Cut and Run

by Amy Elizabeth

  She barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Morning, Kevin.”

  Not a chance on earth she was going to fall for his act. Even less of a chance that he was smart enough to realize that.

  Allison looked equally unimpressed. “Down, boy,” she said, grabbing Rebecca’s sleeve. “Just ignore him. We’ve got troughs to fill.”

  Two red-tailed hawks were perched on the fence as the girls approached the first paddock. “You really don’t like him, do you?” Rebecca asked.

  Her roommate shrugged as she unlatched the gate. “He’s harmless, but the whole charm thing gets pathetic after a while.” She looked at Rebecca in desperation. “Please don’t fall for it. He’s such a player. He tries to get with every girl who comes here, and the sad thing is…he usually succeeds.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve known guys like him all my life. I think I’m immune by now.”

  Somehow, she breezed through the rest of the morning chores like a pro. She joined Allison and Kevin in turning the horses out to pasture–a little intimidating, but she managed not to get trampled–before spending an hour mucking stalls and emptying wheelbarrows. Despite the chill of the morning air, her shirt was damp with sweat by the time the first guests arrived for the nine o’clock lesson.

  “You did good, rookie,” Allison said. “Grab a seat by the corral so you can watch how we conduct lessons.”

  Thankful that Allison didn’t enlist her help tacking the horses, Rebecca wandered over to the corral and collapsed on the bleachers. Three guests showed up for the lesson, and she listened intently as Kevin and Allison explained the basics. One guest sat comfortably in the saddle, but the other two were novices.

  Like me, she thought, focusing on Kevin’s instructions. Sit deep in the saddle. Let your weight sink into your heels. Shoulders back, head up, hands low. Don’t rely on the saddle horn for balance–it’s for roping cattle, not holding onto.

  She was so deep in thought that she jumped when Alec sat beside her, his Stetson tilted low over his face. “Did Alli show you the morning routine?”

  Rebecca kept her eyes glued to the corral. “Yep.”

  “Did she explain how the hose in the back paddock leaks if you don’t coil it?”

  “Yep.”

  He cleared his throat. “How are you getting along with Kevin?”

  She finally looked at him, surprised by the left-field question, and he met her gaze under the brim of his hat. “I keep him on every summer because he’s a great horseman, but I have no tolerance for any sort of harassment. If he bothers you at all, I want you to let me know.”

  Rebecca nearly toppled off the bench. Alec, offering to protect her from Kevin? She silently laughed at the thought of it.

  “I can handle Kevin.”

  For a second, she thought she saw a hint of a smile on his face. She waited for him to say more, but instead he stood and brushed the dust off his jeans. Just when she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he stopped and turned back to her.

  “By the way…”

  Her heart hammered as she glanced up at him. “Yes?”

  “Thank you,” he said quietly. Then he tipped his hat and strode away.

  *

  After lunch, Rebecca slipped into her new suede chaps and met Tommy in the barn. “We have five guests signed up for the ride at one,” he said, glancing down at the sheet in his hand. “That gives us half an hour to get these guys groomed and tacked up. Let’s start with Joaquin and Pumpkin.”

  And this is where it starts getting tricky, she thought as she followed him into the tack room. He reached into the grooming bin and pulled out an ensemble of currycombs, soft brushes, and hoof picks.

  “This is Pumpkin’s tack,” he said, pointing to a honey-colored saddle with turquoise detail. “You’ll have to drop the stirrups, though. Your legs are definitely longer than Tina’s.”

  Her cheeks flushed, and she glanced up at Tommy with a sheepish grin. He blushed, too, when he realized what he’d said.

  “Aw, hell, I…never mind. Let’s get to work.”

  Rebecca led Pumpkin out of her stall without too much trouble, although the mare stepped on the lead line twice. She’d read enough horse books to know the basics of grooming, so even though she’d never done it, she managed to look competent enough. Using the hoof pick to clean her hooves was surprisingly tricky, and she could feel Tommy’s eyes watching her, which made her even more nervous. When they finally retrieved their tack, she was amazed at how heavy the saddle was–she could hardly lift it off its stand, much less carry it. With a grunt, she hoisted it against her hip and managed to half-drag, half-carry it out to the hitching post. Panic washed over her when she stared at the complicated cinch, and she knew she needed to be at least partially honest.

  “I’ve never tacked western. It looks a little more complicated than English.”

  “Only a little,” Tommy said, ducking beneath the mare’s neck to join her. He placed the saddle pad on Pumpkin’s back, pointing to the bony ridge where the neck connected. “Up here, right at the withers.”

  Effortlessly he lifted the saddle onto the blanket and began tying the cinch. Rebecca tried to follow his movements, but it appeared more complicated than a man’s necktie–up, down, around, loop through, down, across…

  “Whoa, slow down,” she said. “You lost me six moves ago.”

  Tommy laughed. “Sorry. I’ve just done it so many times, I guess.” He repeated the cinching process, breaking it down step-by-step. “Got it that time?”

  Not a chance.

  “I think so…”

  “Here, try it on Joaquin.”

  Twenty minutes later, Rebecca had mastered the art of cinching–sort of–and all seven horses were tacked and ready to go. Tommy assisted her with the bridles, too, but overall she was amazed at how smoothly everything was going. She hoped that riding would come just as naturally.

  “Howdy, everyone,” Tommy greeted the family that strolled into the barn. “Are y’all here for the canyon ride?”

  The middle-aged couple, a teen-aged girl, and two younger boys nodded eagerly as Tommy described the trail. “Rebecca here will be bringing up the rear and keeping an eye on everyone. There’s a nice meadow about half an hour out that’s great for a canter, if you’re up for it.”

  While Tommy helped the kids onto their horses, Rebecca held the reins for the father to mount his chestnut gelding, Rush. “I think my stirrups need to be longer,” he said with a frown. “They feel a little short.”

  She stared helplessly at the stirrup, positive that her cover was about to be blown, when Tommy appeared beside her. “Rebecca’s our new wrangler from back east,” he explained, skillfully shifting the man’s leg so he could lengthen the stirrups. “She’s quite the accomplished dressage rider from what I hear, but we’re still breaking her in to our way of doing things.”

  The man laughed, and Tommy glanced sideways at Rebecca. Thank you, she mouthed. He gave her a little wink before moving on to the other stirrup.

  Once the guests were mounted, Tommy and Rebecca headed for their horses. Easily he swung into the saddle, as he’d no doubt done a million times before. She couldn’t help but smile when she noticed that for as long-limbed as he was, he seemed to fit his horse just fine.

  “Ready to cowgirl up?” he asked.

  Butterflies swarmed in her stomach as she untied Pumpkin’s reins. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  While Tommy turned his attention to the guests, Rebecca took a deep breath and positioned her left foot in the stirrup. She placed one hand on the saddle horn and one on the cantle, took a few hops, and hoisted herself into the air. Something, though, went terribly wrong. Pumpkin took a quick sidestep, and suddenly the saddle was sliding towards her. Rebecca let out a startled cry as she lost her balance and tumbled to the ground, landing flat on her back. Pumpkin jerked the reins out of her hands and trotted off towards the barn, the saddle hanging sideways around her belly.

  In an instant, Tommy wa
s off Joaquin and at her side. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, aside from humiliated,” she muttered as he pulled her to her feet. The young boys were pointing at her and giggling, but they stopped when their mother sent them a threatening glance.

  Tommy gave a little grin, clearly embarrassed for her. “I guess we were so caught up in cinching that I forgot to tell you to tighten it before you mount.”

  Her cheeks blazed as she dusted the dirt off her backside. “It’s my fault. I should’ve known that.”

  A pair of hoof beats echoed behind them. “Is everything alright?”

  Rebecca cringed, hoping she wasn’t about to be fired on the spot. She turned to see Alec approaching them astride Onyx, leading Pumpkin by the reins.

  “Yeah, we’re fine,” she replied, trying to sound casual. “Just a dumb mistake on my part.”

  To her relief, he didn’t seem angry as he handed the reins to her. “She’s notorious for bloating when you cinch her, so you know for next time.”

  With Tommy’s help, she straightened the saddle and tightened the cinch to the proper degree. Then she placed her foot in the stirrup and mounted, this time landing on the mare’s back like she was supposed to. After that debacle, she was far too nervous to enjoy the thrill of being in the saddle for the first time.

  “And we’re off!” Tommy called.

  As the family fell into line behind him, Rebecca dared a glance back at Alec. “I think I’ll tag along for your first ride,” he said nonchalantly, spinning Onyx around to follow the others.

  Her stomach sank. She’d hoped she could ride alone at the end of the line without scrutiny, but Alec would see right through her charade. She was certain of it.

  Hesitantly she touched the reins to her horse’s neck, trying to remember Kevin’s instructions from earlier that morning. As Pumpkin walked alongside Onyx, Rebecca pushed her shoulders back and tried to appear confident. Sure enough, though, when they caught up with Tommy and the guests, Alec pulled Onyx back so they were directly behind her.

  They passed through the northern paddocks and entered a grove of white-barked aspen trees. As she relaxed into Pumpkin’s easy stride, she managed to forget that her boss was right behind her, watching her every move. Up front, Tommy explained the history of the ranch and pointed out distant mountain peaks by name, listing their elevations and prominent features. Rebecca strained to hear him, knowing she’d be expected to repeat the same information on future trail rides.

  If I still have a job after today, she reminded herself. Behind her, Alec didn’t say a word. She wouldn’t have known he was there if not for the occasional snort from Onyx.

  “Would everyone like to trot?” Tommy asked.

  “Yes!” the family replied in unison.

  As Pumpkin transitioned into a trot, Rebecca was surprised by the bounciness of the new gait. Automatically she clutched onto the saddle horn to steady herself, hoping Alec couldn’t see her hands from behind. She wobbled for a dozen strides before she managed to secure her seat enough to release the horn and sit up straight. She knew she didn’t look like an expert, but maybe–just maybe–she’d be able to pull it off, after all.

  When the trail opened up into a broad grassy meadow, Tommy pulled Joaquin to a halt. “This is our spot for anyone who wants to canter. Who’s in?”

  To her alarm, everyone nodded. She’d managed to sit the trot well enough, but cantering was a fancy word for a controlled gallop. She knew she had no business riding at that speed, but she did her best to pretend she was a pro as she nudged Pumpkin forward. The canter was much faster than the trot, but it was easier to sit–like riding a rocking horse. Halfway across the meadow, Pumpkin dropped her head and lengthened her strides, trying to pull ahead of the two boys in front of her.

  “Pull her back, Rebecca,” Alec called. “It’s not a race.”

  “Easy, girl,” she said. She sat up in the saddle and pulled on the reins, expecting Pumpkin to slow her pace. Instead, the horse leaned into her hands and charged ahead even faster.

  “Rebecca, pull her up!”

  Pumpkin stampeded past the two boys, giving a playful buck that almost launched Rebecca out of the saddle. She clutched onto the saddle horn for dear life, yanking on the reins in an effort to slow her horse. Pumpkin didn’t respond. Sensing the inexperienced rider on her back, she thrust her neck out, pulled the reins through Rebecca’s fingers, and lurched into a full-out gallop. They flew past the guests, then Tommy and Joaquin, hurtling at thirty miles an hour straight towards a wall of pine trees. Seized with terror, Rebecca cried for help.

  She heard Alec shout something to Tommy, but she didn’t dare turn her head. The ground rushed by in a dizzying blur as she swayed precariously, clinging to the saddle with one hand and Pumpkin’s mane with the other. Just when disaster seemed certain, a blur of black appeared alongside them. Alec reached out and grasped Pumpkin’s reins, sharply pulling the mare’s head up. Rebecca gasped in relief as the horse obediently dropped her speed. Both horses and riders were puffing from exertion as they came to a halt just short of the pines.

  Alec released Pumpkin’s reins. “Are you alright?”

  Rebecca managed to nod, though her entire body trembled with fright.

  “What the hell were you thinking?” he added quietly. “You could’ve gotten yourself or one of my guests killed.”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered, forcing herself to meet his gaze.

  His eyes betrayed his calm exterior. “You’re coming straight to my office when this ride is over. Is that understood?”

  *

  Rebecca and Alec resumed their places in the back of the line while Tommy guided the group down a narrow hillside trail and into a blossoming river valley. She wished she could have enjoyed it, as it was the most beautiful place she’d ever seen, but she was nauseous with dread.

  She knew Alec was going to fire her. Worse still, she knew she deserved it.

  When they arrived back at the ranch, Alec approached Tommy. “Call Roger and tell him he’s taking the four o’clock ride out,” he said, deftly swinging off Onyx’s back. “As soon as the guests are gone, come straight to my office.”

  Tommy’s eyes darted to Rebecca. “Sure thing, boss.”

  Her knees were shaking as she made her way to the ground and tied Pumpkin’s reins to the hitching post. She followed a couple steps behind Alec as he marched through the guest barn and towards the farmhouse. After their encounter that morning, the farmhouse was the last place she wanted to be. To her surprise, though, he turned towards the staff barn and entered a door opposite the tack room–a door Rebecca hadn’t even noticed earlier. The office housed an ancient oak desk and three dusty leather chairs with torn backs. Sepia portraits of horses lined the walls, but she barely took note.

  Alec didn’t need to tell her to have a seat. “Should I start with the obvious?” he snapped, crossing his arms as he leaned back against the desk. “You’ve never saddled a horse. You’ve never worked with Thoroughbreds or studied dressage. You’ve never been anywhere near a horse in your life. You lied right to my face about everything.”

  What could she say? She simply closed her eyes and nodded.

  “Did you think this was some kind of game?” he said, his voice slowly rising in pitch. “Do you have any idea the amount of danger you just put yourself and my guests in? What if you’d fallen out there? What if the guests’ horses bolted and one of them had a fall? What if somebody ended up…”

  Rebecca lifted her face. “Like your father?”

  She could see the veins protruding from his temples. “Well, all of a sudden you know everything, now, don’t you? I should’ve known better than to hire a stuck-up city girl.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “What did you call me?”

  “You heard me,” he threw at her. “You rich girls from back east are all the same. You’re spoiled rotten and you’re bored with your perfect life of privilege, so you decide it’d be fun to come out here and play cowgirl for a
summer. Maybe you can charm Tommy and Kevin easy enough, but you sure as hell didn’t fool me.”

  Like an electrical current, a surge of anger coursed through Rebecca’s veins. If Alec thought he was going to intimidate her, he had another thing coming. She locked eyes on him like a pit bull, snarling her response through clenched teeth.

  “You arrogant bastard.”

  For a brief second, he looked taken aback. “I beg your pardon?”

  “You heard me,” she threw back at him, rising so they were face to face. “And the truth is, you don’t know a damn thing about me. I’ve seen and done things that you can’t even begin to imagine with your very limited perspective on life.”

  He opened his mouth to interject, but she held up her hand and silenced him. “Yes, I lied about my experience, and no, I shouldn’t have done that. But if you think my goal here is to charm you and all your male employees, you’re out of your mind. If you could see where I came from, then you’d know that I–”

  A knock on the office door startled her into silence. Judging by his shocked expression, Rebecca guessed that no one ever talked back to Alec Westin. She felt a smug sense of satisfaction as he took a moment to gather himself before he cleared his throat.

  “Come in.”

  Tommy stepped inside, nervously fiddling with his hat. Rebecca’s face flushed when she realized that he’d probably overheard her entire tirade.

  “You wanted to see me?”

  “Have a seat,” Alec replied, fixing his gaze on Rebecca until she relented and resumed her seat as well. “You’ve been working with Rebecca for a couple of days now,” he continued. “What type of experience do you think she has?”

  “Well, she’s made a few mistakes, but she seems confident enough. This is a whole new environment for her. How do you think we’d feel at an English riding academy? And anyone can forget to check their cinch.”

  She silently thanked Tommy for his support, even though she knew it wouldn’t save her job. Any chance of redemption had just been flushed away by her scathing outburst.