Page 15 of Alpha's Promise

"Then horses it'll be." Landon couldn't suppress the pleased grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. Watching her face light up reminded him of how the land came alive after the first rain—full of possibilities and new life.

He gestured towards the stalls, where the sound of hooves and the warm scent of hay mingled with the earthy aroma of the ranch. Each step they took closer to the animals stirred something primitive within him, an echo of a time when man and beast were not so different. It was a feeling he seldom acknowledged, one that spoke of wild things and moonlit nights.

"Ever since I was little, I've felt drawn to them," Dakota continued, her voice a melodious hum that settled in Landon's chest, vibrating in tune with the hidden currents of the land.

"Animals have a way of seeing right through us," Landon mused. "They sense what’s inside, maybe even the parts we don't know ourselves." His words floated between them, an acknowledgment of the secrets they both carried.

The thought of guiding her, of holding her steady as she learned the rhythm of the horse beneath her, sent a thrill down his spine. The notion of her trusting him enough to let down those walls she'd built around herself, even just a fraction, was a temptation he found hard to resist.

"Shall we?" he asked, extending his hand, palm up, in a silent offer of partnership.

Dakota placed her hand in his, a spark of connection igniting as their skin touched. They stood there—the cowboy and puzzling beauty—bound by something unseen yet palpable—a seductive undercurrent of mutual intrigue and the whisper of a shared destiny unfolding beneath the vast Texas sky.

Landon watched Dakota's reaction as he led the horses out of their stalls and out into the light, their hooves striking the parched ground with a rhythmic beat that echoed the pounding in his chest. The sun was still rising on the eastern horizon, painting it with strokes of fiery orange and deepening blue—a backdrop as dramatic as the emotions stirring within him.

A half-smile played on his lips as he offered her the reins to a gentle palomino gelding. Landon's own mount, a robust blue roan, snorted impatiently, mirroring its rider's barely contained excitement. Dakota's gaze flitted between the powerful beasts, her eyes reflecting the light, shimmering with a mixture of awe and uncertainty. She arched an eyebrow at him, a silent question hanging in the air.

In response, Landon shrugged, the motion nonchalant but his heart racing under the weight of anticipation. “I was hoping you’d pick horses,” he confessed, the gravelly tone of his voice betraying a hint of vulnerability. He held her gaze just slightly longer than necessary, inviting her into this shared secret, into the adventure that loomed before them.

The air was thick with the scent of dry earth and the promise of rain, a tension that mirrored the electric charge that zapped through the space separating Landon from Dakota. She approached the palomino with cautious grace, her hand brushing against the gelding’s flank in a tender gesture that spoke volumes of her innate gentleness.

“Need a hand?” he offered.

“No. I think I’m good.”

He climbed onto his horse with practiced ease, muscles flexing beneath his denim shirt as he settled into the saddle. His gaze lingered on her form as she swung a leg over the saddle, the movement fluid despite her professed inexperience. The sight sent a jolt of heat through him, igniting a primal desire that was as much a part of him as the land he loved.

As they set off, the rhythm of the horses' gait provided a hypnotic counterpoint to the rush of blood in Landon's veins. He watched Dakota adjust to the horse’s movements, her body finding the natural sway of the ride. The landscape around them stretched endlessly—a kind of wild beauty that seemed to envelop them.

Every so often, Landon stole a glance at Dakota, pointing out various land points. There was something undeniably captivating about the way she bit her lip in concentration, or the wind-tossed strands of hair that escaped her ponytail to dance freely around her face.

He could feel the pull of the unknown between them, a magnetic force that drew him closer with each passing second. Yet, he remained guarded, aware of the perilous path that lay ahead, where passion and danger often rode side by side. It was a road he knew all too well—one that demanded caution even as it beckoned with the sweet allure of the forbidden.

The sun began to climb into the sky, casting its rays over Copper Canyon as Landon led Dakota to the vegetable garden that stood as a testament to his mother's once vibrant presence. The scent of earth and growing things filled the air, mingling with the subtle perfume of wildflowers that lay in neatly tilled rows.

"This was my mom's pride and joy," he began, dismounting with the ease of a man born to the saddle. His boots on the gravel path as he walked to the fence made a kind of grinding noise,leaning against it, his gaze lingering on the rich soil. "It fell into neglect after she passed."

Dakota followed suit, her movements graceful even as she stepped onto unfamiliar ground. She approached the fence line, her eyes taking in the expanse of greenery that thrived under the care of loving hands.

"Your mother must have been quite the gardener if this is your idea of neglected," she teased. Although her tone was light, it carried the reverence of one who understood loss.

Landon chuckled. “Oh trust me, before Briar joined us it was nothing but weeds and rattlesnakes. Both my mom and Briar could just make things grow. Not just plants, but hope. After she was gone, this place lost its soul. It turned wild, untamed..." He paused, his words trailing off as he looked at Dakota, finding a kindred spirit in her attentive silence. "Then Briar brought it back to life."

A veil of shadows played across Dakota's features, the rays of sunlight illuminating her eyes, making them shimmer like the surface of a deep lake at twilight. "It's beautiful," she murmured.

"Come on," he said, pushing away from the fence, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he watched curiosity bloom on her face. "I'll show you more."

They mounted their horses once again, the steady pace allowing them to drink in the sights of the ranch. The land rolled out before them, a sprawling canvas dotted with cattle and the occasional flash of movement from wildlife that called the canyon home. As they rode, the connection between human and horse melded them into the landscape—a seamless portrait of life on the frontier.

Landon glanced at his watch. "Best get ready for your shift," Landon said, turning back to the barn and then offering a hand to help Dakota down. His fingers brushed hers, electricity sparking at the contact.

"Thank you for this," she said, her gaze holding his. There was a flicker of something neither of them were ready to name.

"Anytime." His voice was low, the sound grazing her senses like the touch of velvet. He reached into his pocket and tossed her the keys to his pickup. "Take my truck. It'll save you time."

Her eyes widened slightly, taken aback by the gesture. "I can't?—"

"Sure, you can," he interrupted, the ghost of a smile dancing on his lips. "It's no trouble at all."

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