AS BELLA RODE WITH JASON she tried concentrating on the sheer beauty of the rustic countryside instead of the sexiness of the man in the saddle beside her. He was riding Hercules and she could tell he was an expert horseman. And she could tell why he wanted to own the stallion. It was as if he and the horse had a personal relationship. It was evident Hercules had been glad to see him. Whereas the stallion had been like putty in Jason’s hands, the horse had given the others grief in trying to handle him. Even now the two seemed in sync.
This was beautiful countryside and the first time she’d seen it. She was stunned by its beauty. The mare he’d chosen for her had come from his stable and was the one he’d rode over to her place. She liked how easily she and the horse were able to take the slopes that stretched out into valleys. The landscape looked majestic with the mountains in the distance.
First they rode over to Dillon and Pam’s for breakfast. She had fallen in love with the Westmoreland Estate the first time she had seen it. The huge Victorian-style home with a wide circular driveway sat on three hundred acres of land. Jason had told her on the ride over that as the oldest cousin, Dillon had inherited the family home. It was where most of the family seemed to congregate the majority of the time.
She had met Pam’s three younger sisters the other night at dinner and enjoyed their company again around the breakfast table. Everyone asked questions about the rock-throwing incident, and Dillon, who knew the sheriff personally, felt the person or persons responsible would eventually get caught.
After breakfast they were in the saddle again. Jason and Bella rode to Zane’s place. She was given a front row seat and watched as Zane, Derringer and Jason exercised several of the horses. Jason had explained some of the horses needed both aerobic and anaerobic training, and that so many hours each day were spent on that task. She could tell that it took a lot of skill as well as experience for any trainer to be successful and achieve the goals they wanted for the horses they trained.
At noon Lucia arrived with box lunches for everyone and Bella couldn’t help noticing how much the newlyweds were still into each other. She knew if she decided to marry Jason they would not share the type of marriage Derringer and Lucia did since their union would be more of a business arrangement than anything else. But it was so obvious to anyone around Derringer and Lucia they were madly in love with each other.
Later that day they had dinner with Ramsey and Chloe and enjoyed the time they spent with the couple immensely. Over dinner Ramsey provided tidbits about sheep ranching and how he’d made the decision to move from being a businessman to operating a sheep ranch.
The sun was going down when she and Jason mounted their horses to return to her ranch. It had been a full day of activities and she had learned a lot about both the horse training business and sheep ranching.
She glanced over at Jason. He hadn’t said a whole lot since they’d left his brother’s ranch and she couldn’t help wondering what he was thinking. She also couldn’t help wondering if he intended to sleep in his truck again tonight.
“I feel like a freeloader today,” she said to break the silence between them.
He glanced over at her. “Why?”
“Your family fed me breakfast, lunch and dinner today.”
He smiled. “They like you.”
“And I like them.”
She truly did. One of the benefits of accepting Jason’s proposal would be his family. But what would happen after the year was up and she’d gotten attached to them? Considered herself part of the family?
They had cleared his land and were riding on her property when up ahead in the distance they saw what appeared to be a huge fiery red ball filled with smoke. They both realized at the same time what it was.
Fire.
And it was coming from the direction of her ranch.
CHAPTER SEVEN