Page 38 of Claimed by the Lawman

Chapter 12

TYLER SCRUBBED HER hands down her dirty jeans after brushing the horse and placing him back in the stall. She’d been back at the ranch for a few days although she’d spent most of her time helping on the ranch and getting the ball rolling on the theater. She hadn’t seen Kace since she left the morning that she’d spent at his house. Remembering how he’d rejected her left her chest tight.

The sun was at its hottest when she stepped out of the stables. She saw that her mare, Spark, was saddled, and foreman, Roy, had her reins in his hands.

“What’s up, Roy?”

“I remember how you used to ride on the land after a day’s work. I thought you might like to start that tradition again. You deserve it, girl. You’ve worked your bottom off.”

“Thank you, Roy,” she said as she reached into her pocket and took out an extra carrot for Spark.

Roy took out his radio and shook his head. “Damn. I wish that boy would answer,” he ground out.

“Who?” Tyler asked.

“It’s that boy of mine. He is on fence duty and he’s so scatterbrained. Now he’s not answering. He can’t afford to lose this job. Your dad has been kind enough to offer it to him. I can’t babysit him every minute. I have work to do.”

Tyler didn’t know the entire story, but Roy’s son, Randy, had been into some trouble a few years back and he’d had a hard time finding employment. “How about I ride that direction and check on things? Maybe he just fell asleep. We’ve all been known to do that a few times.”

Roy swiped a hand down his whiskered jaw. “I couldn’t ask you to do that, ma’am.”

“You didn’t ask.” She offered him a smile. “If he’s anything like his daddy he has ranching in his blood. He’ll do fine.” Leading Spark from the pasture, Tyler squinted against the bright sunlight and pulled the rim of her hat down lower on her forehead.

She climbed into the saddle and Spark pranced as if she anticipated getting out on the land. Smoothing her hand down the horse’s neck, Tyler was rewarded with a friendly neigh.

There was nothing quite like being back in the saddle. She could forget her troubles—almost.

Rogue and her father were working on the new fence when she passed and he looked up and gave her a wave. She turned her cheek and started Spark at a gallop. Eventually she and her father would have to talk, but for now, she was back working the ranch and that would have to be enough. Baby steps were needed.

Picking up speed as they crossed the field toward the west fencing, she hadn’t made it far when she heard heavy hooves hitting land. Expecting to see her father, she was shocked to see that it was Kace and he was galloping her way. The horse was eating up dirt. Her heart slammed into her chest. He looked magnificent as he rode like a pro rider. Once he got up next to her, he tipped his hat and winked.

“Care for some company?” he asked.

“Should I be flattered that you took the time out of your busy schedule to hang out with me?” she teased.

“I thought since you and I haven’t talked in a while, I needed to catch up, literally.” His smile competed with the sun.

Sweat beaded between her breasts and she felt a little woozy as she steered Spark west and motioned for Kace to follow. He stayed with her and she felt his gaze on her profile. Several minutes of silence ticked by and she kept her eyes ahead, not letting him make her squirm. When the combination of his stare and the heat of the sun became too much, she turned to look at him. His grin made her nipples harden. “Do you have something you’d like to say?”

“No. I’m just enjoying the view.”

With his eyes directly on her, she realized he was talking about her. She clasped the leather reins around her hands and gave Spark a gentle touch to send her at a faster pace. When Kace was next to her again, she didn’t look at him when she said, “Did you just come out here to play games, Sheriff?”

“Now you know me better than that, Sassy. I don’t play games.”

“I beg to differ. What do they call it when a man heats up the frying pan but doesn’t plan to cook anything?” She clicked her tongue and Spark obediently picked up her pace.

Kace and the stallion easily kept up. His laughter reached her ears. “I gather you’re the pan in this analogy.”

“Well, if the shoe fits…”

“Not in a million years would I liken you to a pan, sweetheart. I see you as more of a golden chalice.”

She gave him a quick glance but dragged her gaze away before he saw inside her soul. “There you are again. Teasing me relentlessly.”

“Aw, so now I’m a tease.”

Tyler didn’t have to look to know his brow was lifted. “It’s the better name of the two that I was tossing around.”

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