Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 69468 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69468 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
“Sounds good.” I nodded before an image of Colt flashed in my brain. “Heck. I promised…Colt and Maverick dinner.”
“No worries.” Jude’s expression shuttered. “Another time.”
“Yeah.” I exhaled hard.
The invite wasn’t different from any other buddy asking me over. But tell that to my stomach, which wobbled. This trip Jude was proposing was a bad, bad idea because I seemed incapable of keeping Jude in the friend zone where he belonged.
Chapter Ten
Jude
Three days and two nights alone with Carson loomed large in my brain, and our trip was the only thing I could think about all week after Kat agreed to the plan to take Carson and the horses to Fort Collins. August heat in Colorado was nothing to mess with, so we’d decided to get a super-early start on Friday morning to avoid the worst of the heat and the tourist traffic. Accordingly, the sun had yet to make an appearance as Carson and I loaded up. I was borrowing an air-conditioned horse trailer from the ranch, and it slid onto the hitch of my new truck like a key in a lock, first try.
The truck’s hitch cam feature helped, but so did Carson, who directed my maneuvers with practiced ease. Working with him was like gaining a clone, one who knew what I needed even before I asked. Linus continued to be hard to lead, but Carson loaded both horses as if he’d been a cowboy for decades. Heck, I’d seen plenty of seasoned rodeo folk struggle with getting stubborn stock on a trailer, but Carson emerged from the trailer without a drop of sweat.
“All set.” He dusted off his hands on his jeans.
“Did you secure the leads?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yep. Everything’s good.” Seemingly not at all put out by the question, he gave me a smile before motioning at the trailer gate. “Double check?”
“Nah. I trust you.” I smiled back, warm awareness spreading through my chest because I did trust him.
Carson proven to be a more than capable assistant on my various visits to the ranch, unflappable even in the sight of needles or blood and able to calm the most anxious horses. He also had that military-honed attention to detail. If he said a job was done, it was done right.
Carson shifted from foot to foot, uncomfortable with praise as always. “Gotta grab my bag.”
He headed into the barn, where he’d dumped a backpack earlier, right as Kat came striding up from her trailer, which was located beyond the bunkhouse.
“You look ready to go.” She rolled her shoulders as she stifled a yawn.
“Yep. You’re up early, even for ranching time.” I chuckled. Casey likely wouldn’t have breakfast ready for another hour at least.
“Well, I wanted to see you off.” She patted my upper arm. “Thanks again for doing this. These two rescues have already wormed their way into my heart, especially Linus. I’m not ready to give up on him.”
“Me either.” I sighed because the universe often cared very little for my wishes. Fate could be cruel to the nicest of horses. Despite seeing my share of heartbreaking cases over the years, my stomach twisted at the thought of needing to make hard decisions where Linus was concerned. “Let’s see what the center finds.”
“Here’s hoping.” Kat’s dark eyebrows drew together, serious expression matching her solemn tone. “And thanks for taking Carson. Likely do him good to get off the ranch.”
“He’s hardly a chore. He’ll be a big help when I have to stop.” I didn’t care for the implication that being nice to Carson took extra effort, but I kept my voice light. “And I like the guy.”
Of course Carson chose that moment to reappear, undoubtedly hearing my comment about liking him. I’d meant like in the friendship sense, but my skin heated as if caught confessing a crush.
“Ready to roll.” Carson tossed his backpack into the rear seat, expression a little too carefully neutral, as if he were forcing the business-as-usual tone.
“Me too.” I smiled, hoping that might defuse the weirdness. “Let’s see how far we can get before breakfast.”
“Sounds good.” He climbed into the passenger seat as I said goodbye to Kat.
As we headed for the main road, I adjusted the camera feature so I could glance at the trailer.
“Tow mode sure is sweet.” Carson stretched in his seat, eyes sparkling.
“Gotta admit I’m enjoying the truck.” I chuckled because he knew he had me. As did Luna, who’d been lording it over me the past few weeks since I bought the truck. She had also been right that I’d been long overdue the upgrade. Making my rounds in the August heat was way more pleasurable these days. “Powerful AC. Nice stereo. Cameras. And it hauls well.”
“Not much sway.” Carson let out a yawn before gesturing at the console, where two travel mugs that I hadn’t noticed before waited. “Grabbed you some coffee.”