Page 8 of Wild and Unruly
Fans run, blowing into each horse stall, and the urge to run over and stick my face into it is real, but I turn my attention to untacking my horse instead.
CT has been in charge of this barn for almost ten years now, taking over from his dad when he was in his early twenties. He’s built a hell of a reputation both as a trainer and a cattle rancher.
He now has ten employees under him and Dani, running the cattle ranching side of the business, while CT, Dani, my brother Logan, and I run the training and equine therapy operation. It was a bustle of activity on a busy day.
The barn is immaculately kept up, per Dani’s orders, and the horses live a good life here, with plenty of space on their runattached to the stalls to get outside. They are let out into a big open area, usually the outdoor arena, for time to run each day, and most, if not all, have training sessions every day as well.
I help with the babies. The two-year-olds that are still a little feisty and need calming down before they graduate stages to my brother, who polishes them off and hands them over to CT or trains them himself.
My cousin, Dani, is more client-based and works with the disabled and injured folks who need her magical healing ability. Sometimes, my niece Lue comes to help out as well and will typically attach herself to Dani’s side.
“Hot one today,” a voice calls from behind me, and I turn, wiping away the drip of sweat that falls just past my eye. I see CT standing there, hat on, and walking toward me. He always has his hat on, but when it is hot and not sunny, like in the arena, I opt for a baseball cap I can dunk in water to cool off.
“You’re not kidding,” I say absentmindedly, looking past him to see Dani and…damn. Bonnie Helix. She has something held up as if she is recording something, and her long brown hair is tied up in a long ponytail. I don’t know what that means that I find a fucking ponytail attractive, but I look away before I blurt out something I can’t take back and embarrass myself.
“Stetson, this is Bonnie,” CT starts as they get close enough that the sun hitting her back doesn’t hide the look on her face. Which is pleasant. Or she’s faking it. She was not very good at hiding her expression when I told her I was a horse trainer, and she’s not even that good at hiding the fact that she is unimpressed now. “Bonnie, this is Stetson Cash, our cousin and one of our trainers.”
I reach for her hand, smiling with charm. Which was hardnot to do. I was Stetson Cash. “Pleasure to see you again, Ms. Helix.”
“You too,” she replies, taking back her hand quickly and tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear.
“Oh, you two have met?” Dani asks curiously, looking at me with suspicion as if she was going to find some hidden meaning under the surface.
“Stetson was kind enough to help me with my bag at The Lodge. I tend to overpack,” Bonnie says, surprising me with the kindness she infuses in her words. “For some reason, I feel the need to pack about double the amount of underwear when I travel anywhere as if I’m accident-prone.”
I watch in amusement as heat takes over her cheeks. CT looks away, embarrassed and not good at hiding it, and Dani smiles broadly.
“Oh, me too. I thought I was crazy.” Dani’s quick comment smooths over the awkward comment, and Bonnie laughs.
Well, shit. Her laugh is amazing.
I realize I’m smiling broadly when CT nods to the horse I’m cleaning off and asks how she’s doing. “She’s a feisty one,” I start, heading back toward her to take care of her needs. “She definitely likes to test me, but we’re finding some middle ground.”
“Good,” CT says, taking off his hat for a moment to scratch at his head. He directs his attention to Bonnie. “Stetson works mostly on babies, getting them to the point to start training in the right discipline. He’s gotten through to several of our babies over the years.”
“Oh, okay, so you don’t show then?” Her question catches me off guard.
If I’d known I was getting interviewed, I would have brushed my hair.
“Oh, I do things every now and then. But showing isn’t where I put my energy right now.”
“Stetson is being modest. He’s won several team roping jackpots over the years. He and my other cousin, Logan, won two last year together.” Dani beams with pride at me, and Bonnie gives a thoughtful look.
“Oh, so that doesn’t bother you?” She directs the question to CT.
“Bother me how?”
“That your staff ventures outside of the disciplines you show in?”
CT frowns a little but tries to cover it up with a smile. I can tell her question confuses him, and I’m curious why that was important as well. “Well, I’m not in control of their lives. While we mostly focus on reining, cow horse, and cutting, my staff can show or compete wherever they like. We’re family. We’re not going to shove them into a discipline they’re not interested in.”
His words seem to strike a chord with Bonnie, her expression barely concealed before she smiles and nods, tapping on her phone before walking over to the mare I have tied up. “Aren’t you beautiful?”
“You know, it’s rude to give me a compliment in front of the horse and not give one to her.” I say it low enough that only she hears it, and she rolls her eyes.
“I was most definitely not talking to you.”
“Eh, you’ll warm up to me.”
