Page 18 of Mountain Time

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A shy smile comes to her lips before she heads back into the barn.

I barely know her, but I can already tell Kacey is an amazing woman. One I need to keep my distance from, and distance is the opposite of what I just signed up for.

Fuck.

Chapter 9

Knox

Trey

You’ve been entering us right?

Knox

Yes Trey, I got it covered.

Trey

Thanks dad. I’m ducking bored. Can you enter me in Red Bluff?

Knox

Going to do the Wild Ride? If you do get a video.

Trey

Hell no, you know I don’t mess with horses.

Knox

Be funny if you did.

Trey

When are you coming back to the house? We need to hit the road. I’m chomping at the bit here.

Knox

Oh calm down, you should be training. We’ve got a busy summer ahead of us. I’ll be back for the Weatherford run.

Trey

I am training. Chasing these women in Southeast Oklahoma is a workout. Lots of cardio!

Knox

That’s far more than I needed to know . . . less cardio, more reps kid! The summer run will be here soon.

The saddle creaks and Buck twitches his ear at me. I’m putting weight in the stirrup for the second time and he’s handling it really well. I haven’t swung my leg over him yet. First, I want him comfortable with my weight all on one side, like I’m going to sit on him. I haven’t worked with a horse this jumpy in a long time. It’s a fun challenge to show him new things in a way that doesn’t freak him out.

“He looks like he’s starting to come around,” Cody says from the round pen gate. His face is hidden beneath the shadow of his black cowboy hat.

I didn’t see him walk up. Pulling my foot from the stirrup, I turn toward him. “Yeah, I think he’s starting to trust me. Hehasn’t thrown any fits today, and he’s been taking the bridle and ground driving well.”

He runs his hand down his beard. “Looks like you’ve got a knack for horses.”

I chuckle. “I don’t know about that. I have a lot of patience for them, I guess.”

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