“Easy boy,” he whispered as he leaned and whispered into its ear. “We can do this. Nothing to it.” He clamped his thighs at the horse’s flank and directed the turn. He started to breathe a sigh of relief which was short-lived as a squirrel darted across their paths. Hunter swore beneath his breath as the horse reared up on its hind legs and tried to toss him off its back. Hunter anticipated the move and clamped his legs harder at its flanks and gripped the reins in both hands. “Easy boy,” he muttered sternly. “It’s just a squirrel. Nothing to harm you.” He let go of the reins with one hand and soothed him down. Suddenly the horse bolted around the paddock, picking up speed along the way. Hunter bent low and clamped his thighs hard to keep from tumbling off. In the middle of trying to stay on the horse’s back, while he was soothing it with reassuring talks. The crowd gasped as the horse bolted over the fence and sped off into the pasture. Hunter held on, not daring to turn his head to look at the men who came riding behind him in case of an accident. He did not have to tell them to stay far behind because they knew better. The Arabian streaked over brushes and streams, clearing the spaces with little to no effort. Hunter held on and continued talking in a soft soothing tone. He figured the horse would tire soon and would be winding down, but he also knew that he was long winded, “easy boy,” he whispered. “We are in this together. I am not going to hurt you.” It took several more minutes for the horse to wind down. It slowed down beneath the towering Pinewood tree, the snorting easing off. Hunter patted the sweating flanks and wished he had thought to take some water with him for the horse. The sun was sweltering, and he could feel the sweat pooling beneath his armpits. He sat on the back of the horse and waited until it had quietened down. He passed his hands down the flanks to quieten it down. He could sense the men behind him and hoped that they would stay far behind. He knew Ben would direct them to keep their position. The horse was calm enough for him to turn the animal around. He gestured to the men to back off as he made his way towards them. He continued soothing the horse as he cantered back towards the paddock. Cheers greeted him as he made his way back into the paddock. He searched the crowd for her and had to hide his disappointment when he noticed that she was not there. He dismounted the horse and led it away to be curried down and cooled off. He automatically acknowledged the comments and compliments from the crowd, a frown on his face as Marie headed towards him.
“Darling you had my heart in my throat.” She said breathlessly as she came towards him and handed him a towel. “But you were wonderful out there. I am so proud of you.”
“Thanks,” his blue eyes scoured her face. “We need to talk.”
“Now?”
He looked around the area and saw that the crowd was slowly dispersing. It was almost eleven and he could feel the weariness descending. “Yes,” he gestured to Ben who came striding over. “Take care of things?”
“Of course.”
“Let’s go inside.” He took her arm and led her towards the ranch house. The sun had gone down but the heat was still very much alive. All he wanted to do as to take a bath and go and check in on her. She had been on his mind the entire time and he had to make sure she was okay.
*****
Sophie could not sleep. She had turned the TV off and was lying there in bed under the covers, but wide awake. She had got out of bed to try and get a glass of milk down into her stomach but had been afraid that she would bring it back up. So, she had drunk some tea instead. Now she was torturing herself by looking at the clock and wondering if they were already inside his bedroom. She could not hear anything from her side and was wondering if everything was finished for the night. Did he notice that she was gone? Did he even care? How was she going to handle her coming around the ranch and seeing them together? She had never been sophisticated, having been in only two relationships before. She tended to give her all and had been hurt twice before. That was when she decided to take a break and after her parents had died, she had not wanted to bother at all.
She shifted the covers off her and swung her legs off the bed. Her stomach felt empty and sore, but she wanted nothing to eat. Maybe a glass of water will help to soothe her stomach. She made her way to the bathroom to fill the glass and stood there drinking it until it was finished. She filled the glass again and drank it down before going back into the bedroom. She could not sleep. She had made the biggest mistake of her life and was paying for it!
Chapter 5
“I had the maid put your things into one of the other suites,” he indicated for her take a seat as he strode towards the liquor cabinet and pressed the button. “Would you like a glass of wine?”
“Cabernet.” She stared at him puzzled. “If you are thinking that you are going to disturb me when you get up?“
“It’s not that.” He handed her the glass and took his glass of scotch to stand by the large bay window. All the bedrooms faced the east to maximize the reflection from the sun as it rose and set. “I am ending things Marie.” He turned around just in time to see the cloud of anger and something else on her beautiful face. He took a swallow of his drink.
“Things have changed.”
“What things?” Marie put the glass down onto the table next to her.
“Personal things!” He did not elaborate. “I am sorry that I have led you to believe that there was a future!”
“You did not lead me to believe Hunter!” She told him, her eyes flashing. “You plainly told me that we were in a relationship and that relationship would lead to something permanent. I did not misread that. I overlooked the dalliance you had going on with the tramp in town. I understand that you are a man and you have certain needs….” She had risen to her feet and planted her hands on her hips. “I have overlooked all that because I knew that when we get together, all that would stop immediately!”
“I never promised you anything like that.” He told her quietly.
“It was implied!” She told him snappily. “It always was. We make a good team Hunter. Admittedly I had my doubts about this place, about living here in the first place because of how isolated it is. But I thought that we would come to a certain compromise. We would live half of the year in my home and the other half here….” She stopped and stared at him as he burst out laughing.
“What’s so amusing?”
“You! You thinking that I would ever leave the ranch.” He tossed back the drink and went to refill his glass. “This is my home and if the woman I end up with does not want to be here; then I certainly do not want to be with her. The ranch is my life Marie….!”
“Surely you can change your way of thinking if you were in love.” She pointed out.