Page 85 of Colton's Last Resort

“A few times,” CJ said. “I love Red Rock Country. Are you new to trail riding?”

“It’s been a long time,” Noah admitted. “I hope I can keep up.”

“Knox normally rides behind with the stragglers,” CJ informed him. “Josh keeps pace, but most of the time it’s leisurely, so we can enjoy the view.”

A man flanked CJ. He had light hair and dark eyes and an unrelaxed posture that looked almost unnaturally upright. “Doug DeGraw,” he introduced, shaking Noah’s hand. “I’m CJ’s manager.”

“Noah Steele,” Noah returned. He glanced down at the man’s feet. “I believe you’re wearing the wrong shoes for this.”

CJ chuckled as Doug looked down at the businesslike brogues he had donned. He patted Doug on the back. “Doug’s not used to riding.” He lowered his voice and said to his manager, “I told you I’d loan you a pair of boots. And you didn’t have to come. You hate horses.”

“I’ll be fine,” Doug said with a slight wince, looking around at the bay he had been assigned. “I’m told fresh country air does the body good.”

“I can vouch for that,” Adam agreed. “I’d better be getting back to L Building. Enjoy yourselves.” He exchanged a significant look with Noah before departing.

Knox brought around a familiar horse that had been saddled. “Mr. Steele. You remember Penny?”

Noah couldn’t help but smile as he raised his hand to the filly’s mouth for a nuzzle. “I do. Is she mine for the day?”

“She is,” Knox said. “She’s new to the trails, but she’s done well in practice. Want to give her a shot?”

“Absolutely,” Noah said as Penny blew her whiskered breath across his palm. He took the reins. “Thanks. Hey, by any chance, do you know when a new yoga instructor will be hired? I’ve got this pain between my shoulders blades, and I really need a stretch.”

Sadness lay heavy on Knox’s face. “I don’t, no. I’m not sure management’s even thought about it. You could ask Laura.”

“I will,” Noah returned. “Sorry I brought it up.”

“It’s okay,” Knox replied. “Allison hasn’t even been buried yet. It’s hard thinking about a replacement for her.”

“It’s a shame she died,” CJ added. “I liked Allison. I’d just started private lessons with her.”

“Oh?” Noah said, feigning surprise. “I didn’t know she offered that sort of thing.”

“We got one session in before I had to leave,” CJ explained. “I didn’t hear of her passing until it hit the news. She was so full of life. I don’t understand how anyone could hurt her.”

“Are you talking about the yoga instructor?” a voice said from the right. Noah looked over and saw that they’d drawn Kim Blankenship into the conversation. “Allison?”

“Yeah,” Knox said, his voice lost in his throat somewhere.

“I knew her!” Kim said with wide gray eyes in a heavily made-up face. Under her hat, her bottle-blond hair was perfectly curled. She mixed a down-home, don’t-mess-with-Texas attitude with vintage movie star glamour. “She came to my bungalow the morning before she was killed and led me through a personalized yoga routine. I’d overdone myself hiking a few days before, and she knew exactly what to do to help me work out the kinks. She was so sweet and personable.” Kim planted a gloved hand on her hip. “Why, if I knew who did such a thing to her, I’d tie them behind my horse and drag ’em across the desert.”

“I’m with you, sweetheart,” her husband, Granger, agreed.

This struck up talk among most other members of the excursion. Noah watched CJ nod and concur as others voiced their opinions about Allison and the person who had brought her life to an untimely end. Noah wondered how good an actor the guy really was.

“You ride well, Steele.”

Noah looked around as Joshua pulled his big, spirited stallion, Maverick, alongside Penny. “I detect disappointment.”

Joshua laughed. “Did Adam tell you I’d leave you for the coyotes?”

“Something like that,” Noah drawled.

“You can stop looking over your shoulder, Fender Bender. Accidents on the trail are bad for business.”

“That’s reassuring,” Noah grumbled.

“You’ve been talking to CJ Knight.”

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