Little Red's Riding (Seven Ways to Sin 4)

She shrugged. “He asked me to leave. Said this was his rodeo and that my grandmother was trying to shut it down. How do you know my name, Wyatt?”

I looked at the ground, shrugged, and kicked the toe of my boot at some loose dirt. I suddenly felt silly. I’d recognized her, but she hadn’t recognized me. I didn’t want to come off like an obsessive, and I didn’t want to admit that I was usually the guy finishing a pace or two after her. Finally, I told the truth (or part of it). “I used to work at Magnolia Stables.”

“Oh.” The suspicious, worried expression on her face had softened a bit.

I was about to make a joke: that it wasn’t a surprise she didn’t recognize me because when we were racing, I was always behind her, but Wolf started barking again. “Go on. Get, you lousy meddler.”

I turned to him to shout back, but he was already heading off—probably to bark orders at some poor stableboy.

“Jeeze, I was just having a look,” she said under her breath.

I swatted the air. “Forget about Wolf. He talks like that to everybody.”

We walked side by side down the lane. I motioned to the basket she was carrying. “Whatcha got, there?”

“Oh, their treats for Gran, for my grandmother.” She furrowed her brow. “Wolf said my grandmother was trying to shut down the rodeo. What’s that about? Gran loves the rodeo.”

“Your grandmother’s Blanchette Davis?”

She nodded. “Uh, huh.”

“She says the animals aren’t treated right.”

“Really!?” She looked at me wide-eyed.

I put my hands in the air and lifted my shoulders. “That’s what she says. I haven’t seen anything like that myself. Of course, I’ve only been here three days.”

Ruby looked down at the ground thoughtfully. “I hope that isn’t true.”

“It’s just what I’ve heard.” I hopped off the lane and ran over to the edge of the pen where a patch of pink yarrow had sprouted around one of the posts. I plucked a few and ran back to her.

“I heard word that she’s not been feeling too well, your grandmother.”

She nodded.

I handed her the yarrow. “Would you give these to her?”

“Ah, they’re lovely. Thank you, Wyatt.”

“You can tell her they’re from the boys down at the rodeo. We don’t want to harm any animals. If I see anything, I’ll be sure to let her know.” I added almost as a question, “Or let you know.”

She didn’t seem to get the hint. She simply tucked the yarrow in her basket, and we walked the rest of the lane in silence.

“Well, it was nice meeting you, Wyatt.”

I chuckled. “You don’t recognize me then, do you?”

She tilted her head to the side and studied my face a moment with a creased brow. “No, I don’t. I’m sorry.”

I smiled and shook my head. “That’s okay. It was a long time ago.”

She lifted her basket. “Thanks again for the flowers.”

“Don’t mention it.” I tipped my hat to her. “You take care now, Ruby. And send my best to Mayor Blanchette, will you?”

“Will do,” she said. She flashed me a smile that had the fringes on my chaps stand up then she turned and headed down the road.

5

Ruby

I was sticking to the road like my mother had told me to. The ranch was far behind me now, out of sight, but I still heard the occasional patter of hammers. I was anxious to get to Gran’s and ask her about the rumor Wyatt shared about her trying to shut down the rodeo.

I shifted the basket from one hand to the other then stole another peek at the flowers Wyatt had picked.

Wyatt, Wyatt, Wyatt. Where have I met you before?

He hadn’t looked familiar, though he did say it was a long time ago. He must have been one of those homely kids who unexpectedly blossoms into a tasty catch. Deep-brown eyes, chiseled jawline, tan skin: unless he had materialized from one of my dreams, I couldn’t for the life of me place him.

I took the flowers out and gave them a whiff. They smelled like flowers. What was I expecting, leather, sweat, and whiskey transferred from my right-out-of-my dreams cowboy?

I put the flowers back in the basket.

Silly girl.

Gran’s house, on the edge of the forest, I had forgotten how far away it was from home. By the time I arrived my legs ached, and I was ready to pass out on the couch.

“Look at you, sweet Ruby!” Gran greeted me with a big hug and a kiss. “Your mother phoned and said you were on your way. That was nearly two hours ago. I was getting worried.”

“Not to worry, Gran. It’s a long walk, you know?”

She cocked her head to the side and looked at me out of the corners of her eyes. “It’s not that long of a walk.”

I handed her the basket. “Mom and I baked you some cookies!”