Page 21 of October’s Cowboy Beau

“I’m leaving it here,” she said. “You can relax.”

“I was relaxed.”

“You were looking at it like you expected it to explode.”

“That’s only because I’ve seen you use it.”

I’d spent the whole day fixing fence in the north pasture, and the physical labor hadn’t done a thing to help me forget how she’d felt tucked against me with her hands in my jacket yesterday.

The sun was already dropping toward the ridge. Less than two weeks from now, the staging area would be full of people and trailers. Tonight it was only paint on the dirt and the fence line she’d had moved after our walkthrough, quiet enough that I could hear Hank shifting in the trailer behind me.

She was in jeans and a rust-colored jacket. The color suited her, but I wasn’t dumb enough to say so. Whatever had happened between us yesterday had a deadline to it. I’d be smart to keep that at the forefront of my brain.

“I also brought you a paper copy of the route.” She smiled as I opened the trailer. “Apparently I’m very accommodating.”

“Careful, or I might start to get worried.”

She unfolded the map while I brought Hank down the ramp. She’d already widened the turn and moved the spectators to the other side of the arena.

“I talked to Orville about keeping this whole side clear,” she said while I tied Hank to the trailer. “No vehicles, no vendor trailers, no volunteers turning it into a convenient shortcut. Just parade staff and whoever you approve around the horses.”

“That’ll work.”

Her eyes came up from the page. “Just like that?”

“You changed what needed changing.”

She folded the map into her jacket pocket. “Wow. I’m going to enjoy this rare moment of approval.”

I brought Gus out and started harnessing the horses. Caroline stayed close without getting in the way, and I didn’t have to keep track of her around the team anymore. That left me too much time to notice the strand of hair the wind kept blowing across her cheek.

I’d kissed her yesterday because I wanted to, and she’d kissed me back. I should’ve been able to leave it there. I couldn’t.

“You’re staring,” she said without looking up.

“I’m working.”

“So am I.”

I tightened Hank’s collar. “Then we’re both busy.”

She looked over, and her face said she knew exactly what I’d been doing. She didn’t call me on it, which was worse.

Once the team was harnessed, I backed them into position at the wagon and hooked up the traces. I’d hauled it over on the flatbed after lunch. It would stay in the equipment shed at the grounds until the festival. Next to the new trailers and fencing it looked out of place, but it had been working in Mustang Mountain way before anybody had even considered rodeo grounds.

Caroline ran her gaze over it. “I still think we need something about its history at the festival.”

“You said that already.”

“And you told me you’d think about it.”

“I am.”

“That’s encouraging.”

I climbed onto the seat and gathered the lines. Caroline stayed on the ground, looking toward her SUV.

“Are you coming?”