Page 12 of Claimed By A Cowboy
I don’t dare tell him he has already made it worth every penny.
Chapter Six
Wylder
I have gotten a lot of things wrong in life.
This time, I make a vow to myself to get this one thing right. I am fairly certain I met the woman of my dreams. I need to make that dream a reality and convince Wynn to stay here with me. Or hell, take me with her on her next adventure.
Leaving the ranch was not something I ever considered before. I figured I would be here as long as Cody would have me. A few times I considered going back home to Fellow Falls to get my own ranch going.
Unlike Wynn, I do have a place I once called home. And I have a past there that I have run from for the past fifteen years. I did my time; I paid the price of what happened that night at the clubhouse. If you ask me, I paid the highest price—I had nothing when I got out.
My father had passed, and his wife had sold the house I grew up in. When I heard about the rodeo coming to town, I figured I would give it a shot. I had to start my life over. I have never been back to Fellow Falls since. Maybe it is time I think about going back.
“What is on the agenda for us today, cowboy?”
Turning at the sound of her voice, I stop. Christ, she looks good as a cowgirl. The tattered jeans and boots. That plaid shirt tied at her waist, showcasing her perfect rack. I have half a mind to march her pretty ass back into the bunkhouse she came out of and rip all that cowgirl gear off.
But no. I want her to have this. She paid for it, after all. “First, we get you on a horse, honey. Then we will see what the day has in store.”
Wynn grins up at me, making my heart thump-thump in my chest. God, there is something so innocent about her. Something so gentle. Even after all I found out about her last night, I still see it. Knowing she has lived a very lonely life maybe even makes it clearer to me.
We start for the barn where I can get us both some horses. I tell her a little bit about how we rehab the horses here. About how we get them to a healthy weight, how the training we do is mostly to build trust. I take her to Hyde, knowing full well neither of us can ride her yet.
“Gosh, she is beautiful, Wylder,” she whispers, moving past me to get closer to the horse.
“Careful, honey. Hyde does not play well with others. Unless you bring treats, she is downright….nasty,” I trail off in shock.
Wynn puts her hand out, the way one might for a puppy. Hyde has nipped at other hands who tried this. Not this time. Hyde gives a pleased whine, nodding her head as Wynn reaches further to pet her.
I watch the two of them together for a moment, totally stunned. I have been working almost daily with Hyde since we got her two months ago. In all that time, I have never seen her be so patient.
“Well, honey, you might be some sort of horse whisperer.”
“You think so?” Wynn turns towards me, a gorgeous grin on her beautiful face.
“Yeah,” I husk, reaching out to brush her hair back from her face. “I think you might be something real special, Wynn.”
“We can’t ride her though.”
Wynn does not say it like she is asking. Maybe she is a horse whisperer. She knows despite Hyde being nice to her, putting a saddle on her would be a bad idea. I am endlessly surprised by this woman.
“No, we can’t. Have you ever ridden before, honey?”
“A few times. I even rode a camel once in Dubai.”
Looking at her for a moment, I wait for her to laugh. She means it. I laugh then, shaking my head at the crazy things my little Wynn must have done and seen.MyWynn?Hold your horses, cowboy.
“That does not surprise me. I think little about you will surprise me, Wynn. Come on, I have a good pair for us to take out. Let me show you how we get them saddled.”
“Yes, sir, cowboy,” she teases me, saluting me. Unable to help myself, I smack her plump ass and she yelps, turning back to gape at me in shock. I am shocked as shit too. I couldn’t help it.
Wynn stares up at me, her hands covering her sweet ass, as if afraid I might do it again. Those baby blue eyes peer up at me, and I am shocked again. Heat simmers in those pretty eyes. My sweet Wynn liked that little slap on her ass. Interesting indeed.
“You did call me sir, honey,” I tease her, unsure where this flirtatious side is coming from.
“I did indeed. Noted, cowboy.”
