Rough Ryder (5 page)

    
              There seemed to be a lot more to ranching then Trinket had thought. Mel explained all the work there was in ranching, but at the same time there was a camaraderie between all that worked on the ranch that made it worth it.  She explained in times of hardship how all the neighbors would come together and pitch in anywhere that was needed. They must have walked a mile just around the immediate area of the main house where she would take her meals.

    
              She was glad to know she wasn’t going to be alone.

“This is a working
ranch, we work together, eat together, and play together.” Mel said with pride in her voice.

    
              “Do you ride?” Mel asked as they reached the barn.

    
              “Sorry to have to say no.  Do I have to? Surely there is something I can do that doesn’t require being on horseback.”

    
              “Why did you come here?”

Her back stiffened at the sound of the deep sultry voice behind her.
  That voice would not be forgotten anytime soon.  Her panties became wet just at the thought of what he did to her. And she had thought about it many times. Wondering what would have happened if she hadn’t left that night.

    
              “Ryder! When did you get back?” Mel squealed as she ran past her and jumped in his arms.

    
              “Just pulled in poppet. How have things been going here?” Returning her hug as he watched Trinket over her head.  “Mooner been giving you anymore trouble?”

    
              “He is still up to the same old mischief.  Won’t let anyone get near him.” Turning she walked over to the stall.  “Even tried to bribe him with some extra oats.  Stubborn thing took the bribe but then wouldn’t pay up.” Laughing as she looked in to admire the beautiful horse that was watching every move they made, like he knew they were talking about him.

    
              “The master is here now so he’ll come around.”

    
              “Oh, you’re the master now, huh?” Laughing, she turned to the horse. “You better watch out cause ‘The Master’ is here.”

    
              “You’re so funny this evening, I do think I hear cook calling your name. Something about potatoes to peel.”  Ryder smiled widely at her.

    
              “Oh, come on Ryder, you know I was just joshing you.”

    
              “Maybe. But the potatoes won’t peel themselves. I think I can take over from here with …Miss?”

    
              “Oh, I’m sorry, where are my manners, Trinket this is Ryder. Oh, I’m sorry, I mean Master Ryder.” With a squeal, she took off towards the barn doors. “Really your safe with him, I’ll see you at supper.”

“Are you following me?
  Do you work here?”  Trinket couldn’t believe her eyes.  Of all the places she could run into him, did it have to be here?  This was supposed to be a stress free vacation.

    
              “I hate to burst your bubble, but no.  And yes.”

    
              “Really?  What do you do?”  She was finding it hard to believe that he could work here.  This wasn’t a place where he could command something to do what he wanted.

    
              “Just about everything. Except maybe peel the potatoes.”  He walked over to the stall Mel had been standing at.  “I reckon this little boy here is gonna be my challenge this week.”

    
              Walking over to join him at the stall, she inhaled his scent.  She had dreamed about that smell.  It was as if his scent had been impregnated into her nose and would never leave.

“What is the problem with
him?  He’s a beautiful horse.” Holding her hand over the side, the horse rubbed the back of her hand with his nose.  “There isn’t anything wrong with you is there, sweetie.” Soft laughter came from her lips as the horse nuzzled her.

    
              “Will wonders never cease?  You should feel lucky.  He doesn’t usually warm up so easily.”  Turning to the side to look at her, “You must have the touch.”

     
              “I don’t have any touch.  I have never even been on a horse.”  She turned to look at him.  The look he had in his eyes told all.  She could see the shock and the remedy to that flashing in his eyes.  “Oh, no.  It’s not happening.”

    
              She watched a smile come across his lips.  “Maybe not today, but it will.”

    
              “Are you always this cocky?”  Her brows wrinkled.  What part of no had he not understood?  Then she remembered.  He doesn’t do no.  Red is his color.  She felt the color leave her face as the memory flashed an image that was burnt into her eyes.  She could see it over and over.  Had seen it over and over.

    
              The touch of his hand to elbow damn near knocked her off her feet.  Startled by the unexpected touch.  His touch.  She never thought she would see him again; much less feel his hand on her.  Even though it was on her elbow, it had the same effect as if he would have placed his hand on her breast.

    
              “Are you okay?” 

Again she could see his worry.

                   She looked down at her elbow, and then slowly pulled it from his grasp.  “I’m good.  I think I am just going to go in now.”  She watched the look on his face change as she backed out slowly before turning away.

    
              The minute she was free of his view, she had to use the side of the barn for support.  She almost felt faint.  “Get it together, Trinket.  Damn.”  She cursed at herself.  He was just a man.  It was a simple gesture out of concern.  It wasn’t an invitation for sex, she thought.

    
              Pulling herself together, she turned the corner quickly.  Running smack dab into another wall.  Firm hands gripped her arms.  This wasn’t happening again.  Slowly, she opened her eyes right into a set of deep green eyes. 

    
              “Sorry about that, we have a tendency to be in a rush most of the day.  I’m Jake.”  She watched a smile show off his pearly whites.  Perfect. 

    
              “I’m Trinket.”  She held her hand out to him, taking in his appearance and how right on, her friend had been.  He was definitely edible.  The brown cowboy hat hid most of his hair, but she could see the ends of blonde curls coming out from around it.  Tan complexion, most likely from working on the ranch.  Tall, about six foot or so.  Muscular body.  Very muscular body.  She didn’t want to out and out, check him out while he was watching but she couldn’t help it.

     
              Her eyes ran down the length of him.  His wranglers fit snug, hiding none of the muscle that bulged in his legs.  When her eyes scanned back up, heat hit her cheeks as soon as her eyes caught a glimpse of the smirk on his face.

    
              “If you’ll excuse me.”  She watched Cowboy Jake turn to the side, moving out of her way.

    
              She couldn’t believe she had all but stripped him with her eyes.  In front of him.  While he smirked at her. 
Jesus!
  She came here to relax and right now she was wound up tighter than she had ever been before. 

    
              In her fast walk, she hadn’t paid much attention until she heard the snort of a very angry animal.  Her body froze.  Where the hell had the noise come from and where was the animal that made it?  Looking around, she found different areas. 

    
              The first area that caught her attention was a horse riding area.  On the back of a white and brown paint, a little girl, less than five years old, rode.  A woman held on to the reins, leading her around.  Trinket was intrigued at how the little girl looked so relaxed on top of the massive sized animal. 

    
              The snort caught her attention again.  She turned.  To another area, several cowboys surrounded a pin blocking Trinket’s view.  She made her way over, curious as to what they were watching.  She gasped at the sight in front of her. 

    
              A cowboy was on top of a bull, getting ready to ride it.  Trinkets heart began to race.  She couldn’t believe it.  Sure, she had seen bull riders on TV, but this was right here in front of her. 

    
              One more check of his mask and vest, he sat down on the bull, putting his right hand under the rope, his left hand went in the air.  With a nod of his head, the door opened and out roared the massive, angry, and ugliest beast Trinket had ever laid her eyes upon. 

     
              The bull began spinning in a circle before cutting right, throwing his rear in the air, the bull rider flung forward.  When the bulls back legs hit dirt, the bull rider was still seated with his hand waving in the air.  A buzzer rang, and the men that had been on the sideline, jumped in keeping the bull distracted while the rider quickly jumped off, landing on his ass.

    
              Quickly, he was up looking behind him as he grabbed his cowboy hat off the ground, and running for the side of the pin just in time for the bull to make his way back out the side into another area.

    
              The men erupted out with clapping and congrats.  Trinket found herself intrigued by seeing this close up.  Her hands clapped loudly with the crowd.  This was what she needed.  Excitement. 

    
              “Glad you enjoyed it.”  And with only those words from behind her, out with the excitement and in with the nerves. 

    
              Trinket didn’t need to turn to know that voice.  What she wanted to know was why in the hell he was following her.  She bit her tongue when what she wanted to do was snap the question out at him.  Better things to do with her mouth. 

    
              “Yes, that was quite fascinating.”  She smiled as she watched ahead of her.  Not daring to look his way, which was right by her side now.

    
              “Good, I’m next.” 

    
              She turned watching as he walked away.  “You can’t be serious!”  She yelled after him.  His step never quit.

   
              Hearing her concern, a young cowboy walked up beside her. “Ma’am, bull riding is very serious.  Don’t worry.  He’s been doing this a long time.”

    
              “This is crazy.  He could get hurt doing this.”  She watched as he made his way into the pin.  

    
              “It’ll take him a minute to get ready.  My name is, Joey.”

     
              It was then that she got a good look at Joey.  His deep voice did not match his face.  He had that of a baby face.  She hadn’t expected that.  His voice was deep and sounded much older than he looked.

    
              “Trinket.  Do you ride, too?”  She looked at him quizzical.

    
              “Yep, sure do.”  He looked proud.

    
              “Are you crazy?  Does your Momma know?”

    
              “No and yes she does, not that she could stop me.”  He laughed.  “How old do you think I am?”

    
              “Sixteen, seventeen.”

    
              “Well, that would be the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.  When I age ten years from now, I’ll look twenty six, which is exactly how old I am.” 

    
              “Wow.  I’m sorry.  I just…”

    
              “Yeah, I know.  Guys are always giving me a hard time about it.  Ryder is the worst of em.  Even though he only has three years on me.”

    
              She turned her attention back to Ryder who was now seated on the bull.  She saw his hand raise up and with a nod of his black Stetson, he was out of the gait.  She felt her whole body tighten as the bull cut loose, spinning and bucking into the air. 

    
              With a buzzer going off, the men jumped the fence and in they went.  With a high buck from the bull’s ass, Ryder went flying through the air, landing on his back with a loud thug.

    
              “Jesus!”  Trinket screamed.  She watched as he lay perfectly still.  The other men keeping the bull away; leading him out the gait.  Men were all around him.  She could no longer see him.  Then as the group began clearing as they laughed, she caught the first sight of him.  Dusting off his wranglers with his hat.  Acting like it was no big deal.

    
              His head rose, locking eyes with Trinket.  She was furious.  Had he done that just for show?  On purpose just to get a reaction from her.  The more she thought about it, the more she became annoyed with him. Abruptly, she snubbed her nose in the air as she turned stomping away.

    
              “Asshole.”  She cursed.  If he thought he was going to ruin her vacation, he had another thing coming.  She wanted to find the pool the brochure had talked about, lay down with a book and relax.  Surely to god, the workers unless associated with the pool, weren’t allowed to come in.  She found her way back to her room fairly easy.  Grabbing the first swim suit in her case, she put on the two piece bright orange suit with a pair of short cut offs.