The Cowboy's Perfect Match

“Did my initials burned into the pommel give it away?”

“They might have.” He chuckled, a warm, appealing sound.

She went over to the horse and inspected the job he’d done. Cinch tight. Stirrups the right length. She usually used a different bridle but this one would suffice for today.

“Her name is Goldie.” Bridget finger-combed the horse’s tangled forelock into a semblance of order. “Not very original, I know. She’s a sweetie, though.”

“You have a farrier?” Ryan went about tying a third horse to the second one, forming a long line.

“He’s due next Monday.”

“You might want to call him. Goldie’s lost a shoe. Right front.”

Bridget glanced down, dismayed to see the shoe was indeed missing. “There’s a hoof boot in the stables. I’ll get it.”

“I was hoping you’d say that. I haven’t had a chance yet to look around.”

Bridget entered the stables and located the hoof boot in a storage cabinet. Back outside, she slipped the rubber boot onto Goldie’s unshod hoof and adjusted the different buckles and straps to ensure a snug fit. It was strictly a temporary measure—the boot would protect the vulnerable underside of Goldie’s hoof from the hard, rocky ground until the farrier arrived.

Before long, she and Ryan were on their way. Bridget went ahead, because she knew the trails and Ryan was ponying three horses behind him—his mare and the ranch’s two geldings.

Their small parade must have made quite a sight as they left the ranch behind. At the gate, Bridget leaned down and opened the latch one-handed. Once Ryan and the rest of the horses went through, she pushed the gate closed and secured the latch in much the same manner.

“Nicely done,” Ryan commented.

“A hangover from years of competing in trail classes.”

“But can you jump a ditch and cross a bridge?”

“Please.” She pretended to be insulted. “Piece of cake.”

“A woman of many talents.”

Maybe so, but no way could she have managed four horses at the same time. Ryan continued to impress her and she couldn’t help asking him about his expertise. “Where’d you learn to lead a pack string? Surely not on your family’s farm.”

He grinned again. Maybe she’d impressed him a little by knowing what a pack string was.

“I worked for an outfitter in the Colorado Rockies shortly after high school. One of the best years of my life. Also one of the hardest. We took groups of people on three-, seven- or ten-day trips and were in the saddle from sunup to sundown. A lot of packing and rough terrain and a lot of scary situations. The wranglers were required to carry knives in case we had to cut a horse loose when they fell and got tangled in their gear.”

“Any of the people ever fall?”

“Oh, yeah. Once, a woman had to be airlifted out by helicopter when she went down the side of a cliff and broke both her legs.”

“Did her horse throw her?”

Ryan shook his head. “She was taking pictures and didn’t watch where she was going.”

They quickly reached the trailhead, which was clearly identified by the marker attached to a post.

“This is the easiest trail to start with,” Bridget said. “A nice hour-long ride with easy hills. I can show you more trails another day.”

“A second outing.” He’d donned sunglasses, which hid the spark she knew must be dancing in his blue eyes. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Show you on a map,” she clarified. “Competent as you are, I’m sure you’ll be able to explore on your own.”

“You think I’m competent?”

“Is that what I said? I meant egotistical.” She ignored him for a full five minutes before finally breaking the silence. “A farm in Texas. An outfitter in Colorado. Team penning somewhere in there. How did you wind up in Arizona and buying the Chandler place?”

“There wasn’t much to keep me in Texas. Two of my sisters still lived at home while they were going to college. My folks were also helping to raise my brother’s three kids. Tough situation there—his wife left him. I figured one less person to feed and clothe would be a lot easier for everyone.”

“I can’t imagine being brave enough to strike out on my own at eighteen.”

“I won’t lie, it wasn’t always easy. I learned a lot along the way. Met a bunch of nice folks and made some good friends. I scraped together what money I could when I could. Tried a few things that paid off, like team penning.”

“How’d you come to buy the Chandler place, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I passed through Mustang Valley last winter while delivering horses for a buddy of mine.”

“Really?”

“I saw the property and thought it had a lot of potential so I called the real-estate agent. The seller was willing to lower his price and, as the saying goes, the rest is history.”

Bridget couldn’t help feeling there were large chunks missing from Ryan’s story. The Chandler place may be run-down, but he hadn’t gotten it for free. His salary from Sweetheart Ranch couldn’t possibly cover the monthly mortgage payments and pay for expensive renovations. Not to mention annual taxes and insurance.

What little Ryan had revealed about himself, however, was telling. The man didn’t stay in one place long and went from job to job. Perhaps that had changed, seeing as he was now a homeowner. More than likely, he craved adventure and excitement and would soon grow bored with a small, quiet town like Mustang Valley.

“Why did you agree to go riding with me today? Was it because your grandmother twisted your arm?”

His question roused Bridget from her musings. She glanced briefly over her shoulder at him, debating if she should answer honestly or not. She decided on the former.

“Partly, yes. I did have the most free time today and am the logical person.”

“Tell me about the other part.”

“If I said I feel it’s my duty to get to know employees better, would you buy that?”

“I would if you dropped the it’s-your-duty part.”

Bridget held back a laugh. He was what Grandma Em would call a smooth talker. “I liked how you were with that little girl last night at the campfire. She was scared, and you were gentle with her and reassuring. I’m curious how a single man gets to be good with children.”

“So much for me thinking I’d impressed you with my manly wagon-driving skills.”

He had impressed her. In Bridget’s opinion, it took a real man to be comfortable and relaxed with children, though she didn’t admit that to Ryan. For all his outward charm and good-old-boy mannerisms, she suspected there was a lot of depth to him. A peek at that depth was why she’d ultimately agreed to show him the trails.

“Most guys I know without kids don’t have the first clue what to say to a distraught two-year-old.” She could feel his smile without having to look.

“I’m the youngest of eight, remember? I have a lot of nieces and nephews and have done my share of babysitting.”

That, or he was a natural. An intriguing idea, considering his roving lifestyle.

They spent the next hour talking mostly about his job duties at the ranch, with Ryan quizzing her on the daily routine and what to expect. Eventually, they moved to the subject of town. He was very familiar with the small market, as he did most of his shopping there. The auto-parts store was a regular stop—his truck was in constant need of replacement parts. He liked the specials at the Cowboy Up Café, but the hardware store left a lot to be desired. He bought the majority of his building supplies in north Scottsdale at the home-improvement store.

Again, she pondered where he got his money.

“I can unsaddle and put the horses away,” he said when they reached the stables. “You’ve got things to do.”

Bridget found she wasn’t quite ready to leave. “You sure? I don’t mind staying.”

“Go on.” He swung down from the saddle and tied his horses to the trailer before leading the other two to the hitching post.

She marveled at how they docilely followed Ryan, one after the other. It had been like that on the trail. Not a single hiccup or moment of panic the entire time. She couldn’t imagine riding a horse while leading three others. They’d likely start bucking and kicking, and Ryan would have to cut them loose, like when he’d worked for the outfitter.

“He’s not Superman,” she mumbled under her breath.

“What’s that?”

“Oh!” She hadn’t heard him come up behind her and gave a quick jerk. Composing herself, she said, “You’re, um, going to do just fine leading the trail rides.”

“Bridget.”

He was suddenly close. Very close. He’d removed his sunglasses and his cowboy hat, and she could see the tiny crinkles at the corners of his eyes. Smell the brisk scent of sunshine and outdoors on him.

Alarm bells started clanging inside her head. “Ryan, I—”

“How ’bout you and I have dinner soon? There has to be an evening we’re both free.”

He was asking her on a date. Expected, she thought, and yet unexpected.

“I don’t think that’s wise.”

“Is there a rule against employees dating? Because your grandmother eloped with your staff minister.”

“No, there’s no rule. That’s not the reason.”

“Another man? The doctor at the clinic?”

He had heard Bridget discussing Dr. Hall with her grandmother. “No.” Not yet, she silently added.

“Then what’s stopping you?”

“I don’t think we have the same objectives when it comes to relationships.”

“It’s just dinner.” Ryan’s voice had dropped to a husky level that made concentrating hard.

“And therein lies the problem.” Drawing on her willpower, she straightened. “I’m not interested in just dinner or hanging out or friends with benefits. I’m looking for a guy who’s ready now to commit to me and to having a family and who’s content making Mustang Valley his home. I don’t believe that describes you.”

“I understand.” He shrugged, seemingly unfazed by her rejection. “Let me know if you change your mind.”

With that, he returned to the horses, leaving Bridget in a state of mild shock and annoyed rather than relieved.

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