Page 50 of Redemption

And that’s what worried me.

“Morning,” I grunted, shoving my pink Stetson onto my head, feeling the uncomfortable knock against my ponytail but we had a busy day today and I needed to not have my hair flying around.

“It’s moving day,” he called.

I cut him a sideways glance. “What?”

“The cattle, we need to move them into the south pasture, don’t we?”

I hated that he knew that. That he was a quick learner and listened and understood life here. I wanted him to be bad at this. I wanted to be able to kick him to the curb, once we got the ranch profitable again, of course. But I needed him here. He was actually good. He was a hard worker and eager, willing to do whatever was necessary. And now that August had taught him how to ride? Shit. That man on a horse was a sight to see.

“That’s right,” I replied, heading towards the stables to get the horses saddled.

He kept pace beside me and I inched away as our shoulders brushed, the heat too much. “Why do we need to herd the cattle into a new pasture?” he asked.

I knew he knew the answer to that, he was just trying to make conversation. Because he was friendly, dammit. I stopped abruptly and he kept walking before he noticed and frowned atme. “What’s up?”

“Why are you doing that?

He tucked his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “Doing what?”

“Pretending you don’t know?”

He nibbled his bottom lip but didn’t say anything.

“Is it to talk to me?”

“Kat,” he sighed.

“Is that it, you want us to be friends, Jack?”

He fixed me with a sharp look, an angry gleam in his eye. “Is it so hard to be civil? A bit friendly?”

The wind kicked up and I clamped a hand down on my Stetson to keep it from blowing away. I shook my head. “I don’t need friendly, not from you.”

“I get it, and I know why, I just thought…” He trailed off, looking around. But he didn’t get it, he didn’t know why. He thought he did, but he didn’t.

“Come on,” I grunted, marching on, irritated at myself for starting this non-fight fight and feeling sorry for him. He looked like a kicked puppy and I was Cruella De Vil.

I raced into the stables and immediately got annoyed when I saw August there, brushing Marshmallow with two other horses saddled and ready. I’d wanted to do it myself.

“We got here early and did it as a surprise,” August piped up, smiling at Jack. At least he had one friend.

“Surprise,” he said, weakly.

“And you chose that horse?” I nodded to the chestnut stallion, Chester, who had been my father’s.

August frowned. “Yes. He needs to be ridden, Kat. And I think Daddy would like it if it was Jack.”

“Damn,” Jack muttered. “I didn’t realize, I can take another horse.”

“No, it’s fine,” I snapped because August annoyingly was right.

I took Sunshine’s reins and headed out of the stables. Once outside, I swung myself up into the saddle and took a deep breath as I settled myself, ready for a long-ass, busy day to wear me out. A moment later, Jack appeared next to me,looking like a natural in the saddle, his hips rocking forward as Chester trotted over.

“Ready?” I asked, pulling lightly on the reins as Sunshine nodded her head. I tried to fight my smirk. “I didn’t mean you,” I whispered to her, nudging her with my calves.

“Sure thing,” Jack replied. I clicked my tongue and Sunshine set off at a canter before speeding up to a gallop. The wind whipped past us as I clamped down on my Stetson once again. We headed towards the north pasture and Jack rode beside me. I tried not to glance over at him but my eyes had a mind of their own. My stomach clenched at the wide smile stretched across his face, his eyes squeezed shut. My own smile tried to tug at my lips but I resisted, instead glancing at the pasture in front of us.

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