Page 201 of Giddy Up, Daddy

“I’ve been here just over fifteen hours, and with what I’ve seen, I’m inclined to believe it, too. Onyx give you any trouble?”

“None at all. Fell right in line and has been pretty happy, far as I can tell. He took a liking to Clementine.”

I shook my head in disbelief. Was I doing everyone in my life a disservice by continuing to chase the rodeo circuit?

“Did Ripley come out here this morning?”

“She did. Wren took her out onto one of the trails. They’ve been gone a good while, so they should be back any time.”

A good long while? How long was that? It was cold and Ripley didn’t know the area, nor was her horse, Destiny, used to riding trails. My heart rate picked up and the panic must have shown on my face.

“Wren is a seasoned rider and leads rides through these hills every day. Your girl is in good hands,” Travis assured me.

“Ripley isn’t really my girl. We’re just friends. She was married to my best friend, Randy. We lost him three years ago, and she just decided to stay on the road with me.”

“And you promised him to look after her, and you take your job very seriously,” Travis stated, like he’d heard this story before.

“I… well… yes? How did you know?” I stammered, a little taken aback.

“Call it a hunch.” He shrugged. “Like I said, I’ve been here a while.”

I wasn’t really sure how being a ranch hand at a BDSM Ranch translated into him somehow guessing things about my life and relationship, but I didn’t have the time to ask as he pointed to a clearing.

“Here they come.”

I sighed in relief as Ripley and her gray-and-white mare came into view, and even at a distance I could see that same peace from the morning.

“See? All in one piece with a pretty little smile on her face. I’d say it was a successful ride.”

“Looks like it,” I responded, only half listening.

My heart pounded in my chest as they got closer, and I was overcome with the urge to touch her. It didn’t matter how or why; I just needed the physical contact to calm the irrationalanxiety flowing through my veins. Vaulting myself over the fence, I jogged up to meet them in the middle of the corral.

“Cade, what’s wrong?” Ripley’s eyes widened.

”Nothing. I just have spent the better part of the day trying to find you, and now I did,” I explained lamely.

“Okay?” She kicked her leg back to dismount, and I caught her round the waist before she reached the ground. “What are you doing?”

“Helping you?”

“Why? I’ve been getting up and down from my own horse for a lot longer than I’ve even known you.”

“Can’t one friend help another friend out once in a while?” I asked with more frustration than absolutely necessary. I had no idea what had come over me. The need to take care of her was stronger than ever, and I couldn’t stop myself.

“You’re being weird.”

I was. I was totally being weird. “I’m just not used to this.” I waved my arm in a circle. “I’m used to knowing where you are and what you might be doing, and knowing that you’re safe.”

“Cade…” She scrunched her brows together in confusion. “I’m safer here than any of the rodeo camps we’ve ever stayed in. What the heck is wrong with you?”

I rubbed my hands over my face. “I know! I don't know?”

“I know what’s wrong.” Travis came up behind us and took the reins from Ripley. “I’ll take her in and get her taken care of. I think y’all need to go talk or something.”

I wanted to slug the man and thank him at the same time.

“What do we need to talk about? Wren was going to take me to the petting zoo to meet the animals and her friend, Reese.”

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