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Authors: Amanda Renee
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waited in the truck, shaken and scared. She thought
it would be like putting a dog in a kennel. Even though the horse was twenty
times the size.
Jesse opened the door to the truck and climbed in the driver’s
seat.
“Are you okay? I didn’t mean to—”
Throwing herself into his arms, clinging to him for dear life,
Miranda knew he was the enemy and she shouldn’t need him. But for the moment,
all that mattered was the safety of his embrace.
Surprisingly, it felt like the most natural thing in the
world.
* * *
“S HH . I T ’ S OKAY . E VERYTHING ’ S okay.”
Jesse enjoyed the feel of her against him. The way she fit
perfectly in his arms. He didn’t mean to yell at her the way he did. When
Hawkeye had almost crushed her, every ounce of his soul screamed to protect her.
She moved closer and Jesse fought the tremendous urge to lift her face to his
and kiss away her fears.
Miranda released herself from him. Color rose high in her
cheeks.
“I’m sorry.” She hid her embarrassment by looking out the side
window.
“So am I.”
In more than one way.
Miranda continued to stare out the window without so much as a
word. Since no major highway ran from Ramblewood to Albany, they took the back
roads through the Hill Country. Unsure of how to ease the tension, Jesse pointed
out numerous local points of interest he thought would appeal to her in each
town. Miranda was childlike in her enthusiasm over different landmarks they
passed.
“What do FM and RM mean on the road signs?”
Jesse laughed. He never paid much attention to it before. It
was second nature to him.
“Farm-to-Market and Ranch-to-Market,” Jesse said, all too
willing to give her a little lesson in Texas 101. “FM roads provide access to
the rural parts of the state. You’ll see RM roads when the number of ranches
outnumbers farms. It goes back to old days where farmers and ranchers brought
their crops and stock to market.”
“That’s neat,” Miranda said.
Over the course of the next few hours, Miranda showered him
with questions about the history of Texas. He had to admit, he loved every
minute of it. She seemed genuinely eager to learn all he had to teach her. He
couldn’t help but admire her enthusiasm but he had to keep reminding himself
this wasn’t a date. She was the biggest adversary he ever had. The ranch swung
in the balance.
They stopped for breakfast at a small roadside
hole-in-the-wall. This time, Miranda ordered pancakes and sausage without any
prodding from him. If the look on her face was any indication, she enjoyed every
mouthful.
“Tell me more about this guy we’re going to see.”
“Blueford is an old friend,” Jesse said as he took the last
bite of his biscuit and gravy. “He owns the largest ranch in Shackleford County.
I’ve trained every cutting horse he owns.”
“Impressive.” Miranda leaned forward. “How long does it take to
train a horse?”
“Depends. Some take longer than others do. On average, eighteen
months. You can only train a horse for a couple of hours a day. I like to start
them when they’re two and a half or three years old.”
Jesse explained how training began on each horse. He was taken
aback by Miranda’s interest in his work. He didn’t get much of an opportunity to
share his passion, outside of his family. With the exception of Cole, ever since
he turned down his father’s last offer to join his brothers at Bridle Dance, he
didn’t see much of them on a social basis. Truth be told, he felt a little
lonesome.
His father was as willful as he was. They both knew it and even
acknowledged it on occasion, but it didn’t mean either one of them would back
down. Joe Langtry wanted Jesse to run the Bridle Dance Ranch alongside his
brothers. He envisioned all his sons raising their families on the ranch. Now
that the four Langtry boys were getting older, Joe latched on to that idea even
more.
Miranda continued her Texas inquisition throughout most of
their trip, not leaving
it would be like putting a dog in a kennel. Even though the horse was twenty
times the size.
Jesse opened the door to the truck and climbed in the driver’s
seat.
“Are you okay? I didn’t mean to—”
Throwing herself into his arms, clinging to him for dear life,
Miranda knew he was the enemy and she shouldn’t need him. But for the moment,
all that mattered was the safety of his embrace.
Surprisingly, it felt like the most natural thing in the
world.
* * *
“S HH . I T ’ S OKAY . E VERYTHING ’ S okay.”
Jesse enjoyed the feel of her against him. The way she fit
perfectly in his arms. He didn’t mean to yell at her the way he did. When
Hawkeye had almost crushed her, every ounce of his soul screamed to protect her.
She moved closer and Jesse fought the tremendous urge to lift her face to his
and kiss away her fears.
Miranda released herself from him. Color rose high in her
cheeks.
“I’m sorry.” She hid her embarrassment by looking out the side
window.
“So am I.”
In more than one way.
Miranda continued to stare out the window without so much as a
word. Since no major highway ran from Ramblewood to Albany, they took the back
roads through the Hill Country. Unsure of how to ease the tension, Jesse pointed
out numerous local points of interest he thought would appeal to her in each
town. Miranda was childlike in her enthusiasm over different landmarks they
passed.
“What do FM and RM mean on the road signs?”
Jesse laughed. He never paid much attention to it before. It
was second nature to him.
“Farm-to-Market and Ranch-to-Market,” Jesse said, all too
willing to give her a little lesson in Texas 101. “FM roads provide access to
the rural parts of the state. You’ll see RM roads when the number of ranches
outnumbers farms. It goes back to old days where farmers and ranchers brought
their crops and stock to market.”
“That’s neat,” Miranda said.
Over the course of the next few hours, Miranda showered him
with questions about the history of Texas. He had to admit, he loved every
minute of it. She seemed genuinely eager to learn all he had to teach her. He
couldn’t help but admire her enthusiasm but he had to keep reminding himself
this wasn’t a date. She was the biggest adversary he ever had. The ranch swung
in the balance.
They stopped for breakfast at a small roadside
hole-in-the-wall. This time, Miranda ordered pancakes and sausage without any
prodding from him. If the look on her face was any indication, she enjoyed every
mouthful.
“Tell me more about this guy we’re going to see.”
“Blueford is an old friend,” Jesse said as he took the last
bite of his biscuit and gravy. “He owns the largest ranch in Shackleford County.
I’ve trained every cutting horse he owns.”
“Impressive.” Miranda leaned forward. “How long does it take to
train a horse?”
“Depends. Some take longer than others do. On average, eighteen
months. You can only train a horse for a couple of hours a day. I like to start
them when they’re two and a half or three years old.”
Jesse explained how training began on each horse. He was taken
aback by Miranda’s interest in his work. He didn’t get much of an opportunity to
share his passion, outside of his family. With the exception of Cole, ever since
he turned down his father’s last offer to join his brothers at Bridle Dance, he
didn’t see much of them on a social basis. Truth be told, he felt a little
lonesome.
His father was as willful as he was. They both knew it and even
acknowledged it on occasion, but it didn’t mean either one of them would back
down. Joe Langtry wanted Jesse to run the Bridle Dance Ranch alongside his
brothers. He envisioned all his sons raising their families on the ranch. Now
that the four Langtry boys were getting older, Joe latched on to that idea even
more.
Miranda continued her Texas inquisition throughout most of
their trip, not leaving
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