Cowboy Up (Coming Home #3)

Oh, wow.

Reluctantly, I slowly lower myself with his help until I’m standing and watching as Clayton gets Onyx and Dell, his horse, ready. When Clayton opens Onyx’s stall, the horse walks to my side instantly and doesn’t leave his spot next to me. His solid mass presses against me in a soothing way. I don’t even realize I’m running my hands over his coat, loving the feeling of his powerful softness, until he makes a sound that makes me think he’s enjoying the attention. For the first time, I feel no fear a being near one let alone two horses, but I have a feeling that has a lot to do with Clayton and my trust in him, even if I feel the connection to Onyx that he was speaking about. When I look at Dell, a horse I know has the most even temperament and calm nature, I shiver and push my side into Onyx, who huffs air out. Maybe Onyx doesn’t scare me as much because, him being solid black, those seemingly all-knowing eyes aren’t so noticeable. Dell, though, is the opposite of Onyx. Dell is pure white. The way his eyes contrast against his coat makes them look even more arresting.

“I know, big guy,” I tell Onyx softly, still looking at Dell. “He creeps me out too.”

Clayton chuckles. I ignore him and keep talking to the horse at my side. “I should tell you, I don’t know a lick about horses, but I promise to respect you. Just . . . I don’t know, try and not go crazy and buck me off you. I don’t want to break my back and have to be put in a home.”

This time Clayton bursts out in a deep belly laugh.

“What?”

“God, I have no idea what I’d do without you in my life.”

“That’s good. Maybe that means you won’t ship me off to live in a home when I break my back and become a burden.”

Watching him tighten something on the saddle before turning, I drink him in. His full lips are smiling, the shadow of his facial hair along his jaw making him look rugged and sinful. But it’s the brightness shining from his eyes that holds me captive.

“There will never be a day that I won’t have you in my arms when I wake, Caroline. I don’t care what’s thrown at us in this life, me needin’ to care for you will never be somethin’ I look at as a burden. I’ll spend every second of every day showin’ you that I deserve that honor.” He steps closer and lifts his hat off my head, placing it opening side up on a shelf near us. “Even if you get thrown from a horse and break your back—even then will I love every second that I’m blessed with you in my life.”

I feel my chin tremble and I know if he keeps going, I’m going to burst into tears.

“You ready to take a ride with me, darlin’?”

I swallow thickly, my chin still fighting with my emotions, and nod.

Clayton moves to help me mount Onyx. Knowing that he wouldn’t be putting me on the back of this horse if he wasn’t confident in the animal’s abilities eases some of my nerves. I listen intently as he continues to explain everything I need to know as Onyx waits patiently for me to climb onto his back.

“Left foot in the stirrup and pull your body upward. Take your time and swing your other leg around. Just hug his back with your legs and slip your other foot into the stirrup. I’ll hold his reins, but he’s well trained, darlin’ and I suspect he’ll be statue still while you get sorted.”

“He’s not gonna just take off with me danglin’, right?”

I’ll give Clayton credit, if it wasn’t for the slight twitch of his lips, I wouldn’t know how bad he wants to laugh at me.

“Trust, darlin’.”

“Trust. Right. I do.”

“Then get your hot ass in the saddle, baby. We’ve got plans.”

It takes me two tries to get myself up and into the saddle. True to Clayton’s words, Onyx doesn’t even flinch, letting me get myself positioned with my back straight and orienting myself to balance with my weight centered to my bottom like I was told. Clayton walks around and makes sure my legs are in the proper position, giving me a few tips as he does.

“When we start ridin’, keep your toes up, ankles stable, and your heels pointing downward. You let Onyx lead.”

“What do I do with these?” I ask, holding up the reins he just placed in my left hand.

“That is how you steer. A gentle touch against Onyx’s neck will signal the movements that you want. Move across his right side to go right and left side to go left. Keep them in your left hand, right hand on the saddle. We’ll work on all of this another time, but even though I know he’ll guide you without help, following me, I still want you to know what to do on the off chance that he decides to show off.”

“Okay,” I gulp. “Right for right and left for left. Seems easy enough.”

“If somethin’ happens and you need him to move quick, grab the reins in both hands and gently pull or squeeze in the direction you need him to go. It’s not often that it happens to our horses, but if you need to emergency steer him, that’s how.”

I nod, filing that information under let’s not think about what could happen that would require emergency steering, and give Clayton a nod. “How do I get him to turn on?”

His lips twitch again. “Squeeze with your legs and let him know you’re ready.”

“That’s it?”

He nods. “Yeah, baby, that’s all it takes.”

“You’ll be close?”

“Always, Linney. Always.”





21


CLAYTON


“I’m Gonna Love You” by Jamie Lawson

- -

She’s a natural.

You’d never know she’s never ridden or that before this, she’d been afraid of every horse she encountered. Her smile is huge, carefree, and full of life. The only time I’ve ever seen her looking more beautiful is when she’s under me and gasping out my name.

We’ve been riding about ten minutes, but five into it she let go and I quickly changed our course so I could watch her longer.

It didn’t take me long to get everything I needed in order. I texted Leighton shortly after I got off the phone with Caroline earlier and asked her to give me a heads up when Caroline was on her way home. Luckily, by then I’d finished with the doc and successfully sold eight horses to the buyers who had come down. Drew waved me off when I asked if he needed help, but the crooked grin on his face told me he was doing it more because he knew what I had planned and not because he didn’t actually need help.