Her expression brightened the moment she saw him.“Cam, you made it late but you made it! It’s so great to see you.”
“Hey, sis. Good to see you too.”He hugged her and saw her husband Grant coming through the sliding doors.“Grant, I see she didn’t auction you off.” He laughed and he shook hands with his friend.
“No.” Grant grinned as Cali wrapped her arm around his waist and smiled up at him.“She didn’t auction me off, but they got everyone else auctioned off. It was a night to remember.”
Cali smiled. “Jillian had a great idea. I just hope none of the dates turn into disasters.”
“That wouldn’t be good.” Cam grimaced.
“No, it wouldn’t. But the best part of the night was that Levi got bought by Jessica. Remember the lady he brought to Mom’s birthday party?”
“Yeah, he brought her and her little boy, I remember. So she bought him?”
Cali smiled. “She did. It was awesome and romantic. And made the whole evening worthwhile. Which was Jillian’s ulterior motive in the whole episode.”
“Well, that’s great. Levi’s starting to get to that age where he’s looking to settle down.”
Cali’s expression brightened even brighter “So are you at that age?”
He was older than Levi and his twin Trent. “Yes, nosy sister, you heard correct. I am really starting to think about my future. And all my sisters getting married and being so happy has influenced me.”
She laughed.“Yay.”
Grant tugged her close. “Good to know. If you ask me, it’s the smartest thing I ever did.”
Cam looked to his good friend, who still owned a ranch next-door to his in Texas. “We both know it’s the best thing that happened to you. You’ve never looked happier.”
“You’re right about that.”
“You should have made it to the auction and gotten this ball rolling.” Cali’s eyes twinkled.
He laughed. “I think I can find my own way.”
“Okay, good luck. So weren’t you making a horse delivery or something?”
“I had some business I’m hoping to finalize tomorrow.” He glanced at his watch. “I hate to run but I’ve got a trailer full of horses I need to tend to. I’ll be around.”
“Where are you boarding the horses? Are you staying at Mom and Dad’s? You’re more than welcome to stay with us.”
He decided there was no reason not to tell. “I’m taking them out to Bess’s horse stable down on the beach road.”
“Of course, I should have known that but I heard she sold it suddenly. And that last week she left town and went to live with her sister.”
Grant eyed him suspiciously. “Did you buy that place?”
Cam laughed, unable to keep his secret any longer. “I did.”
“Oh my goodness,” Cali exclaimed. “I can’t believe it. Are you moving here?”
“You are full of questions. When I was here for Shar’s wedding, I dropped by to check on Bess. I hadn’t seen her in a while and just thought I’d say hi. She taught me a lot about horses growing up and helped fulfill my dream of becoming a cowboy. While I was there, she asked me if I’d ever consider buying her place. She was ready to retire and so we struck a deal.”
“I think that’s wonderful. Mom is not going to believe this. Why didn’t you tell her? Or us?”
“Because I wasn’t certain Bess wasn’t going to pull out of the deal. It’s a sentimental sale. I only wanted her to be happy, so if she had decided at the last minute to keep the stables I didn’t see any reason to get Mom and Dad’s hopes up.”
“I understand. Well, this is so exciting.”
“I think it’s great,” Grant added. “I’ll have to come out and ride some.”
“I’ll be going over it this week. Come out when you have time. I just stopped in to check on how the auction went, but I think I’m going to head over there now. It’s been a long day.”
And he was ready to see his place. When Bess had asked him whether he’d be interested in the place, it had surprised him. But then, he’d looked around and been startled by the possibilities that he began to see. And the legacy that he had from Bess’s patient lessons had meant the world to him. He didn’t want to take the chance of some corporation coming in and buying this prime piece of property and doing away with the horses. That had been Bess’s only stipulation: it would remain a stable. And that had suited him just fine.
Now he just had to decide how he was going to manage it from Texas.
Chapter Two
It was a gorgeous morning and Lana woke at sunrise, excited about the idea of going to the stables and riding. It had been awhile since she’d ridden and now she was suddenly eager and couldn’t get there fast enough.
She was, after all, a cowgirl at heart and she had not left the love of the lifestyle behind; she’d just needed a break from it. And riding horses on the beach sounded like heaven.
She was surprised and pleased when her truck cranked. She had let it charge for a while last night before she finally turned off the engine and gone in to go to bed. That boost obviously worked.
She was normally more responsible about her business but the truck was fine this morning, so she’d stop by after riding and get a new battery. The idea of the early morning ride—on a beach, even—was just too appealing.
The stables were easy to find, just off the main road past the resort. There was a small sign beside the turn that led down to the property. Everything looked really quiet as she pulled through the small entrance of Bess’s Horse Stables. The barns were off to the left and the house was on the right. It was a small ranch style home that looked out of place here in Florida and so near the beach. It made her think that the owner must have been from Texas.
Parking her truck, she got out and surveyed the area. She spotted a horse trailer peeking out from behind the stables. A familiar truck also stuck out of a barn across the way. She headed toward the truck, wondering where everyone was. Tourists must not like to ride early.
Life on the ranch always started early and riding was the best in the early mornings when the sun was not too hot. She heard the soft nicker of horses as she entered the double doors of the stable. Sunlight filtered in from the open doors and Lana paused to breathe in the scent of fresh hay and feed. The stables were clean; the scent told the tale. Ten horses looked over the stalls at her.
She smiled in response. Something in her heart clicked over with emotion. Why had she waited this long before coming here to ride?
“Hey there, pretty girl.” She could hear the excitement in her own voice as she talked softly to the mare in the first stall. She went from stall to stall, getting welcoming nudges from the horses.
These horses were used to having people around.
She was scratching the forehead of the pretty chestnut mare when the crunch of boots alerted her to someone approaching. She turned just in time to see a cowboy carrying a bale of hay enter from the opposite end of the building.
He stopped. It was Cam Sinclair.
“Um, hello,” she said, stunned to see him again. Though the truck had looked familiar, black diesel Dodges were not uncommon. “I’m startled to see you again.”Way to say something coherent.
The truth was, the cowboy was drop-dead handsome in daylight. The dim parking lot lighting had not done him justice.
You are not interested in cowboys.
The voice in her head snapped at her. No, she wasn’t. She’d given them up after last year’s deception by her ex-boyfriend.
She halted her runaway thoughts. In the span of about two seconds, her thoughts had really gotten out of line.
He looked startled himself. “Good morning.”He came her way. “The stables are closed. Sorry, do you ride here?”
Disappointment filled her. “No. Bummer. This is my first attempt to come out for a ride. I haven’t ridden since I moved to Florida. And for some reason, yesterday I just got thinking about it and decided that today would be a good day to star
t again. Once I started thinking about it, I couldn’t wait to get here. I was really looking forward to taking my first ride on the beach. Is the lady who owns the place ill?”
He opened a stall and went inside. Out of habit from years growing up feeding stock, she moved to the gate and automatically closed it behind him. She waited as he put a portion of the hay into the horse’s trough and when he came back her way, she opened the stall gate for him and let him through.
He grinned. “It’s obvious you know your way around the stable.”
She laughed. “Old habits die hard. I’ve put a lot of hay in a lot of stalls in my day.”
He walked to the next stall and she walked beside him and opened the gate for him.
“Thanks. Bess retired.” He put the hay in the trough and came back toward her. “I just bought the place. This is my first day. You must’ve missed the sign that said Closed.”
“I guess I did. You bought the place?” she asked, when clearly he’d just said so. “I mean, sorry, that’s none of my business. I’d just heard you had a ranch in Texas.”
“I do; that’s where I live. But this place has sentimental value to me. Bess and I didn’t want a corporation to buy it. She asked me to consider it since she was ready to retire. She and her sister wanted to start traveling. I wanted to preserve the place too, so now I’m the owner of a stable on the beach and a ranch in Texas.”
She smiled at the way he said it. “Then you are going to have your hands full.”
“Very.” He entered the next stall and they went through the routine until all the bales of hay ran out. “Life is an adventure.”
“True. Oh, this mare is expecting!”
“Yeah, any day.”
“I love foals. Love watching them right after they’re born as they get their feet under them. It’s so sweet. I’ve helped deliver a lot of them. If you need any help, let me know.”
“Thanks. So, are you related to Marcus Presley?” He squinted at her. “None of my business but you have my curiosity up.”
“I’d just met you. But, yes, he’s my dad.”
“No wonder you’ve been raised up on a ranch. He’s got a big spread.”
“Yes, he does. Look, you’ve got things to do. I should go. This is exciting that you bought this place. I’ll leave and let you get back to what you are doing and maybe later, after you reopen, I’ll come out and get my ride on the beach.”
She backed toward the exit, oddly reluctant to go. Cam Sinclair was successful, good-looking, tall, dark, and handsome, and had a very sexy smile. And he was single. She should be reluctant to leave. She was female, had blood pumping through her body, and she was single herself. She would be crazy not to be reluctant to leave. Except she’d too recently had her heart broken by one devastatingly-handsome heartbreaker of a cowboy and decided no more.
And that was what she needed to keep in mind.
Cam watched her backing away. “Hey, I’m about to saddle up and ride the property. If you’d like, you can come along.”
She should leave but she really wanted to ride. “I guess that would be great—if you’re sure.” She inwardly cringed. She knew she should get her rump in gear and get off the property now.
He flashed a smile and her heart did an extra giddy-up. Dad-gum-it.
He removed his hat, exposing a dark, thick head of hair. “I’m sure.”
“Then, okay, thanks. Which one do I saddle up?”
Cam glanced over at Lana riding next to him on the chestnut mare. She was a good rider. It was easy to tell she’d grown up in a saddle. He didn’t know a lot about the Presleys other than they owned a big ranch in central Texas and raised prize-winning horses and cattle. And there was some controversy that went along with them a few years back. He even thought one of the brothers might have gone to jail at some point. Which, come to think of it, was probably the real reason she had been a little prickly last night when he asked whether she was related to the Presleys from Texas.
“So what do you think?” He glanced around at the shoreline as they rode the horses out onto the sand. It was beautiful and had been a long time since he had ridden on a beach. He had missed it. There was a difference in riding in the pastures in Texas, which he loved, and riding on a tropical beach, which was relaxing and satisfying in a different way.
“It’s beautiful.”
Her voice, filled with awe, drew his gaze. Her emerald eyes sparkled in the sunlight. She pushed a strand of dark hair behind her ear as she studied the horizon and the topaz water rolling in.
“This is the life.”
“Yeah, it is. I had forgotten what it was like riding on the beach.”
“So why did you leave the beach?” she asked. “From what I’ve heard—yes, I’ve heard a few rumors about you,” she said when he shot her a skeptical look. “I’ve heard that you basically left here and bought a ranch in Texas when you were young.”
“I was twenty-two. Almost eleven years ago. I found the property and negotiated for it and got a great buy in a bad market. I bought as much land around it over the years as I could get my hands on, adding to it here and there until I now have a nice-sized place scattered over three counties. I’m proud of my ranch.”
“Why Texas? There’s a lot of ranches in Florida. Why not buy one here?”
The gentle rocking motion of the horse as it walked through the thick white sand had a way of slowing time, he thought as he let his mind wander back to that moment when he knew it was time to head that way. “I don’t know. I was born loving Westerns on TV and I guess Texas just called to me. I wanted to be there all my life. It was just a few thousand miles away.”
She laughed. “True. Did you try to get your parents to move there?”
“Yes, I did. But since that wasn’t a possibility, they got me horse riding lessons.”
“Sweet. My brothers love Texas and I don’t think you could pry them out of there. Of course, they were born there. But it’s in their blood.”
He shot her a glance. “So why are you here? Texas girl on an island off the coast of Florida, having to hunt out a horse at a stable to get some riding in?”
She hesitated. “There are a lot of reasons. Job. I wanted to see new sights. I love beaches.”
“But there’s more,” he said.
“You’re very perceptive,” she said, in a husky Texas twang.
“No, just a gut feeling there’s more.”
“Family—as in big brothers and dad interference. I love them dearly but a girl can only take so much meddling in all aspects of her life.” She made a cute face.
She was funny. “I’ve known you a couple hours and I can tell you can handle yourself. You would have told your brothers to go jump off a roof. And your dad, you would’ve told him too, in a kind way, to back off. Nope, for you to leave your family, state, and horses behind, there’s more.”
She stared at him. “You think you know everything,”
He grinned. “So what was it? Bad breakup?”
“Yes. As a matter of fact. I was the jilted girlfriend and I got tired of seeing my ex and my best friend strutting around town and everywhere else I went. Small towns are notorious for that.”
“So it hurt you a lot to see them together? I’m sure that was rough. But if they were those kind of people, you’re better off without either one of them.”
“It was irritating. If there’s one thing I don’t like, it’s being strung along. And I have a temper and I hold grudges, maybe that’s a Texas thing, but I have never appreciated being used. Nor do I appreciate being really, really mad. And when I walked down the streets of my hometown, every time I saw my ex and my best friend all smoochy, smoochy, it was galling. And it put me being the talk of the town. I got so mad. I didn’t think that was very becoming for a first grade teacher.” She took a deep breath and then started again. “It was the tempting urge to go up to them and trip them or say something snarky to them and feeling like that all the time really got to me. It was always there. Be
having badly was not something I wanted to do…not over him and I was in danger of doing just that. And that would only have embarrassed me in front of the whole town, so I left. I took myself out of the equation.”
Again, he laughed in disbelief. “You let them run you out of town?”
She frowned. “My brothers and my daddy did not understand it either and said the same thing. And they made their opinion known loud and clear. No, I left because I wanted to do my own thing and here I am riding horses on the beautiful beach with the breeze blowing through my hair, a handsome cowboy at my side. What is there not to like here? Oh, and no ex-boyfriend and my lousy ex-girlfriend rubbing my ignorance in my face.”
Cam’s saddle creaked as he turned to look directly at her. He wasn’t exactly sure what to think about Lana Presley except that he liked her. “I like your honesty.” And he had a feeling that her ex would one day regret what he had done.
“Oh, and don’t let the good-looking cowboy part go to your head,” she warned, eyes twinkling. “I was just talking.”
“Hurting my ego, that’s what you’re doing. For a moment there, I hoped you thought I was cute,” he teased. “I think that ex-boyfriend of yours is going to really regret what he did one day. It’s his loss and I mean it.”
She studied him and then clicked her heels gently to set the horse moving forward. Cam did the same. “Thank you,” she said. “I’m over him. But I’m not over the fact that I wasted a couple years of my life on that piece of junk. Now I’m finding my own way. And I have no plans to risk my heart right now. That was several months of turmoil. I do not want a repeat for a very long time.”
“I find it interesting that you think you’ll do that again. I have a feeling that’s a mistake you will never make again. When you start dating, you’ll know the integrity of the guy you’re about to date. You won’t risk giving a guy the time of day who isn’t worth your time.”
“Ah, so easily said, but knowing who is and who isn’t is tricky. And the hard part.”She slid him a glance and nodded. “But still, you got that right on the money, no matter how hard it is.”
With This Promise (Windswept Bay Book 7) Page 2
