“Bill’s always been good to Patrick and me.” He cleared his throat and stood, tossing his trash in a nearby can.
Just then Elaine popped in. “Hey, Mare, Patrick said he’s got a surprise for us. But you’ve got to change into jeans, okay?”
I tried to think of any reason to say no. Coming up with nothing, I shrugged. “Okay. Give me a second.”
She turned and disappeared the way she came, and Stuart was already heading out to the paddock where a young colt waited.
I followed him a few steps. “I hope you don’t feel like I’m ditching you.”
He only waved. “No way. You’re just here for the week. Have some fun.”
Something about the way he said it, so dismissive, made me want to cry, which was stupid. “See you later,” I said.
He nodded and went out the door. I exhaled, feeling my shoulders drop and started for the house.
* * *
We paused in running our horses to look across the prairie. It stretched on for miles with the mountains rising misty in the distance. Over it all, the clouds formed a strange-looking orange arch that made me feel uneasy.
“Are you sure it’s safe to be riding in this?” I shouted. My horse didn’t seem to want to stand still. “The wind’s so strong.”
“It never stops blowing out here, even when there’s no Chinook,” Patrick called back. “It’s like—have you ever been to west Texas or Oklahoma?” I shook my head. “On these flat open plains like this, nothing breaks it.”
“Still...” I couldn’t explain how I was antsy, while at the same time it was so warm and lovely.
“It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced.” Elaine’s eyes sparkled.
“Don’t worry. We’ll be fine,” Patrick said, turning the Palomino he rode. “Let’s head down to the lake. I’ve been wanting to show it to you.”
The last bit was said to Elaine, but I didn’t mind. We gave the dark-brown mares a flick, and set off after him at a fast gallop. Occasionally the wind would blow so hard, it felt like I might fly out of my saddle, but I laughed it off. Patrick had grown up coming here, and he loved Elaine. He wouldn’t put us in danger.
Over a small rise and down into a little valley was a dark pool with a few trees sprinkled along the banks. The lake was beautiful—a big black splotch in the middle of a sea of beige. We rode up and slid out of our saddles. I was actually a little sore from gripping the sides with my thighs. Patrick collected the reins and tied them loosely over a tree limb.
“Race you in!” He shouted, tossing his hat aside and whipping off his shirt to reveal a lined torso.
Elaine was right. The Knight brothers had a lot in common physically. His jeans were down in a flash, and I only caught a quick glimpse of black boxer-briefs before he did a cannonball off the pier. Elaine laughed, and without hesitation, she tossed her brown Stetson on Patrick’s pile of clothing.
“I love this guy,” she said, pulling off her shirt, so she was only in her black bra. Jeans off, I stood watching with my mouth open. “Don’t be a goose,” she said. “It’s more material than the bikini I wear.”
“I think I’ll keep my shirt on.” Shrugging out of my boots and jeans, I was glad I’d opted for a tunic top and ditched the thong in favor of boyshorts.
We ran along the wooden pier, our feet making staccato thumping noises. Patrick grinned at us from where he waited in the pool. A brief flight through the air, and then complete and total shock as we burst through the water.
I came up screaming. “It’s freezing!”
Elaine shrieked as well when her head broke through the lake. “Patrick! It’s like ice in here.”
She quickly swam to him and wrapped her body around his. I was shit out of luck.
“What did you expect?” He laughed, giving her a squeeze. “It’s late fall in Montana!”
“You almost gave me a heart attack!”
That made me laugh, even though I was shaking too. I swam around, pumping my arms to build up heat, but it wasn’t working. “I wish I’d brought a blanket.”
“It’s a relief after that dry wind, don’t you think?” Patrick’s arms were around Lainey, and she was practically fused to his body.
Nodding, I kicked and dove under, letting the frigid wetness soothe my parched skin. When I resurfaced, they were kissing. I turned my back and took a small mouthful of the water. It was icy and tasted like a penny. I spit it out and went under again, kicking to the other side. This time, when I reappeared, Elaine was behind Patrick, holding onto his neck.