I walk between the lines of stalls and notice the calves, a couple of sweet little runts probably rejected by their mamas who needed bottle feeding. They look almost old enough to be introduced back into the herd, maybe past that time.
And judging by the state of these stalls, I can see why Casey needs help.
I see a flash of flannel at the end of the row of stalls. It’s Casey.
“You’re late.”
She swings open a stall door, lifting a freshly polished saddle off the ledge and disappearing into the stall.
I arrived at precisely five a.m. and was told to eat breakfast, which took a minute. But I don’t correct her.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been bossed around on a ranch, but from what I remember, it’s best to just keep my head down and work.
“Sorry.”
I approach the stall where she’s saddling a brown quarter horse, and the sight of her makes me catch my breath. Casey wears an unbuttoned red plaid shirt, hanging loose over a white tank top cut low across her breasts. I shouldn’t be staring at them, especially while I feel her glaring at me.
Her jeans are fitted but not as fuck-me tight as the dark blues she wore last night. They hug her curvy thighs just enough to make me instantly hard at seeing them.
Work gear, date-night outfits, naked—this woman could make me stiff no matter what. Great, now I’m picturing her naked.
I turn away to adjust myself and pray she can’t tell something is stirring in my drawers.
“Nice looking horses,” I say.
She smiles proudly. “This here’s Mary. That one’s Mr. Grant.” She nods toward the stall to my left.
“I guess I’m riding Mr. Grant today.”
She scoffs. “No, pretty boy.”
Casey breezes past me and reaches for a shovel propped up against the wall between the two compartments. “After letting them out to graze, you can clean the stalls. Fresh straw is in the wagon outside.”
“Okay,” I reply, doing my best not to appear annoyed.
I have no problem mucking out a barn, but I am disappointed it looks like I won’t be riding horseback this morning. I was looking forward to it, as it’s been a while. Mostly, I was hoping to work shoulder-to-shoulder with Casey. Getting to know her better.
But that’s not what she paid for. She paid for a strong back.
There’s plenty of time for her to experience what this body can take.
“Something funny?” Casey asks, eyeing me warily. That husky voice makes my cock twitch.
“No, ma’am.”
“Good.”
“Just one question. What do you want me to do once the barn’s done?”
Casey gives me a sideways look. “If you finish by lunchtime, you get your horsey ride. Might even let you drive the tractor. How would that be?”
I nod. “I’ll come find you when I finish, then.”
She mounts Mary and clicks her teeth, the pair heading out to start their work, with Patsy loping behind them.
With my shovel in hand, I lean against the barn’s doorframe as I watch them go. Together, like a trio that shares one brain, they follow the path along the fence line toward the herd in the distance. Casey’s body moves fluidly with the horse’s rhythms. I wonder if she knows how goddamn sexy she looks on the back of a horse.
She’s going to be tough on me today. And I hope she is. I can take anything she wants to dish out, and I’ll beg for more.