Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Hot Cowboy Nights, #3)(58)

“Can’t say I like how he does business,” Reid remarked. “And now you want me to do the dirty work?”

She shrugged. “As long as the clients get well-broke horses, what does it matter who’s in the saddle?”

“No reflection on you, Tonya, but it ain’t honest.”

She frowned. “You want to take on the Appy or not?”

“How many rides has she had?”

“Two. Popped me off both times.”

“Screw that shit. I’m too old for bronc riding. Gave it up when I joined the Marines.”

“Too old and decrepit, eh?” Tonya’s black gaze met his in mock challenge.

“Where is she?” he demanded.

“Tied to my trailer.”

Reid snatched a halter and bridle, slinging them over the saddle on his shoulder, and followed Tonya to her trailer. A big-boned leopard Appaloosa nickered at the sight of them. “How much did he sell her for?”

“Ten grand.”

He whistled. “For an unregistered, unbroke horse?”

“Yup.” She laughed. “It’s all in the marketing. Those Germans eat up anything related to the Old West. According to Keith, they dress up in buckskin and war paint, drink firewater, and reenact our famous battles.”

“The Germans playing at cowboy and Indian? You’re shitting me!”

“Nope. Honest Injun,” she quipped. “Keith’s even thought about moving there. They idolize him.”

“Then what’s stopped him?”

“I think his conscience. He’s changed a lot.”

“That can only be for the better,” Reid remarked and stepped back to look the horse over. Good conformation. And not bad-looking for the breed. None of them had much mane or tail, but this one at least had a decent head and small ears. “I’ll ride her. Anything I should know?”

Tonya grinned. “You might say she’s just a tad skittish.”

“Just a tad, huh? Care to elaborate?”

“She bucks at her own shadow.”

“Nothing a good long, sweaty ride won’t fix. Wet saddle blankets always settle ’em in.”

After months off at pasture, even the veterans in the string needed a good tune-up. As for the juniors like this one, most of them would be bombproof after a summer full of pack trips and trail rides.

He approached the horse’s shoulder, running a hand down her neck and then over her back. He let her smell the blanket and then ran it over her body before placing it on her back. Her ears flickered, but she didn’t otherwise react. The saddle followed.

“She’s also a little cinchy,” Tonya cautioned.

He didn’t need the warning. He finished tacking her up while Krista led two more horses out for her and Tonya.

“Gonna pony any of ’em?” Reid asked.

“Not this time.” Tonya shook her head. “Let’s see how Red Bird does.”

Reid pulled Red Bird’s head around and tested a foot in the stirrup. She sidled. He circled and soothed her before trying again. A moment later, he vaulted smoothly into the saddle, his gaze intent on her flattened ears. “Shit. She’s gonna blow, ain’t she.”

The words had hardly left his mouth before she did just that.

It’d been more than eight years since Reid had ridden bucking horses, but it was something one didn’t forget. He held off the spurs, but let her have at it, encouraging her to kick and buck and wear herself out. He could sense the turning point, the very instant she realized she wasn’t going to win. It took a bit longer than he’d expected, but a lot of mares were feisty. It was a good quality, if you could win them over. Finally acknowledging her defeat, the horse dropped her head with a deep sigh.

“You ready to play nice now, Red Bird?” Reid crooned and stroked the horse on her sweat-slickened neck. “C’mon now. Just move your feet in the right direction, and we’ll get along just fine.” He urged the horse again and she took a tentative step. “Good girl,” he praised her. “Now you’re gettin’ it.”

She began walking forward calmly. Once he was certain of her submission, he flashed a triumphant grin, one that faded away the moment his gaze rested on the petite blonde standing behind Tonya and Krista with her brows drawn in disapproval.

Haley? What the devil is she doing at the ranch?

*

No one answered the door when Haley pulled into Two Rivers Ranch, so she headed out toward the corrals where she saw three people gathered. They had their backs to her, but it didn’t take long to recognize Reid’s tall and muscular form. She pretty much had every inch of him memorized.

She watched unnoticed while he mounted a horse and gasped when it exploded in a wild bucking fit. As a staunch animal advocate, she’d never enjoyed rodeo sports but still found herself mesmerized by the contest between horse and rider. At first she was torn between wanting Reid to get thrown and fearing he’d get hurt, but as the seconds passed into minutes, with Reid still firmly anchored in the saddle, her anxiety increased for the panting, wide-eyed horse. Should she intervene?

Stepping forward, she made herself known to the two spectators that she recognized as Krista and Tonya. “When is he going to stop?”

Krista turned around, leveling an instantaneous frown. “Haley? What brings you out here?”