Page 30 of Wild and Unruly
Because the bigger picture was that I needed to take this whole operation down, not just save one horse.
If I play it right, I’ll be able to save every horse in this barn and find a way to put Tommy behind bars.
11
stetson
It wasa good thing this young filly I was working with was giving me a hard time. That wasn’t something I thought often, but she was giving me something else to focus on after not hearing from Bonnie for two days.
Well, okay, one day.
But the last time I saw her, I had helped her into her truck after kissing her until neither of us could breathe while pressing her against it, and then I didn’t see her for the entirety of yesterday.
The other image that I have of her is her sprawled out on the ground, my hat covering her eyes, and her grasping my hands in hers while I made her come on my face. That is an image that will live with me for the rest of my life, and I have zero complaints about that.
It took everything in me not to steal Dani’s phone and find Bonnie’s contact information, to make sure she was okay after everything we did together, to make sure I didn’t push too far.
Oh, sure, Stetson. Just after a week of knowing the woman, you ate her out in the middle of a fucking forest. That wasn’t pushing it too far.
I clear my throat and refocus on the horse I currently have in the round pen behind the main barn. It was basically my round pen, as I’m the one who works in it the most with all the young horses. It helps to keep them contained to a smaller area so they can focus, and it helps so I don’t have to run around a huge arena and exhaust myself after one horse.
I stop pushing this horse to run. She has little spots all over her face, so I’ve been calling her Freckles. Her bloodline indicates that she would make an excellent cutting horse in the future, which was why CT bought her, and I want to get her as ready as possible before she moves up in our training program.
Turning my back to her, I give her a minute, letting her decide if she wants to join up with me. Letting her make the decision if she wants to put her trust in me.
I feel a nudge against my back and smile, turning to see her right behind me, waiting patiently for me to put her halter back on her, and I take a moment to rub my hands all over her little body, rubbing them down her legs and picking up each hoof, getting her used to a person moving all around her.
My neck pricks, and I turn to see a sight I’ve been dying for: Bonnie up on the side of the round pen, her arms over the top rung, and her boot-clad feet a few rungs up. But the image I love the most is the smile stretched across her lips.
“Looking good there, cowboy.”
I smile to myself and lead Freckles to the side where she’s at. “Thank you. She’s a good one for sure.”
“She’s adorable.” Bonnie coos, looking her over. Sunglasses cover her eyes, and her hair blows softly in the early morningbreeze. I smile at her jeans and T-shirt, loving how casual yet country she is.
I back the horse up and open the round pen, ending our session. Bonnie hops down and takes a few steps, giving me and the horse space, but I’m unable to wait or hold back. I step right up to her, the lead rope in one hand and my other going right around her waist, pulling her into me.
She smiles up at me, not hiding how happy the move has made her, and I bend down to take her lips with my own, taking a few minutes to savor her mouth under mine. One of her hands goes to my shoulder to steady herself, and the other cups my jaw in an intimate way that has my heart pounding in my chest.
Something big was happening here. Something really fucking huge.
After a minute, Bonnie pulls away and sighs. Her gaze catches mine. “I just wanted to say good morning.”
“Bo, you can say good morning to me that way any day of the week, and I’ll be a happy man.” She chuckles and I press another sweet kiss to her mouth before Freckles starts to nudge my arm, trying to get my attention.
We both turn to smile at her, and Bonnie releases me to give the horse affection. I keep my arm around her waist, though, not wanting her to get too far. “Where were you yesterday?”
She hesitates for long enough that I wonder if I shouldn’t ask that. Are we not at that stage where we’re allowed? But then she says, “I had to run into the city for some supplies.”
“Oh,” I reply, nodding. “I could have come with you.”
She turns and looks at me, giving me an ornery look. “We’re not at the stage of you buying me feminine products.” I blink, and she blushes furiously, shaking her head. “Why can’t words stay in my mouth?”
I pull her into me, kissing the side of her head and chuckling. “I prefer you don’t keep your thoughts to yourself.”
“Yeah, well, you’re not the one saying the embarrassing stuff.”
“Bonnie! We’re heading out.” CT’s sudden presence startles me more than the young horse, who doesn’t even move at the loud voice, and I frown over at him.
