by Ciana Stone
Kyle held his breath. She was going to get herself killed. But she didn’t. She landed on Twostep, grabbed two fistfuls of mane and clamped her legs onto the horse.
Twostep kept going with Liz hanging on, her body laid forward close to his neck and Traveler still galloping along beside them. They made it to the turn leading to the Creek House before she managed to slow Twostep.
By the time she had him down to a trot, Kyle felt like his heartbeat was getting back to normal. Cody kept her distance until Liz turned Twostep and slowed him to walk. Then Cody stopped the truck and turned off the engine.
She and Kyle both climbed out of the truck. Liz rode Twostep up, letting him approach Cody. Cody reached up and took hold of the lead rope dangling from his bridle. “Got him.”
Liz slid off his back and immediately headed for Traveler who had stopped a good ten yards short and was watching Twostep warily. Kyle looked from Liz to Cody. “You want to get him back into the trailer?”
“Yeah, most definitely.” She hesitated and looked at him. “I swear to God I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.”
“Me either.”
“Okay, I’m gonna load him up but when we get back I want to know who the heck that is and what’s she’s doing here.”
“Yep.” Kyle turned to look at Liz. She was standing beside Traveler, rubbing his neck and watching Cody.
Kyle walked over to her. “First, thank you. Second, that was one stupid thing to do. You could have been killed.”
“Or not.”
“Or…? Liz you – you leapt off a galloping horse onto another one.”
“Yes.”
“And here you stand like it was nothing?”
She shrugged and it annoyed him. “Oh hell no, you can’t just shrug it away. What made you do that?”
“He was obviously headed for parts unknown and I figured you’d want him stopped so I stopped him.”
“And put yourself in all kinds of danger.”
“Maybe a little.”
“A little?”
“I knew what I was doing Kyle.”
“Oh right because you do that sort of shit every day.”
“I did. Once.”
“Pardon?”
The smile that appeared on her face surprised him. “I worked as a stunt rider for a few years.”
“A stunt rider?”
“Yeah, for films and television.”
“You were a stunt rider?”
“Yes.”
“Well you’re just full of surprises, aren’t you, Liz Redgate?”
“You have no idea.”
This time her smile didn’t surprise him, but it did deliver a healthy dose of lust coursing through him. “And are you going to reveal all those secrets, Liz?”
She made a little face. “Time will tell.”
Kyle recognized the flirt and as a man appreciated the hell out of it. As someone who wasn’t sure if she was a person to be trusted, he reminded himself to tread cautiously.
“I need to get back and see to Twostep.”
“What’s his deal?” She fell into step beside him, leading Traveler.
“Not sure yet. Loves Cody – that’s Cody Sweet, his owner. Loves her but is mean as hell to everyone else.”
“Everyone, or just men?”
Kyle stopped and looked at her. “That’s a good question but why ask it?”
Liz shrugged and resumed walking. “He’s male. There’s always an alpha. And maybe he just likes women. Could be the hormones or pheromones. Maybe males get his dander up.”
Kyle found that both interesting and insightful. “Worth investigating.”
“So she wants you to work with him?”
“Yep.”
“That’ll be interesting. Mine if I observe or do you need privacy?”
“I don’t mind.”
“Cool. So this Cody Sweet. Is she your girlfriend?”
Kyle got a charge out of not just the question but the look on her face. “No, just a friend. She and her sister own a bar in town– well bar and restaurant. The Honky Tonk Angels. Best barbecue in Texas and coldest beer, too.”
“Nice.”
“You should try it.”
“Maybe I will. If I ever figure out where town is.”
“I can take you. Friday maybe?” What the hell? Why were those words pouring from his lips? Kyle mentally cursed himself but recovered. “Billy – that’s Billy Sweet, Cody’s father. He gave her and her sister Hannah the bar this past year. Anyway he always cooks a pig on Thursday night so Friday the barbecue’s fresh.”
“Sounds good. You sure you don’t mind?”
“Nope.”
“Well, thanks, Kyle.”
“Sure.”
By that time, they’d reached the corral. Cody had already unloaded Twostep and put him in the corral. She stood at the fence, watching the horse, but turned to them. “So, you sure you still want to work with him?”
“Yep.”
“Cool.” She looked at Liz. “And hey. I’m Cody Sweet.”
“Liz.”
“That was a hell of a stunt, Liz.”
Liz shrugged. “I hear you own the place to go for cold beer and good barbecue.”
“Why yes I do and don’t forget those chilly cheese fries, sweet potato pie and toe-tapping good music.”
“Sounds like my kinda place. And it’s good to meet you, Cody.”
“Same here and you should head over.”
“We’re going to. Friday.”
“Good. So, I have to ask. Where did you learn to do that – that whatever you call it? Death-defying leap?”
“She was a stunt rider in Hollywood.” Kyle answered the question.
“No shit? Well damn. Hey you ever heard of Nate Bridges?”
“Well yeah, who hasn’t? He was doing his last film my first year on the job. I got to double for the actress that played opposite him.”
“He lives here, you know.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. His real name’s Riley Morgan but he has a place here. He’s not available though.”
“Well damn, so you’ve called dibs?”
“Me? Oh hell no. He’s like a daddy to me. He’s married to this romance writer that showed up here last year. Annie. I mean Ana Lise. Ever heard of her?”
“Can’t say I have, but I can’t say that I read many romance books.”
“I didn’t either until I met her. She’s good. Anyway, if you know Riley, you might see him at the bar.”
“Well, I don’t exactly know him. I saw him on set and probably ogled him but I don’t think I ever even spoke to the man.”
“Could be you might get to do that. Anyway, I gotta get. Oh wait, I was gonna head in and grab some breakfast at the cafe. You wanna join?”
“Yeah, that’d be great. Maybe you can show me the way to a store. The Creek House needs stocking and right now my stomach’s about to gnaw a hole in my backbone.”
“Well, get your horse situated and you can follow me.”
“Great.” Liz started to lead Traveler away but stopped. “Kyle, you wanna join?”
“No, thanks. Things to do.”
“Okay, can I pick you up anything?”
“Nothing I can think of.”
“Okay, so I’ll see you back here at nine-thirty?”
“Yep.”
“Great. Cody give me fifteen minutes and— “
“I’ll take care of Traveler for you.” Kyle reached for the reins.
“I can’t let you do that.”
“I offered. Now get. The last thing I want is a grumpy woman. We’ve got a lot to do today.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.” She let him have the reins and looked at Cody. “So, you ready?”
“Absolutely. Kyle, I’ll talk to you in a day or so?”
“You will.”
“Good. Okay, follow me, Liz.”
“Will do.” Liz looked at Kyle again. “You’re sure about this?”
“Thanks!” She gave him a bright smile and hurried to her truck. Kyle watched her and Cody leave and then led Traveler to the barn. “Looks like it’s just us guys, Traveler.”
The horse neighed and Kyle smiled, but the smile faded. Liz Redgate sure as heck wasn’t what she appeared to be. A woman who was once a stunt rider who had to leave home, traveling with a very expensive horse and needed a job as a jockey for Wes Pursell. Not to mention the fact that she had some kind of connection with Wes’s horse, King’s Landing.
The mystery was getting deeper and dang it, he was a sucker for a mystery.
Chapter Nine
“So.” Cody washed down a big bite of her country-ham and egg biscuit with a swallow of coffee. “Spill. What’s the scoop on you and Kyle?”
Liz shrugged. She and Cody had talked non-stop since they arrived and Liz was pretty sure she knew about everyone in Cotton Creek. Cody seemed to know, and care about everyone in the town and most of the county.
While Cody had told her all about the other people, she was not exactly chatty about herself except to say that she and her sister owned Honky Tonk Angels. It had been destroyed by a tornado last year and thanks to insurance and the generosity of Annie Becke Morgan, was rebuilt. Cody’s father had owned the bar for years, but signed it over to Cody and her sister, Hannah and they were busting their butts to make it successful.
“Come on.” Cody talked around another bite. “Kyle’s like the holy grail of unattainable men around these parts and I’ve never known him to let anyone stay at his place more than a night or two.”
“Not much to it, really. I needed a place and Wes didn’t want me bunking in with his hands. Kyle said he had a place and Wes is paying him for me to live there. And I’ve only been there one night.”
“Still, it says something that he even offered.”
“Not really.” She busied herself with her own breakfast. Damn this was good. She thought about putting in an order for another couple of the ham and egg biscuits to go.
Cody chuckled and Liz looked over at her.
“Okay, I’ll let you slide on that one.” Cody said. “So what do you think of Wes?”
Liz found it interesting the way Cody’s body language and tone of voice changed. What was the deal with her and Wes? “Nice man. Honest as far as I can tell. Knows what he wants and goes after it. I respect that.”
“That’s it?”
“Uh, yeah. What else is there?”
“He’s single you know.”
“Way outta my league. I mean he’s all kinds of fine, but definitely not my type.”
“Oh? Why not?”
“Not much interested in his lifestyle.”
“You mean rich?”
“Yep.”
“So being rich doesn’t appeal to you?”
“Money doesn’t buy happiness.”
“No, I don’t guess it does. Okay, so tell me about this stunt riding thing ‘cause girl that was some next level shit you did at Kyle’s.”
Liz laughed. Cody was nosey, that was for sure but in a wholesome way. She’d talked at length about people in town, but never a harsh word or criticism for any of them. Even the “gossip girls” as she called them, the town gossips who twisted everything into a drama. She spoke kindly of them and passed the gossip off as just women with too much time on their hands, but women who meant no harm.
It was easy to tell that Cody was a good person with a big heart. Nonetheless, Liz wasn’t ready to reveal the details of her life. Trust was not something that came easy to her.
“Well?” Cody’s voice pulled her from her own thoughts and back to the moment.
“It was a great experience and I loved it while it lasted, but I reached a point when I realized it was time to move on.”
“Move on to what? Being a jockey? Distance racing?”
“For now, yes.”
“I don’t know that much about it. Distance riding that is. Wes talked a little about it the last time I saw him and it sounds a bit grueling. Twenty-four hours to cover a hundred miles on horseback?”
“Harder on the horse than the rider.”
“Yeah, and I’m not sure I support that.”
“Nor would I if I thought the horse was not capable.” She finished her biscuit and picked up her coffee cup. “Let me ask you, what do you think about marathon runners or tri-athletes?”
“Besides them being nuts?”
Liz laughed. “Yeah, besides that.”
“I guess I admire them. It takes a lot of training and discipline to reach that level.”
“Yes and it’s the same with a horse in a distance race. It’s all about training and learning how to pace.”
“And you think that Wes can find a horse that has what it takes to win?”
“I guess we’ll find out. Right now we’re focusing on Landing.”
“And you’re the woman to ride him across the finish line?”
“I am.”
“Well hell, girl, I say go for it then and I’ll cheer you on.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Well, I guess I better get a move on. Lots to do at the ranch.”
“You have a ranch? I thought you just owned a horse.”
“Yeah, I run the family spread. You should come out and visit.”
“I’d like that.”
“Great. Hey, put my number in your phone and give me yours. If you’re not too worn out or have nothing to do, I have Sunday off. You could come over in the afternoon and we could take a ride and then cook out and toss back a few brews.”
“That sounds good.”
After exchanging phone numbers, they paid their bill and walked outside. Liz checked the time on her phone. “Can you tell me where the grocery store is? I need to make a stop before I head back.”
As Cody was giving her directions, a beautiful woman of obvious Native American heritage walked up. “Hey Cody.”
Cody paused in giving directions. “Jo, hey. I want you to meet Liz. Liz, this is Jolene Windwalker. She has a show on CWL network.”
“I know, I’m a fan.” Liz smiled and stuck out her hand. “It’s a pleasure.”
Jo smiled and shook Liz’s hand. “Same here. So you’re new to town?”
“Yes.”
“She’s working for Wes.” Cody said. “You know he bought that Thoroughbred, King’s Landing?”
“Yes.”
“Wes thinks he’ll end up in the roses. He hired Liz to ride Landing.”
“Really?” Jo looked at Liz. “That’s interesting.”
“And Liz was a stunt rider in movies.”
“Even more interesting. How would you feel about being on my show, Liz?”
That was the very last thing Liz would be interested in. She was doing everything she could to fly under her father’s radar. “Oh, I don’t think I’d be very interesting. I wasn’t the top stunt woman, and I don’t do it anymore so…”
“I get it. Just a thought and if you change your mind…”
“Thanks. It’s really nice to meet you. And I better get a move on. Kyle will be expecting me at nine-thirty so I don’t have much time.”
“Sure and let me know about Sunday?” Cody asked. “Oh wait, the directions.” She finished giving Liz directions to the store.
“Thanks, Cody and again, nice to meet you Ms. Windwalker.”
She hurried off to her truck and headed for the store. She knew Cody was just being friendly and meant no harm but she couldn’t afford attention right now. Not if she was going to evade her father. She was not going back home, and she was not giving up Traveler.
However, she was smart enough to know that determination was only part of the battle. Her father had a will of iron and she’d never known him to give up on pursuing what he wanted. That was unfortunate for her because right now what he wanted was to punish her and take Traveler. The punishment wasn’t because she’d left. No, what he really wanted was to see her return h
ome and hook up with John Henderson, an investment banker eager to get into the oil business.
She’d dated John a couple of times and that was enough to know they were not a good match. He was an attractive man, but he was also arrogant and something of an elitist. He didn’t think much of women who worked, as he called it, “in a man’s world”. Anyone who ended up with him would be nothing more than window dressing and that was not the life for her.
Liz might have grown up as the child of affluence but she’d never taken advantage of it. Every accomplishment she’d earned had been on her own and that was the way she was going to continue. Her father might want to see her married to an additional source of revenue and spit out grandkids, but he’d have a better chance of wishing for wings.
She was going to win this race and find a way to prevent her father from taking Traveler.
*****
Kyle was just walking out of the barn when Liz drove up. She stopped and he walked over to the truck. “I just need to put the groceries away and I’m ready.”
“I’ll pick you up.”
“Okay, see you in a few.”
She continued on to the Creek House, put away her groceries, grabbed a bottle of water, a package of almonds, several apples and dropped the food items into one of the empty bags. By the time she walked outside, Kyle was pulling up.
Liz tried her best not to notice how appealing he was, particularly when he favored her with a smile. It had been a long time since she’d been attracted to a man, and even longer since she’d had any physical contact. That status was proving detrimental thanks to the attraction she had for Kyle.
“So, what’s the plan for today?” She asked as she climbed into the truck.
“We’ll work with Landing and then I want to try a new horse that might be good for the endurance race. He’s a Tennessee Walker and the boy can run.”
“Good breed for endurance. So, what’ll we be doing?”
“We’ll start with the basics. For the first month we’ll incorporate flat work and walks and do cross country trots three times a week at five miles an hour. We can increase the distance and speed up to six miles an hour as his strength and recovery time improves.”
“Tennessee Walker is a good breed for endurance. They don’t have the issues of a Thoroughbred.”
“Yeah I know, which is why I talked Wes out of bidding on a Thoroughbred who became available. They -- as you probably know are hot-blooded. Most are trained for track racing and so are like Landing -- accustomed to performing with maximum exertion. A horse that has been trained for track would need to be retrained because distance racing is nothing like track racing.”
