Faithful (Whiskey Run 1)

Her gaze holds such intensity, it’s almost vibrating off her. “I do like it, Austin. I like it when you call me sugar, honey, baby, all of it. But I don’t want to be hurt by you, and even though we just met, I know you could destroy me.”

“But I’m not going to.”

She looks as if she may argue with me, but she stops. “Forget it.”

“No, obviously this is something we need to talk about.”

She nods. “Yeah, we probably should. But not now. Not when you feel the way you do. Let’s just sit here and enjoy the movie and rest.”

I put my arm around her shoulder and bring her into my side. Luckily, she doesn’t stiffen. She melts against me, and I lean my chin against her head. We watch television for I don’t know how long before I can feel my eyes getting really heavy. With her heat against me, I fall into the best sleep I’ve had in a long time.

5

Millie

I fell asleep. It’s morning, but the sun hasn’t come up yet. I’m tucked against Austin, his arm around my waist as we lie with my back to his front. I can feel the steady rhythm of his breathing all around me, and I bask in the safety I feel in his arms. It would be way too easy to get used to this.

I slide from his arms and onto the floor. On my knees, I look at him. Me getting up didn’t even faze him. He’s still sleeping. I look at the soft expression on his face, and I’m glad to see that he was able to sleep so well.

I tiptoe out of the room. Luckily, I have some things in the truck, so I go and grab them and freshen up. When I come out of the bathroom, Carrie is in the kitchen. She’s cooking breakfast, and I debate on whether I should leave or not. “I got a late start this morning. Breakfast will be ready in a little while.”

“Oh, I think I’m going to head out—"

But before I can even finish, she points the spatula she’s holding at me. “Don’t think you can just leave while he’s sleeping, honey. Knowing him, he’d just drive into town and follow you, and he’s not supposed to be driving for a week.”

“Okay, do you think he’d mind if I walked around the ranch? It’s so beautiful, I’d love to see it at sunrise.”

“He wouldn’t mind. Just stick close to the barn.”

I nod and head out the front door. There’s already a number of people out, and it looks like they are feeding the animals. I walk around, taking in the horses whinnying, the talking and laughter of the men as they work, and the hay being thrown from the hay loft. I take a deep breath, and the smell of dust, dirt, and horse hide fills the air around me. I couldn’t stop the smile that overcomes me if I wanted to. My family’s ranch and this one may be very different, but the feel and smells are the same.

I walk over to the corral and see the lone horse trotting around. She whinnies every now and then. I cluck my tongue, and the horse freezes. She holds steady and very slowly swings her head toward me. She twists and turns her head before slowly walking toward me. When she gets close enough to the fence, I climb up and sit on the edge with my hand held out. She breathes in my scent and moves closer, rubbing her head along my jean-clad thigh. I walk down the side of the fence and land in the dirt with my hand still on her velvet hide.

Running my hand along her mane, I ask her, “How are you doing, pretty girl? Why are you out here by yourself?”

I hear an intake of breath behind me, and I turn, expecting to see Austin but instead, Carter the foreman is standing there staring at me with his mouth hanging open.

The horse instantly starts to back up, and I start cooing to her to settle her. With one hand on her bridle, I stroke her nose with the other, all the time talking to her in a low encouraging voice.

“Well, I’ll be damned.”

“What was that, Carter?”

“Uh, sorry, ma’am. It’s just no one on the ranch has been able to do anything with her since Austin saved her from the slaughterhouse. Each day we get a little step closer, but she about bit the man that put the bridle on her this morning. She’s the one that threw Austin, too.”

“What? But you’re so sweet,” I tell the horse, instead of answering Carter.

He snorts behind me.

“Can I ride her?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Austin probably wouldn’t be happy about it.”

I look at him pleadingly. “Carter, I was raised on a ranch. I know about horses, and this one wants to go on a run. Just around the corral.”