Page 13 of Return of the Rancher

Farris was tightening the saddle on a huge, restless black stallion, a flawless animal she didn’t remember. He looked at India over his shoulder. “I thought you could ride behind me,” he said.

Shocked, she searched his words for hidden meanings. His tone was neither teasing nor flirtatious. Apparently, he simply thought there was no problem with a formerly married couple riding together on one giant beast.

“Um, well...okay.” She was dazed by the idea and couldn’t come up with a suitable response.

Farris put one foot into the stirrup and elevated himself into the saddle with a smooth, natural movement that stole her breath. The man was born to ride a horse, all evidence to the contrary. He might have been only a boy from Jersey, but somewhere in his DNA, there must have been an equestrian or two.

To be honest, India was a little intimidated by the stallion. “Does he bite?” she asked, eyeing the animal with a mix of respect and dread.

“No.” Farris chuckled. “Come on. We’re wasting daylight.” He reached down. “Take my hand. You’ve done this before.”

Of course she had. Blindly, India tucked her fingers in his and let him pull her up. Her mounting was far less elegant, but she didn’t fall off the other side.

Suddenly, she was pressed against her ex-husband’s back, her legs spread wide on either side of his. For a few minutes, she forgot to breathe. He smelled delightful. Even through his clothing and hers, the heat of his body began to warm her.

“Where are we going?” she asked. The words ended on a squeak when, without warning, Farris jumped the horse over the corral fence. Her arms tightened around his waist. She was afraid to touch him, but even more afraid of tumbling to the ground.

“I want you to see the improvements,” he said.

They galloped along the dirt-and-gravel road that cut through the center of the ranch. In the past, she had ridden with Farris most days. She had been a timid rider, but he had taught her the skills to feel comfortable in the saddle. He had even bought her a beautiful mare who was smaller and less threatening than the rest of his stable.

Now, with the wind whipping her cheeks and the open vistas stretching toward the magnificent Tetons in the distance, India was pummeled with emotions that threatened to shred her heart. Exhilaration. Joy. Regret. Pain.

She had walked away from all of this. But there had been no choice.

Farris slowed the horse and pointed to a small cluster of buildings. “I decided equine breeding wasn’t the way I wanted to go. I’ve hired a ranch foreman, an assistant and five wranglers. We’ve built up the beef herd. The water here is pristine, and the grasses are protein rich. Slowly, we’re building a reputation for Aspenglow beef. Soon, we’ll be selling regularly to a dozen states.”

“That’s wonderful,” India said. She studied the bunkhouse and what was probably a storage shed for additional tackle and tools. “What’s that building?” It was obviously new. One level. Log construction.

“It’s a duplex, or two apartments, you might say. A couple of my guys are married. They prefer to live on-site and cut out the commute.”

“I can understand why.” The open range rolled for miles in front of them, broken up only by small clumps of trees here and there and a narrow river. Back East, it would have been called a big creek, but that was the nature of water in a dry place like this.

They moved on. Farris showed her the central area where most of the cattle grazed. He indicated the array of solar panels that provided a growing percentage of the ranch’s power needs.

It was clear to India that Aspenglow was no longer just a hobby for Farris. He had thrown his heart, his time and attention and a staggering amount of money into his Western adventure.

They dismounted at last near a single picnic table by the side of the river. Farris hopped down and then held up his arms to help India. His hands settled on her waist, steadying her as she slid off the animal. There was a moment when he supported her entire weight, their bodies brushing.

India couldn’t look at his face. What was he thinking? To have him touch her, even in this context, shattered her composure. Because she was so rattled, she stepped away immediately when her feet were on solid ground. Staring at the river enabled her to ignore Farris and pull herself together.

The water looked cold. Crusts of ice along the edges attested to the overnight temperatures. The sound of the water was soothing.

The two of them sat on top of the table, their feet propped on the bench.

Farris gazed out over the land, his expression pensive. “Well, what do you think?”

Was he really asking her opinion? “It’s amazing, Farris. So much more than the property you first acquired. You must be very proud.”

“It feels good,” he said. “Better than making digital money and putting it in virtual banks.”

“But those digital investments gave you the financial freedom you needed to buy all of this, right?”

“I suppose.” He seemed restless. The fingers of one hand drummed on his thigh.

She half turned, wanting to see his face. “Are you happy, Farris?”

He frowned. “What kind of question is that?”

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