Big Sky Eyes Page 3

“No? I find that hard to believe out here.”

  “People like to act like country folk are all mouth and no manner, but that’s not the case. Look at Bev. She’s tough as nails. The best there is, but she’d as soon die than offend somebody, especially someone she just met. There’s a lot of old-fashion left in the world of country women.”

  “Oh, great. Now, you’re really making me feel rotten.” She stared down at the ground. She looked up to Bev, and he had just used her as an example of what Mackenna was not.

  “Well, don’t. There was nothing wrong with what you said.”

  “Still, can’t we just go back to that first thing you said to me in the house and call a truce?”

  “I think we can do that,” he said and held out a hand for her to shake. “Truce?”

  She smiled and allowed her fingers to be swallowed by his palm. Beautifully calloused indeed. “Truce.”

  When Mackenna made to pull her hand away, he held her there in place. Neither of them said anything for a few seconds and she could feel the beat of her heart quicken.

  “Seriously, though,” he finally said as he peered into her eyes. “You don’t have to worry about Kelly.”

  “Thanks,” she whispered. He dropped her hand and his casual manner returned.

  “I mean, I’ll admit that she’s smokin’ hot, and I’m sure I’ll notice it every day, but there’s a bag full of reasons why I won’t go there. Number one, she’s a McCrae, so that’s off-limits. Number two, she’s not my type, and number three: we’ll be working together and work and play don’t mix.”

  The screen door smacked back into its frame behind them and they turned in response. Kelly stood on the porch, a coffee mug in her hands. Her curls were tied back into a ponytail where they tumbled down to the middle of her back. Her jeans were functional and stylish, clinging tightly to her curves. She wore a flannel similar to Mackenna’s, but she left hers unbuttoned down the front to billow around a tight white tank top. Her young, round breasts were full and firm. When she spotted them, she smiled and headed their way, gilded in the golden early morning light.

  Brent smiled and shook his head as he hummed appreciatively.

  “Yep,” he concluded. “I’m damn sure I’ll notice it every day.”

  Mackenna looked away and down at her own outfit. For the first time she felt every extra pound she had gained. All of a sudden, the roundness in her cheeks embarrassed her and she loathed to think how Brent viewed her when she stood next to Kelly. The silliness of her thoughts was not lost on her. Nobody was in Montana for romance, but she had never wanted anything as badly as she wanted to feel beautiful just then.

  Chapter 4

  A week before the first booked guests arrived the four wranglers worked from sun up to sundown, acquainting themselves with each of the horses and the trails of the mountains surrounding them, clearing the debris left by the winter. They cleaned, oiled and organized tack. They mucked stables and corrals, shod over thirty horses, de-wormed them and worked them. They spent time with each horse, assessing its spirit and response to commands. Pairing amateur riders with the right horse was crucial to the safety and success of the promised Slanted S experience.

  With the days so full there had not been much time for feeding her newfound friendship with Brent. True, words flowed more easily since their dawn conference, but they were limited to routine greetings and work-related communications. By the time the sun set they were all too hungry and exhausted to do anything but shovel food into their mouths, shower and pass out.

  By week’s end she could already feel her unworked muscles reviving and the achiness in her back and knees from twelve-hour days in the saddle began to subside. Despite their daily showers, their clothes and every scrape of bared skin were caked in a fine mauve powder of Montana dust. Mackenna found she liked the affects it had on Brent’s eyes, brightening them so intensely that she was sure they would have glowed in the dark.

  She watched him as he approached the round corral she was sitting upon. He folded his forearms and rested them casually on the wooden rail beside her, eyeing the six horses within. These were horses that needed the firm guidance of more experienced riders, and Kelly, Ty, Brent and Mackenna were each about to select their horse for the season.

  “Well, what do you think, Miss Mackenna?” Brent asked. “Which one appeals to you?”

  “Hmmm…” she mused. “I don’t know yet.”

  She appraised the stock as the horses revealed bits of their personalities and spirit. A thick and sculpted strawberry roan swished her white tail, roughly whipping the faces of any approaching animal. She neighed in frustration and stomped a heavy hoof into the ground as she waited impatiently near a trough for grain. Mackenna chuckled.

  Ty scrambled over the fence with a bridle slung over his shoulder. Kelly and Leslie joined Mackenna and sat on the top rail of the corral watching as Ty circled the animals and went straight for the roan. He stroked the horse’s neck and murmured softly as he inched the bit toward her mouth with the other hand. The horse was not distracted by his ministrations and snapped her white teeth toward his hand as it neared. Ty pulled his hand away just in time to avoid the bite.

  “Whoa!” he exclaimed as the onlookers laughed. “That was close.”

  He tried three more times, unsuccessfully. Suddenly, the mare turned and knocked him sideways with the side of her rump. As more laughter rose from the rails, Ty jumped onto the fence and leapt onto the stubborn horse’s bare back. She responded instantly by throwing her head and jumping around, kicking her back legs then her front. Ty went flying, landing stiffly on all fours. Brent was doubled over with laughter.

  “Well, I won’t be riding that girl,” Ty said with amusement as he wiped muddy hands on his jeans. “She’s made it clear she wants nothing to do with me!”

  “Yeah, she definitely seems like more of a pain than it’s worth,” Brent agreed.

  “I’ll take her,” Mackenna chimed cheerfully.

  “Yeah right,” Brent mocked.

  “I’m serious,” she said, effectively silencing all laughter. “I like a horse with spirit.”

  “Spirit is one thing,” Brent countered, “but aggressive enough to bite is not a good horse. She could be dangerous and not trustworthy on the trails.”

  “She’ll be fine,” Mackenna brushed, jumping into the corral and grabbing the bridle from Ty.

  “Mackenna, seriously,” Brent said tightly. “Knock it off.”

  “Shhh,” she said as she walked quietly to the mare, patting her flank as she approached. She ran her fingers lightly over the mare’s ears, stroking next down the velvety muzzle. She scratched the area around the horse’s nostrils as she spoke softly. “You’re okay, aren’t you girl? You’re going to be just fine.”

  She brought the metal bit up slowly, just as Ty had, and eased it toward the horse’s mouth. The mare instantly swung her head around to bash it into Mackenna’s, but Mackenna was too quick and ducked, feeling the swooshing air overhead. Brent was already scrambling over the wooden rails as he yelled at her to back away.

  She ignored him and instead used her left hand to grab the horse’s snout just above the nostrils and pinched, digging her fingertips into that soft, sensitive spot. The mare’s mouth flew open wide in reflex and Mackenna shoved the metal bit swiftly into the opening and let go of the horse, who promptly slammed her mouth shut over the metal.

  As she worked the straps up over the horse’s ears, she cooed softly and rubbed the long jowl affectionately. The horse ground her teeth together over the metal, lapping at the intrusion with her thick, pink tongue as the chin strap was belted. Brent stood rooted in the center of the corral, slack-jawed and silent. Mackenna shot him a humored look.

  “See? I told you she’d be fine.” She locked eyes with the mare. “Aren’t you, girl?”

  She used the fence to hoist her onto the animal’s back which was beautifully bowed to fit perfectly with her seat. She wrapped her thighs tightly around the sides of t
he mare’s belly and applied pressure with her knees. A few clicks of her tongue and the mare began to walk steadily where Mackenna led with the reins. The onlookers seemed impressed but Mackenna knew better than to think the beast so easily tamed.

  She kept her legs pressed into the animal’s sides in a show of dominance and readiness for whatever would come next. Sure enough, without warning the mare crouched her forelegs and shot her back legs out in a violent buck that nearly unseated Mackenna. She mustered every cord of muscle her legs owned to cling to the horse while yanking the reins up tightly, refusing the mare her head. If she couldn’t lower her front, she couldn’t raise her back.

  The horse switched tactics and began jumping erratically, raising all four legs off the ground and straining to free her head of Mackenna’s tight grip. Brent and the other horses scrambled out of the way as the thrashing pair fought their way around the paddock. Suddenly, she felt the tension in the reins slacken, giving her just enough time to react as the horse threw her head back toward Mackenna’s forehead. She leaned back and narrowly escaped what would have likely broken her nose. The dangerous show of defiance prompted her to put an end to the animal’s willfulness.

  “That’s enough,” she growled to the mare.

  She slid her hand down the left rein, squeezing the leather in her palm until it was near the horse’s mouth and she pulled with all of her strength until the horse’s head was facing her rear with her mouth just beside Mackenna’s knee. Mackenna then dug her spurs into the flanks, making the horse scramble in circles. A cloud of dust spiraled around them as she wound the horse round and round.

  When she finally pulled the horse to a stop, the mare stood still, panting and dizzy from the ordeal. Mackenna slowly slackened the reins, allowing the horse to return to a natural position. With her heart pounding in her throat and her own breaths coming in huffs, she waited to see if the horse was ready to yield, or if she would battle again. When neither horse or rider moved, she simply asked.

  “Are you done yet?”

  As if she understood, the horse released one long, gurgled sigh and whickered in mild protest. Mackenna eased her into another walk along the perimeter of the corral. The animal was subdued and let her head nod as she obeyed the commands of Mackenna’s legs, which led her into a steady trot. A gentle tug of the reins was all it took to stop the horse in mid-step. Mackenna smiled and leaned forward to pet the horse’s neck and withers. She looked up at Ty, who leaned casually against the rail with a soft smile.

  “What’s this girl’s name?” she asked him.

  “Sass,” he answered. Mackenna laughed and stroked the animal again.

  “Of course it is!” she exclaimed. She leaned forward to speak to Sass again. “Now, just to show you I’m not all-business and no fun…”

  She dug her spurs into the horse’s side and urged her at a run toward the wooden fence retaining them. The horse seemed to know her intention and quickened in excitement. She bounded over the railing with ease and to the sound of Mackenna’s exhilarated whoop, only to open her stride and race across the meadow, sprinkling the air with uprooted wildflowers as she went. Mackenna laughed into the wind as it drew water from her eyes.

  When they neared the tree line, she steered Sass in a wide circle in front of it until she turned her back toward the ranch. They slid to a stop in front of the corral and the applauding wranglers. Brent alone stood stone-faced and serious as she dismounted and threw her arms around Sass’s neck in a healthy show of affection. Sass returned the gesture with a quick rub of her muzzle on Mackenna’s plaid shirt before Mackenna released the burden of the bridle and allowed her to return to the pen.

  Kelly was laughing as she playfully punched Ty in the shoulder.

  “I’ll be taking that five bucks now, if you please,” she said. Mackenna feigned hurtful eyes at Ty.

  “You bet against me?” she pouted.

  “Not that you would tame the horse,” Ty clarified, “just the amount of time it would take. Kelly said five minutes. I said ten.”

  “Aaah, I see,” she responded.

  “That was freakin’ amazing, Mackenna,” Leslie said as she slid her arm around Ty’s waist. “I wish I was brave enough to do something like that bareback.”

  “Don’t encourage her!” Brent spat, interrupting the mood of good cheer and focusing his wrath on Mackenna. “This is not a game and these are not toys,” he said gesturing angrily toward the horses. “You’re damn lucky you didn’t break your stupid neck. I hope this is not the kind of fun you intend to have with the guests. You’re a lawsuit waiting to happen!”

  “Hey man, calm down,” Ty said defensively.

  As Brent began to argue with Ty, Mackenna narrowed her eyes and shouted “hey!” rendering them silent.

  “Number one,” she began to Brent. “Don’t ever call me stupid. Number two: I would never jeopardize or compromise the safety of a guest or one of Bev’s horses. And lastly, I would have never approached that horse if I were not one hundred percent sure I could handle her. So, tell me, exactly what is your problem?”

  “What you did was reckless and careless!” he returned.

  “No,” she corrected in a much calmer but firm voice. “What I did was fun and very much full of care. That’s why I didn’t go into the trees without a saddle. I know my own limits.”

  “Fun?” he nearly choked on the word. “These are work horses. They’re not for your own personal riding pleasure.”

  Mackenna laughed, pricking his temper even more. “You are so wrong,” she said, “and what’s more, you need to lighten up. Maybe if you actually had a little fun in your life you wouldn’t hate it so much.”

  “Stop making this about me,” he said.

  “How about I just stop this conversation completely?”

  With that she strode angrily past him, ignoring his red face and sputters. Kelly walked timidly past Brent in all his fury and then ran to catch up to Mackenna. She looped her arm around her friend’s and leaned in to speak.

  “What do you think that was all about?” Kelly asked.

  “I think that guy is way too full of himself,” she answered, still irritated. “Seriously, how did he become Ty’s best friend? He’s got zero personality. What a depressing stick in the mud!”

  Mackenna was too engrossed in her rant that she failed to notice that Brent was right on their heels. At her last declaration, he sped up and stormed past them without so much as a look. The girls stopped, Kelly with a gasp.

  “He heard you, Mackenna,” she breathed in horror.

  Guilt settled into her stomach like a stone and she winced.

  “Damn.”

  Chapter 5

  For a week Mackenna and Brent spoke only what needed to be spoken in the context of their work and in all ways possible avoided one another. She pitted her anger against her guilt at first, talking herself out of apologizing on more than one occasion, but it was not to be borne. She considered herself a generally happy person and could not bear the rot of negativity. While she felt justifiably angry at him for patronizing her, slinging insults was gratuitously hurtful and not her style.

  She couldn’t understand why the two of them laughed like old pals one minute and grated like sandpaper the next. She was generally well-liked and never had this much trouble befriending a person. And she had never, ever known someone so moody.

  The night before their first official day of work was spent in the usual tradition around a bonfire with plenty of live music, dancing, and chili with cornbread. Brent had indulged in three helpings of the meal and was sitting on the ground, his back against a bench while he stretched his legs out before him and laced his fingers behind his head.

  He watched several of the McCrae women and children do-se-do and clap to the sounds of plucking guitar strings and fiddles. Kelly flung her curls around and swayed her hips for his benefit, he knew. She laughed wildly and did everything to flatter herself and her features. She was good, he thought to himself, but it was th
e fact that she was good that put him off. She tried too hard, and that didn’t appeal to him. He didn’t like being pursued. He wanted to be the pursuer. He decided that he could appreciate her beauty without succumbing to it.

  Mackenna watched him eye her best friend and felt an unfamiliar sadness that she neither understood nor indulged. She had never begrudged Kelly her beauty or her male conquests and she wasn’t about to start now. The only thing she wanted from Brent was his friendship, she told herself, but even as she admired his relaxed profile from her place near the food table, the sudden rush of heat to her throat and cheeks told her it wasn’t altogether true.

  His hardness and his masculinity tugged at her physical awareness. Before then she’d only been surrounded by the middle-aged men of her father’s acquaintance and the scrawny pock-marked boys of high school. Here was a man in the middle and even when his words infuriated her she couldn’t stop herself from admiring the slight slant of his bright eyes when he narrowed them at her, the firm line of his jaw when he clenched his teeth, or even worse, the relaxed sensuality of his lips when he smiled.

  Everything about him spoke of a quiet and serious strength, yet she swore she detected a sadness masquerading as determined disinterest. She found herself wondering what events in his life made him the man he was. She filled two bowls with steaming apple cobbler and headed toward him to mend the damage she’d created. He looked up at her when she stood by his side. There was no hostility, only curiosity in his face.

  “What’s that?” he asked, nodding toward her hands. She reached a bowl down to him.

  “A peace offering,” she said meekly. He raised his eyebrows slightly.

  “Is there not peace between us?” he asked, somewhat confusedly.

  It was her turn to be confused. “Well…I…” she stammered. “I thought you were still mad at me for that day with Sass.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  She was stunned.

  “Well…you haven’t really spoken to me since, not that I would blame you. What I said was rude and unforgiveable, but you embarrassed me and scolded me like a child!”