me as a rebel. Is that where it comes from?” He was having a hard time thinking about fishing when she sat two feet away from him, looking so pretty and talking about her life.
She brightened, looking flirty and lighthearted. “You’re right about that.” She laughed. “I didn’t stay home after Mom threw a fit. The next day, when school started, I rode the bus out there and got off with the kids of the ranch foreman like I’d done for three years. Mom came and found me. And so began my rough relationship with my mom. Finally, my mom had a serious talk with the ranch foreman and he had to tell me that I wasn’t welcome at the ranch.”
He grimaced. “That’s not good.”
“No. I was bad then. I made it so hard on my mother and I forged a rift between us so wide that we have yet to fully recover. It was so bad that she finally agreed to let me go out a couple of days a week and on Saturdays. The foreman hired me on as a hand and I got my way.”
“I guess I understand it. I probably would have done the same thing. Though I’m not advocating for kids to get their way.”
“No. But, I tell you that, Austin, to let you know that I fought for the right to have the life that I’ve chosen. And I’m not giving it up. Not for anyone or any reason.”
He’d already figured that out.
“I have a bite!” Jolene laughed and yanked her rod to set the hook.
Austin knew he’d been hooked a long time ago.
Chapter Twelve
As the sun set and they had a stringer of three big bass and a perch, Austin headed the boat toward the dock. Jolene had told him about her past to let him know why she wasn’t going to budge on her career choice or her life. And she had to ask herself why she’d shared something so personal with him. This was a date. A first date, a single date.
But if she was truthful with herself—and she always tried to be—then she would have to admit that she did not want this to be the end but rather the beginning. And he’d seemed to take her words to heart.
“You have to let me feed you now.” He looked relaxed and happy as he held up the string of fish.
“You are a man after my own heart.” It was out before she could stop it. He is and you know it.
They’d both untucked their shirts and gotten comfortable for fishing in the heat. He’d unbuttoned a couple of buttons at the neck of his shirt and she’d gotten so hot she’d unbuttoned her blouse to expose the white tank top she’d worn beneath it.
He placed the fish in the sink. “Just make yourself at home. The restroom is down the hall. I’m going to go change shirts.”
“I’ll go freshen up.” Jolene hurried down the hall and found the bathroom. Like the rest of the house, it was lacking any adornment. She smiled. When she was finished, she found Austin in the kitchen, working on the fish.
He’d changed into a soft gray t-shirt that strained across his chest just enough to emphasize how toned he was. He nodded toward the fridge. “Would you mind putting a salad together? I may not decorate but I do have decent food.”
She felt a bit awkward standing there, so she jumped at the opportunity. “I’d love to.” She moved to the refrigerator and pulled it open. He had fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and bell peppers. She grabbed all the ingredients and placed them on the counter.
To her surprise, Austin had the fish cleaned and in a baking dish within moments. “Is baked fish okay? You had fried fish just the other night.”
She sliced tomatoes; he reached for the salt and pepper. Their arms touched as they worked beside each other. It had been a long evening but she’d loved every moment of it. And now they were in the kitchen preparing dinner together.
She spread the tomatoes in the salad. He placed the fish in the oven and then turned to her and took her hand. “Let’s go outside for a few minutes. I need to feed my horses. Will you walk with me?”
“Yes.” Her knees were weak as they walked out the door and across the moonlit grass to the stable. A soft light illuminated the interior; he flicked a switch and a brighter light turned on. Soft country music played from a radio somewhere in the stable where two horses stood waiting in stalls.
“This is Slade and Reba. They love a little music in the background—it calms them,” he said as she moved to pet each one while he went and got their feed.
She knew the practice of playing music was used by many to calm animals in stalls so she wasn’t startled by the music. “They’re beauties. You were on Slade at the roundup the other day.”
“Yes, he loves a roundup.”
Josh Turner started singing “Why Don’t We Just Dance” on the radio as Austin came out of Reba’s stall. He set the feed bucket to the side and came to stand beside her. “Jolene,” he said, softly, and took her hand. “Why don’t we just dance?” He smiled and melted her heart in that moment.
“Yes.” She laughed nervously. The moment was so serendipitous. A surge of nerves attacked her as Austin pulled her into his arms and easily slid into a smooth two-step while the romantic song played behind them.
“I haven’t enjoyed an evening this much in a very long time,” he said huskily into her ear.
Jolene moved with him, feeling every emotion she’d never felt before, every emotion she’d thought was only for others…but now she knew she, too, could fall in love.
The thought stole her breath as Austin tucked their held hands between their beating hearts, bent his head and kissed her.
This kiss was not hard and swift and full of pent-up frustrations and want. It was slow and tender as his lips moved over hers, exploring as if in as much wonder of the moment as she felt. Jolene nestled against him and clung to him. And when he finally broke away, both of them were breathless.
Keith Urban began to sing a love song. Jolene’s heart pounded against her ribs and she didn’t want the moment to end.
“I think we better go check on our dinner or we may have a fire department joining us any moment.” He smiled and then brushed his lips over hers; he slipped his arm around her and they headed back across the lawn.
“I thought you didn’t like to dance.” Jolene looked up at him and hitched a brow.
He laughed. “No, I said I agreed with your sentiment that you’d rather be fishing. I wanted to be somewhere with you, preferably alone where I could get to know you. Dancing in a crowd of people took second place to being alone with you in my boat on a beautiful lake at sunset.”
She sighed. And knew she was in trouble. She’d just begun to know Austin Drake better tonight and already she was falling for him and falling hard. And she had the conviction he felt the same abou
t her. But could they get past the real issues that stood between them?
Or was this just some magical night that would disappear in the light of day when they’d go back to their careers? Careers that made both of them uneasy for the other.
Austin stood beside Jolene at her door. He didn’t want the night to end. “I had a great time. Look, I have to go to Kerrville on Tuesday to see my niece in a play. Would you like to go? It’s not a conventional date but it’ll be fun.” He wasn’t sure it was a smart move or not but he wanted any excuse he could find to spend time with her. And he wanted her to meet Sydney and Julie.
“I’d like that. I’ll make sure I can get off but I’m fairly certain I can.”
“Great.” He pulled her against him, wanting to feel her in his arms once more, feel the way she fit against him. He could have kissed her all night but he didn’t want to embarrass her in front of her coworkers like he’d done before so, in case anyone was looking, he kept it quick.
It took all of his restraint, though. “I’ll be seeing you.”
“I hope so.”
Those words gave him hope as he drove the distance back to his house. He sat on the back porch for a very long time.
Sunday morning, Jolene loaded up and headed to church. She found the small church not too far away, surrounded by trees. It was white wood with a tall steeple and a small porch entering the double wooden doors. She parked her car and hopped out, noting that the lawn was filled with clusters of people.
“Jolene!” Sadie called and waved her over. And of course there was a large group of women, including the posse.
Jolene was prepared for questions but hoped it wouldn’t be as bad as she feared.
“Where were y’all last night?” Sadie asked immediately. “Was everything okay?”
Esther Mae had on a huge yellow hat with sunflowers and bumblebees nestled on the brim. “We were so worried when you two didn’t show up.”
“Um…” She paused, seeing expectant eyes from all around her. Mia and Maddie were there, too, as well as Norma Sue and Adela. All kind of leaned toward her with interest. “Well, we decided to go fishing.”
Looks of confusion came to everyone in the group. Not one person said anything for a full five seconds.
“Fishing,” Norma Sue finally said.
Maddie broke into a grin and then a laugh and others did too.
“Yes, turns out we both love to fish. So we grabbed some poles and caught us a stringer full.”
“Well, I’ll be,” Esther Mae gushed. “I think that’s just wonderful.”
“Did you have fun?” Sadie asked, delight in her smile.
“I did. I love breaking horses and riding but after I’ve spent the day on alert, always ready in case a horse does the unexpected, fishing is the perfect way to relax. It’s just nice on the water, watching a cork or reeling in a line.” She did not and would not tell them about the dance or the kiss or the time spent over dinner talking more deeply about the divide between her and her family and eventually talking about the loss of his brother-in-law.
They had issues to get past, but for now they’d bypassed them.
She glanced around, knowing he wouldn’t be here because he’d told her he was on duty today. But still, she found herself disappointed when she didn’t see him. She was looking forward to meeting his sister and niece and maybe getting a deeper look at him through their eyes.
“Come sit with us,” Maddie said, as everyone started heading toward the church.
“I am so excited,” she heard Esther Mae gushing to Norma Sue.
“Esther Mae, it just goes to show that we are not always needed. And that new hat of yours isn’t needed either. Where in the world did you find that thing?”
“Ha! I will have you know that I saw this on Pinterest and made it myself.”
“Well, all I have to say is I’m glad your instincts for making matches is better than your talent with making hats.”
Jolene slid a glance at Maddie, who leaned to the side and spoke through the side of her mouth. “They are a hoot. And the truth is they do have talent with matchmaking. But I’m afraid I’ve seen some of Esther Mae’s other hats.” She cringed and then laughed and led the way into church.
Jolene smiled as they entered the sanctuary. They might be meddlesome but she found she really liked them. At least they were entertaining, that was for certain.
And as crazy as Esther Mae’s hat was, Jolene thought it fit the redhead perfectly.
Chapter Thirteen
When she arrived home from church, she changed clothes and went out to work with the new horse she was working with. Ty was riding a colt in the round pen.
She stopped to watch him before she went to put a halter on the colt she was breaking. “Hey, that colt looks like he’s coming around great.”
“Yup. He’s got a stubborn streak, though, and is still too unpredictable.”
“I know what you mean. Mine is the same way.” Jolene headed into the pen at the end of the arena. The colt she’d started working with yesterday was probably one of the most obstinate ones that she’d ever worked with. But she was confident that it would come around.
She enlarged the loop of her rope and then, swinging it over her head in a wide circle, she took aim at the colt as it pranced back and forth and pawed at the ground while eyeing her suspiciously. Jolene let the loop fly; it sailed through the air and landed easily around the colt’s neck. Instantly, Jolene pulled tight and the horse reared. Jolene was glad she’d pulled on her leather gloves because the horse did not take kindly to being roped. Rearing up, it pawed the air. Jolene moved forward, tightening the line.
“Whoa, boy, whoa,” she urged gently. “I’m not going to do anything to hurt you. We’re going to be good friends if you’ll trust me.”
The coal-black coat of the horse shined like satin in the sunlight as it dropped its hooves into the soft arena dirt and began to back away from her. She moved with him, drawing the rope tighter. She was close enough to feel the anger and fear in the stallion. He jerked suddenly; she held fast and dug her boot heels into the soft dirt. She strained to gain control of the panicked and angry stallion.
“Jolene, what are you doing?”
Startled by Austin’s sharp words, she turned slightly, taking her focus off the horse. Too late, it reared.
“Look out!” Austin yelled as Jolene felt hooves slam into her shoulder.
What had he done? Austin bolted over the fence as Jolene stumbled back and went down.
Jolene rolled as hooves hit where she’d been lying seconds before. Austin grabbed the rope and yanked the horse around, giving Jolene time to scramble farther out of the way. The horse reared again as Austin wound the rope around the arena pole, shortening the horse’s reach, and then he jogged to Jolene. Ty had dismounted and come to see about her too. She was standing now, clutching her shoulder and white as a sheet.
“What were you thinking?” he yelled, unable to control his fear and anger. He’d almost lost her.
She stepped away from Ty and glared at him. “Me? What were you thinking? You yelled my name. You yanked my focus away from what I was doing and I literally exposed myself to what just happened.” She backed away from him. “This is no good.”
“Wait—Jolene.” He forced himself to calm down. He had yelled her name; he’d been so upset to see her in the arena with a stallion that had the wild-eyed glare in its eyes and was rearing up ready to kick her in the head if it got the opportunity. And he’d unintentionally given it that opportunity.
“Leave me alone.” She turned to walk away, grasping her shoulder and her ripped shirt. She gasped and then she crumbled.
Austin dove to catch her but Ty was closer to her; he caught her before she hit the ground. He shot Austin a hard stare. “Get the gate. We need to get her out of this heat.”
Feeling stunned, Austin unhooked the gate and held it while Ty carried the woman Austin loved toward the mess hall. He latched the gate and then jogged
to catch up.
She was pale as milk and her shirt was ripped, exposing a shoulder that was swelling. A bruise was forming.
He felt like throwing up as Ty gently laid her on a couch by the window. Austin went to grab a cold rag and was back quickly. “Move,” he demanded.
Ty studied him hard and then gave up his spot on the edge of the couch beside her.
“I think we need to take her to the hospital,” Ty said. “Man, you shouldn’t have yelled her name. Couldn’t you see she was concentrating?”
Austin ignored the jab. It was deserved but right now he needed to take care of Jolene. “I’ll take the hit, Ty, but let me get her awake. And have her looked after. Then you can jump me.”
Austin placed the wet cloth on her forehead and she groaned. He heard Ty on the phone with Mia, letting her know what was happening. “Jolene, honey, wake up.” His gut was torn up as he bathed her face with the cool rag and then placed it beneath her neck. She groaned again and shifted but immediately yelped and her eyes flew open.
“Hold on,” he urged, grabbing her good shoulder. “Easy there.”
Pain was written over her face. “Hurts.”
“Yeah, I know, honey.” He asked her specific questions about her pain, where it was worst and many more. Then he gently scooped her up. “We’re going to the hospital.”
Two hours after Jolene had made the amateur mistake of taking focus off her animal in a crucial moment, she sat in the emergency room as they bandaged up her shoulder. Austin had driven her to the hospital in Ranger, an hour drive from Mule Hollow. He’d been tense and after having apologized for distracting her, he’d been silent and grim. But then, she had been too. Her collarbone was broken and she was in tremendous pain. She hadn’t been in the mood for talk.
Now, fuzzy with painkillers, she let her situation roll around in her head as she waited to be released. When the doctor finally let her go, she walked out into the waiting area where she’d asked him to wait.
Austin (New Horizon Ranch Book 8) Page 8
