Adam saddled his horse, Jake. They both needed a good hard run. Adam knew he wouldn’t be able to outrun his thoughts. He was still uncertain about Beau marrying Alyssa, it just didn’t seem right to him. And now Rachel was here, and she was going to be a distraction to him and probably every other male on the ranch. Adam knew he could ignore it, since she was so young, but what about everyone else?

He wasn’t going to worry about that now, at least he could put it aside for a few minutes to give both his horse and himself some exercise. He spent too much time behind a computer or on the phone, sometimes being the business face of the Rockin’ K ranch got old. Fresh air and sunshine was just what he needed to clear his mind. His phone was set on silent, everyone could leave a message, and he’d call them back. Later. He’d left his family a note saying where he was going, so they wouldn’t worry. All his bases were covered. He finally had an hour to himself.

He led his horse out of the barn and stopped abruptly when he spotted Alyssa and Rachel walking toward him. The two of them together were nice to look at, both dark-haired beauties. Not that he was interested, of course. And no way was he letting them side track him. He swung up onto his horse and tipped his hat to them. “Ladies.”

“Oh, Adam, maybe you know. Is it okay if Rachel and I saddle some horses and ride a bit?” Alyssa asked.

“Absolutely, have fun.” He turned his horse toward the pasture.

“Which horse should I give her?”

Adam sighed. Any other time he would be happy to help, just not today, he was wound too tight to be of any help. But he turned back. “We’ve got plenty to choose from, Alyssa, if they are in the barn you can take your pick. You’ve been here long enough to know their temperament, and you know Rachel’s riding skills.”

“But…”

Just then Cliff came out of the barn, thank God. “Cliff, will you give Alyssa a hand picking out a horse for Rachel?”

Cliff looked surprised, but nodded. “Will do.”

“Great.” Turning his horse, he moved away from the three of them as fast as he could. Cliff could handle it, that wasn’t something they normally asked him to do, but he certainly was capable. Adam only had an hour before he’d needed to be back, and he didn’t want to spend the whole damn time picking out a horse for Rachel.

* * *

Rachel frowned as Adam rode away from them. That man had to be the rudest person on the planet. He couldn’t take two minutes out of his precious day to help them? Well fine, they didn’t need his help anyway. Jerk.

Cliff suggested a pretty chestnut mare after Alyssa told him about Rachel’s equestrian experience. She didn’t live on a ranch like Alyssa, but she’d spent hours at the Jefferson House growing up and a fair amount of that had been on horses. She’d never competed like Alyssa did, but she’d spent time learning how to barrel race and she even had a trick or two she could do without embarrassing herself.

Once they got the horses saddled, Alyssa asked, “So, what do you want to see first? The cattle, the pasture, the river, or the haying fields?”

“How about the place you were when the blizzard blew through, and you can tell me the story as we ride out there.”

Alyssa laughed. “That was just a spring storm, not a blizzard and I was fine. No real story to tell.”

“Uh huh. How many years have I known you? There is a story, and you are going to tell me. So, get to talking, missy. Or I’ll ask the twins since they seem to know everything and have no secrets. Or shame.”

Alyssa rolled her eyes. “I suppose it would be better coming from me.”

“Yes.” They crossed into the birthing pasture, where new mothers and their babies were still being kept closer to the house. The new calves were so darn cute it was hard to concentrate on what Alyssa was saying, but that event had been a turning point in Alyssa’s relationship with Beau, and Rachel wanted to hear the real story. Not the glossed-over version that Alyssa had told everyone else.

“So, it was a sunny spring morning, a little chilly but not too cold. I was in the vet truck...”

* * *

The tension in Adam’s neck was finally starting to loosen. He’d let Jake have his run and then they’d headed over to the river for a nice cool drink. Jake munched on some of the sweet grass that grew next to the Colorado River. Adam skipped a few rocks and a fish jumped out of the water. The sunlight sparkled on the silver and pink scales of the rainbow trout as it leapt in the air and sent a shower of water drops glistening skyward. It splashed as it landed back into the river and Adam laughed in pure joy of the moment.

The rest of the tension drained from his body and he felt himself center. But play time was over and he needed to get back to the house. He still had to brush his horse down before he went back to his computer in time for the video conference call.

He walked toward Jake, who was still happily munching, when a damn drone came out of nowhere and practically whacked him right between the eyes. He batted at it and shouted. Then the darn thing flew right at his horse who’d looked up to see what the commotion was about. When the drone almost beaned his horse, Jake reared up and then took off at a run toward the barn.

Adam whistled at his horse, but the normally well-behaved animal just kept running like the fires of hell nipped at his heels. Well hell, now he had a good long hike ahead of him unless he could get someone to come get him. If he didn’t have the call coming up with a half dozen people spread across four time zones, he’d just walk back. It was only a couple of miles, but he didn’t really have the luxury of time. He got out his phone and sent a group text.

Adam: Drone scared Jake, he’s headed back to the barn, somebody let him in, brush him down. I’m in the North-East pasture and have a video conference call in 15. Need someone to come get me, asap.

After a flurry of texts it was determined Alyssa and Rachel were the closest. The hands with vehicles were mending the fence and it would take them longer to shore up the hole they’d found before they could come get him. The girls could ride together on Alyssa’s horse and he could take the one Rachel was on.

Alyssa: On our way!

Adam: Thanks, I’ll be walking toward the house.

Alyssa: Not for long.

Alyssa was true to her word. Adam saw the women racing hell-bent for leather in his direction not five minutes later. His heart stopped when they got within a dozen yards of him. They slowed so they were riding in tandem, brought the horses close together and Rachel stood up in her saddle, then stepped over behind Alyssa and sat down still holding the reins of her horse. By the time they had executed that move they were right on top of him. Rachel tossed him the reins, and he climbed on. The stirrups were too short for him, but he didn’t have the time to lengthen them, he’d just have to suck it up.

He yelled, “That was the most foolhardy thing I’ve ever seen. You don’t know these horses well enough to attempt something like that. We’ll be talking about it later.” He swung the horse around and headed back to the house at a dead run. They were going to get a dressing down, about doing stupid stunts on horses they didn’t know, but right now he had to get back for the call.

Rachel yelled after him, “You’re welcome.” She said something after that, but he couldn’t tell if it was his name or “asshole”.