Ty: Contemporary Western Romance (New Horizon Ranch Mule Hollow Book 4) Read online

“And you nearly got yourself killed.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Ty Calder you know good and well that I can handle a horse. I’m not a novice.”

  “Under normal circumstances yes. This horse isn’t normal.” His forehead wrinkled over skeptical eyes. “How did you get it loaded?”

  Her jaw dropped at the insult. “I am not going to acknowledge you even asked me that.”

  He had the decency to look a bit embarrassed. “Look, I know you can handle a normal horse. This one’s not normal.”

  This was going nowhere but downhill. “You know what, forget it. I’ve got business to take care of.” She started to walk off and he grabbed her arm.

  “Wait a minute. I didn’t mean to insult you. What if I take him back with me for a few days and work with him? I might even buy him—”

  “No, I don’t need you buying a horse you clearly think is a junk.”

  “Hey, remember I was going to bid on Sinbad before they jacked the starting bid up and Huey jumped into the ring. Give me two weeks with him to settle him down at least. It’ll be a good challenge for me. Then you give me first dibs on him before taking him to auction.”

  She studied him. “Is there an auction the week of Christmas?”

  “A big one.”

  She wanted to tell him no. But, she knew when it came to training a horse Ty was one of the best. And she did have a bum knee. And Ty had a gift and if she really wanted to help her uncle and get top dollar for Sinbad then the only thing she could say was yes. “You’re sure you have time?”

  “I’ll make time for you and your uncle.”

  Her stomach knotted. So much for her plans to avoid Ty while she was home. “If you’re sure then I’ll say yes for Uncle Huey.”

  A flicker of a smile crossed his lips. After a second he nodded. “Then, let’s load him up and take him to my ranch.”

  This was not how she’d expected the morning to go. This entire trip home was not like she’d expected so far.

  Ty knew there was no way even he could get this horse into shape in two weeks. But he was confident enough in his abilities to know he could help at least teach it to be manageable. Which translated into safer for Mia and in better shape than it was now.

  All the way back to the ranch Ty tried to wrap his mind around the reality that Mia was here. She was injured, and though they hadn’t had time to get into that, he was curious about why she was wearing that brace and how long she wasn’t going to be competing.

  His life had changed since Mia had gone away and he’d kept his feelings for her locked away. He’d distanced himself from her more and more as time passed by using work as an excuse. He’d had to do it because every time he’d talked to her over the phone, he’d had to fight himself not to expose his feelings for her.

  But lately she’d been on his mind constantly.

  Pulling into the ranch entrance he tried to focus on one step at a time, getting the horse settled in a stall was first. Mia maneuvered her truck around and backed the long trailer in where he indicated. He watched her ease out of the truck and his heart clutched at the pain that briefly flashed over her face.

  “I’ve got this,” he said going to the back of the trailer where he carefully unloaded the temperamental horse. It took a few minutes but he got it in a stall and felt a little relief that Mia hadn’t tried to get in his way.

  “So, now what?” she asked once they were both standing outside the sturdy stall gate with Sinbad eyeing them from behind it.

  “Now, we give him the rest of the day to acclimate to this environment. I’ll start working with him tomorrow. You’re welcome to come out and watch. Or help some. But I’ll need control.”

  “I’ll be here. And I’ve already agreed to give you control for this two weeks.” She looked around the stable. “Nice.”

  Nice was an understatement.

  “Yeah, CC wasted no expense on his ranch.”

  “My uncle told me that you were one of five ranch hands to inherit the New Horizon Ranch from your boss.”

  “Yeah, CC shocked me and my partners when he left us his ranch. This beautiful place was his pride and joy.” The reality of this enormous gift still hadn’t completely registered in Ty’s mind. “CC hand-picked us to carry on his dream and to live our dreams here on the ranch.”

  CC had died of cancer and he’d given up his law practice not long after realizing he was more than likely going to lose his battle with the offensive disease and he’d come to live at the ranch full-time. He’d put a lot of faith into Ty, Maddie Rose, Rafe Masterson Chase Hartley and Dalton Borne. Ty was over the horse program on the ranch and took his position extremely seriously. He’d forever be grateful to CC. As would his partners.

  “I’m sure you’ll do him proud. You’ve always been the best that I’ve ever known with a horse. CC must have recognized that.”

  “I like to think so.” He didn’t mention the pressure he felt on his shoulders to build the program into one of the best in the state of Texas.

  He and Mia walked out into the sunshine, her limping slightly.

  “I need to go tell Uncle Huey about the change in plans. I’ll come tomorrow,” she said.

  “You don’t have to run off.”

  She was moving toward her truck and didn’t pause. “I’m not. I just feel like I need to get back to the ranch and let Uncle Huey know what’s going on.”

  “Mia,” he said as she got into the truck and he could tell by the nearly hidden grimace when she got in that her leg was hurting. He placed a hand on the door. “What happened with your leg?”

  She looked away and started the engine then looked across her shoulder at him. “Dog-gone ground doesn’t always give when I jump off my horse and run after a goat. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, sure.” Ty stepped back and closed the door then watched her pull away. The chill of the day had seemed to warm when she was around but now it seeped into him and as she disappeared out of sight he had the overwhelming urge to jump in his truck and race after her.

  Tension, tightened like a steal band in his chest. Watching her leave wasn’t something he could do again and he restrained from chasing her down only because he knew she’d return tomorrow. He had two weeks that he knew of and with her injury maybe he had a little more time. But right now two weeks was better than nothing.

  Chapter Three

  Mia made it back to her uncle’s ranch with her mind churning with thoughts of Ty. She’d known she would see him when she came home but she hadn’t expected it to be so soon. Truth was, she’d been putting it off for four years.

  And if she hadn’t been so road weary...and lonesome over the last few months she might have stayed away longer. But her injury and the feeling in her gut that her uncle needed her had made it impossible not to come home to Mule Hollow for the holidays.

  Once the desire to be a champion was all she’d lived for. But…she couldn’t say her heart was in it so deeply these last months.

  Her uncle was coming out of the barn when she pulled into the yard. He’d looked so stressed last night and again today. In his late sixties, he was average height with a comfortable pudge around his middle and thinning hair that was a mixture of gray and dark brown. He was a loner with a gruffness to him that had always intimidated her when he’d first come to live with her. She’d long since decided that the gruff exterior was a cover-up for shyness. Today he just looked distracted and stressed. More guilt piled onto her shoulders. She should have come home sooner.

  “Uncle Huey, are you feeling poorly?” She was certain now that something wasn’t right. He was withdrawn and though he’d always been quiet this was different.

  He halted with his hand on the railing of the steps to the porch. “I just have things on my mind. How did it go at the sale?”

  She hesitated, then told him what had happened. He didn’t even look like he was paying full attention to what she said. Instead, he kept looking toward the door as if he wanted to go inside.

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p; “Hon,” he said, calling her what he had called her for years. “Do what you want with the horse. The money from it will be yours anyway.” He hurried up the porch steps to the house.

  Mia didn’t like the sound of this. Was her uncle depressed? She limped after him. “Uncle Huey, are you okay? Seriously. You seem so unhappy. Can I help? I promise we’ll get as much money for Sinbad as possible.”

  He stopped on the porch, which needed some boards nailed down tighter and could use a new coat of paint. It struck her again that she had no idea what his financial situation was but from the look of things money was tight. All the more reason buying Sinbad for her as a gift made no sense. Mia had been winning enough to keep her dream alive on her own dime. The minute she couldn’t keep sponsors to help keep her afloat or win enough to pay her entry fees and gas and food then she’d always said she’d get a real job. But, though she wasn’t rolling in the dough, she was paying her own way.

  But she wasn’t helping Uncle Huey out with upkeep on the ranch. Should she have been? “Uncle Huey,” she said again, questioning as he was slow to answer her.

  “Everything is fine, Mia. Stop worrying. I’m just…” he looked sad momentarily then frowned. “Nothing. I’m just restless.”

  Restless…Mia understood that feeling since she’d been feeling restless for months. She let him go inside this time without badgering him. But no matter what her uncle said, something was wrong. But what?

  After Mia had left, Ty saddled up his ranch horse and rode out to the west pasture where they were doing a branding. As he loped across the pasture with thoughts of Mia and himself fighting for position over each other, he couldn’t help smiling at all the good times they’d had riding and roping together. She’d been a natural and had soaked up riding like a sponge. She’d had a right to get mad at him this afternoon when he’d insulted her horse abilities. But with a brace and a reckless horse he was justified in his worry and he was standing by that.

  “Hey, how did it go with the two colts?” Rafe Masterson asked as he rode up from where they’d gathered the cattle in the valley.

  “Went good. They brought a good price.” Since he’d left before the sale started he’d had to call the auction barn to find out what his colts had sold for.

  Chase Hartley studied him, his gaze narrowing. “What’s up? You look like you’ve got something on your mind.”

  Was it that evident? “An old friend was there who I haven’t seen in a while. I brought her horse home to the ranch to work with it a little. She nearly got herself hurt.”

  Dalton one of his other partners looked up from where he was tagging a calf. “You sure you didn’t bring it home because the owner might be pretty? I hear a little somethin’ in your tone I’m not used to.”

  Maddie their female partner, who seemed to bring balance to the group of men, was standing beside the calf. She stuffed her hands to her hips and studied him. “I detect something too. I hope I’m right.”

  “Y’all, it’s been a lot of years since I’ve seen Mia. We used to be really good friends. But we’re just friends. Her Uncle Huey Shaw, y’all know him, he bought this rank horse and it's pretty loco. I’m just going to give it a few manners so she can get her uncle at least what he paid for the overpriced gelding. If it acts like it could turn into a decent horse I’ll buy him for the ranch.”

  Maddie was grinning. “Wow. That’s more than I’ve heard you say in most entire weeks. What’s up with this?”

  She wasn’t the only one grinning from ear to ear–Chase, Rafe, and Dalton were all staring at him with grins.

  Dalton laughed. “I think you might have been rambling,” He stood up and let the calf free.

  “That’s what it sounded like to me,” Rafe agreed.

  Chase’s gaze dug deep. “Do you like this gal?”

  “Now y’all,” Ty warned, not comfortable at all with their scrutiny. “Just hold on. I came out here to work. Not have the four of you to be gettin’ ideas. Or anyone else for that matter.”

  All of them were fairly new to being married and despite that being part of what had made him start having a harder time of ignoring the longing for Mia in his life, he didn’t want them getting into his business. He’d handle this in his own time. Having brought Sinbad here might have been a wrong move on his part. Maybe he should have said he’d come to Mia’s place and do the training. That was still a possibility.

  “Alright already,” Rafe chuckled. “Don’t get all hot around the collar. Let’s finish up here everyone so we can be on time for supper.”

  “Now that’s the most logical thing I’ve heard since I rode up here,” Ty said and headed off to do his part in rounding up the cattle for inspection and tagging.

  But as he rode off his thoughts stayed on Mia and the situation he was now in.

  Truth was, he was no lady’s man. He was rough around the edges and short on words normally. So how was he supposed to not make a complete mess of wooing her?

  Wooing…had he really just used that term?

  He was in big trouble. He was in way over his head.

  Mia tossed and turned that night as she slept. Her dreams were a mixture of confusion as her dreams intertwined with reality…she fought deep sleep, struggling not to give into the pull of the dreams of Ty. But she lost and found herself lost in the dream of arriving home for the first time and seeing Ty again after being away for so long…only this dream was a lot different than what had happened today…

  …her nerves rattled and her heart pounded as she pulled her truck to a halt. Ahead of her in the arena was Ty. He was working with a beautiful colt, but it was Ty that her eyes locked on. Butterflies erupted in the pit of her stomach as she exited the truck, heart racing.

  Ty turned toward her and her pulse exploded when his dove gray eyes met hers. She’d always loved his serious, thoughtful eyes. She lifted her hand in a small wave and laughed as shock registered on his handsome, dear face. This was what she wanted.

  “Mia,” he called in disbelief. He dropped the lead rope and strode toward the fence. He didn’t bother walking down to the gate, instead, he climbed to the top of the metal arena and then hopped from the top to the dusty earth. He was so agile as he moved toward her with purpose in each stride. He wore a soft black tee-shirt that showed his firm chest and lean waist, and strong arms honed from continuously working with horses. His chaps hung low on his hips and as he moved her way the fringe danced happily with each step.

  She started toward him, biting her lip as she went…when they were five feet apart she would have catapulted herself into his arms but held back. Even in sleep she understood the turmoil holding her back from exposing her feelings. He pulled her into the security of his arms.

  “You’re home,” he said, his voice gruff against her ear.

  A shiver of awareness moved through Mia and she sighed. Home. Yes.

  Ty held her like that for a long moment and Mia could hardly breathe as she savored the feel of him. The lonesome, longing she’d had for this nearly undid her. Her arms went around him and for the briefest of moments she let herself imagine that this was the hug of a man who loved a woman.

  It was bliss—

  Mia woke at that. Even her subconscious understood self-preservation–thank goodness.

  Wide awake and thankful to see the faint pink of daylight peeking through her curtains Mia got out of bed and dressed. She intentionally pushed away thoughts of the dream. But it lay there in her heart–a constant reminder of what she hoped for. Of what she feared she could never have. There was no way she’d expose her desire to take their relationship into the realm of romance…of love. For one, Ty had distanced himself from her over the last few years while she was away and she’d been angry at him. She’d say she’d been hurt but she hated how that made her feel weak…to allow a man to hurt her was unthinkable. She’d tried to keep her heart closed off from the pain of letting anyone get close to her. Her heart had locked up on her when she’d lost her parents.

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sp; But lately, these dreams and longing for Ty had been driving her to distraction.

  She glanced into the office and Uncle Huey looked up from his computer. “Good morning,” he said, sounding a lot livelier than he had the last two days.

  “Good morning to you. You’re looking chipper this morning.”

  He grinned and her heart surged with love for the man who’d stepped in when she’d most needed someone. He’d given up his life in Waco to come take care of her and she’d never heard him complain at all.

  “I’m sorry, I’ve been a little distracted. But today’s going to be a great day.”

  She laughed, delighted by his enthusiasm. “Is something happening I should know about?”

  His eyes twinkled. “It’s a surprise. Later today.”

  “Okay,” she said and had to struggle to hold her curiosity back. He was happy and she didn’t want to push too hard. “I’m heading over to see Sinbad. Should I be back at any certain time today?”

  “Will you be back by mid-afternoon?”

  “Sure. Any time you need me.”

  He looked totally mischievous. “That’ll be alright.”

  She nodded. “Alrighty then, I’ll see you around two or so.”

  What was her uncle up to? Mia tried to come up with what his surprise could be but she was at a complete loss as she slowed at the entrance of the New Horizon Ranch. Thoughts of the dream took over at that point. This, she reminded herself this was not her dream. Several trucks of cowboys pulling trailers behind them tuned onto the blacktop and headed down the road. Dust still lingered on the drive as she drove past the gorgeous Austin-stone home on the right and then across the large rock parking area between all the barns, arenas and stables. This was a large operation and unlike her uncle's place there was plenty of money to maintain the property and buildings. Ty was really all she had eyes for though. She spotted him instantly, drawn to him as he stood in the center of the arena. Just like in her dream…

  Butterflies went wild in her stomach and intense heat burned her cheeks as she got out of the truck, wincing at the pain that shot through her knee.