Read Online Purebred by Patricia Rosemoor - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Patricia Rosemoor
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Bradley brought in yesterday. How about getting something to eat in about a half hour and then taking a trail ride?”
Hesitant at spending so much time alone with her—he hadn’t forgotten what had almost happened between them the night before—he said, “We could do it another day when you’ve had more rest.”
Color flooded her face, but she didn’t back down. “Being on horseback is the ideal way to familiarize yourself with the property and surroundings.”
“Good point. If you are certain—”
“Positive. We’re almost through here.”
“Take her up on the offer,” the vet said. “This is the most beautiful time of the year to explore on horseback.”
“Well, then, on horseback it is.”
An hour later, they set off together on two of Cat’s geldings—her on a chestnut, him on a bay—Cat’s dogs accompanying them.
Already a little homesick, Aidan couldn’t help but admire the natural beauty of the land, the pristine condition of the pastures, as they rode along the far fence. “’Tis a beautiful place you have here.”
“Thanks, but you have to give my parents the credit. They turned the old Clarke family farm into the breeding facility that Clarke Acres is today. I didn’t have a thing to do with it. All that work went into the place before I was even a sparkle in Mom’s eye. When Dad retired, they simply handed over the reins to me.”
“But you maintain their work in a grand manner. They must be very proud of you.”
“I like to think so. I love this place and never want to be anywhere else. I know how Dad feels, how much he misses doing the work. I see it in his face every time my parents visit.”
Aidan wished his parents were equally interested in what he and his brothers did. They’d started in the racing game despite their father’s very vocal disapproval. The McKennas had always owned land and horses, but for pleasure riding only. Their parents would have had their three sons all be professional men—meaning working in offices that would have choked their spirits. For their own good, of course. Aidan knew his parents loved all three of their sons even if they didn’t understand them.
He and Cashel and Tiernan had spent their boyhoods plotting and planning. Even then they’d known they’d wanted to be horsemen.
Suddenly Cat stopped her horse and dismounted.
“Is something wrong?”
“Just turning off the electric fence so the dogs can come off the property. I’m going to take you on the forest preserve trails—they start only a few minutes’ ride from here.”
“Lovely,” he said, meaning her as well as the anticipation of an unexpected adventure.
The way she looked…the way she moved…the way she kissed with such passion…
Guilt licked at him. How could he be so attracted to another lass when he hadn’t forgotten Pegeen? Not that he wanted to forget her. Or replace her.
Still, no harm in looking. Or admiring. As long as that was all it was…
“Okay,” Cat said, “we’re good to go.”
The dogs, undoubtedly ecstatic to be off the more familiar property into new territory, led the way.
“I haven’t been out here for more than a month,” Cat said. “The spring rains have done their job. Everything is so lush now.”
They followed a line of trees marking the end of Clarke Acres property at an easy lope, going from open pastureland to forest within a few minutes. The dogs zigzagged back and forth, alternately exploring and checking on the humans. Eventually, the riding path split. Cat took the one where the land sloped and twisted and turned. They slowed the horses to a walk and traversed the narrow path above a ravine and the creek beyond.
Aidan noted they hadn’t seen another soul.
A short while later, Cat took him off the trail into a thickly forested area, where the horses carefully picked their way between trees until they came into a little clearing with a fire pit and downed trees as seating. They were directly above the creek. The
Hesitant at spending so much time alone with her—he hadn’t forgotten what had almost happened between them the night before—he said, “We could do it another day when you’ve had more rest.”
Color flooded her face, but she didn’t back down. “Being on horseback is the ideal way to familiarize yourself with the property and surroundings.”
“Good point. If you are certain—”
“Positive. We’re almost through here.”
“Take her up on the offer,” the vet said. “This is the most beautiful time of the year to explore on horseback.”
“Well, then, on horseback it is.”
An hour later, they set off together on two of Cat’s geldings—her on a chestnut, him on a bay—Cat’s dogs accompanying them.
Already a little homesick, Aidan couldn’t help but admire the natural beauty of the land, the pristine condition of the pastures, as they rode along the far fence. “’Tis a beautiful place you have here.”
“Thanks, but you have to give my parents the credit. They turned the old Clarke family farm into the breeding facility that Clarke Acres is today. I didn’t have a thing to do with it. All that work went into the place before I was even a sparkle in Mom’s eye. When Dad retired, they simply handed over the reins to me.”
“But you maintain their work in a grand manner. They must be very proud of you.”
“I like to think so. I love this place and never want to be anywhere else. I know how Dad feels, how much he misses doing the work. I see it in his face every time my parents visit.”
Aidan wished his parents were equally interested in what he and his brothers did. They’d started in the racing game despite their father’s very vocal disapproval. The McKennas had always owned land and horses, but for pleasure riding only. Their parents would have had their three sons all be professional men—meaning working in offices that would have choked their spirits. For their own good, of course. Aidan knew his parents loved all three of their sons even if they didn’t understand them.
He and Cashel and Tiernan had spent their boyhoods plotting and planning. Even then they’d known they’d wanted to be horsemen.
Suddenly Cat stopped her horse and dismounted.
“Is something wrong?”
“Just turning off the electric fence so the dogs can come off the property. I’m going to take you on the forest preserve trails—they start only a few minutes’ ride from here.”
“Lovely,” he said, meaning her as well as the anticipation of an unexpected adventure.
The way she looked…the way she moved…the way she kissed with such passion…
Guilt licked at him. How could he be so attracted to another lass when he hadn’t forgotten Pegeen? Not that he wanted to forget her. Or replace her.
Still, no harm in looking. Or admiring. As long as that was all it was…
“Okay,” Cat said, “we’re good to go.”
The dogs, undoubtedly ecstatic to be off the more familiar property into new territory, led the way.
“I haven’t been out here for more than a month,” Cat said. “The spring rains have done their job. Everything is so lush now.”
They followed a line of trees marking the end of Clarke Acres property at an easy lope, going from open pastureland to forest within a few minutes. The dogs zigzagged back and forth, alternately exploring and checking on the humans. Eventually, the riding path split. Cat took the one where the land sloped and twisted and turned. They slowed the horses to a walk and traversed the narrow path above a ravine and the creek beyond.
Aidan noted they hadn’t seen another soul.
A short while later, Cat took him off the trail into a thickly forested area, where the horses carefully picked their way between trees until they came into a little clearing with a fire pit and downed trees as seating. They were directly above the creek. The
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