Free Lone Tree by Bobbie O'Keefe

the ranch, either. I’ll ask him to make time for you.”
    “Thanks. And I’ll concentrate on being
non-threatening.”
    Carter was neither gabby nor shy and was a conservative
teacher. He concentrated on commands, as Reed had, but would allow nothing more
than a walk. Neither had Randy, and Lainie was looking forward to Reed’s return
and more riding variety.
    She learned that Carter’s wife lived in Big Spring
and worked in a bank. He went home on weekends, but lived at the ranch during
the week. The arrangement had worked well for three years now, and they felt
that instead of detracting from their marriage, it enhanced it.
    “If it works,” Lainie said, and let the words hang.
    As they headed back, she said, “Miles is the only
man I’ve never seen at the stable. From conversation I’ve overheard, I assume
he simply doesn’t like horses.”
    “Might be. Been here five years now and haven’t seen
him on one. Heard his wife was killed in a riding accident, so maybe the old
man never forgave the species.”
    Lainie noticed that many used that phrase, the old
man, when referring to Miles. It wasn’t used in a derogatory sense, however;
instead it was a title of respect, even affection.
    Today she’d assisted Nelly in saddling Glory, and
she helped groom the horse when they returned. As she worked under the
stableman’s gentle tutelage, she became aware she was no longer sore from
riding. She was getting to be an old hand at this. She grinned, proud of
herself, and caught Nelly’s answering smile.
    “Yes’m. You be learnin’ fast, little missy.”
    There was nothing he missed.
    As Reed had said, he was busy. She didn’t see him
for three days, then found him alone at the table when she arrived late for
supper. Looking at the sideboard, she realized it was best not to be late. A
portion of a macaroni and cheese casserole was left, along with a platter of
sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, and that was it.
    She sat opposite Reed, who pushed his empty plate
aside and gave her a half-smile. As he settled back and hooked his thumbs
inside his belt, his expression made her think mischief lurked behind his
smile.
    Uh-oh. A grownup with mischief on his mind.
Especially this particular grownup.
    He roused himself to ask a question, “You miss
California?”
    “Well, yeah.” The casserole was crusty on top and
cheesy in the middle. “But I’ve been too busy to really get homesick. A lot to
do, more to learn.” The ranch, how it worked, the people, her job. And figuring
out who her grandfather was, way down deep where it counted.
    “No one particular person you’re missing, then.”
    “No,” she said, getting his drift. The glint dancing
in his eyes was hard not to answer, and she had to clamp teeth on her bottom
lip to keep from flirting back. But she was more certain now than when she’d
met him that he could prove to be big trouble. She stabbed the last chunk of
cucumber on her plate.
    “Well, goodnight,” she said, pushing away from the
table.
    Reed was still seated when she stood and turned
away, yet somehow he beat her to the sideboard. Politely he pointed toward the
bin where she could deposit her plate and utensils, as if she hadn’t used it
countless times already and knew exactly where it was. Then when she turned
toward the door leading to the hall, she found him right in front of her again,
with the devil still in his eyes.
    She gave him a cool smile. Which was all he was
going to get from her. “Back off, cowboy,” she said, making her voice both
light and firm.
    Surprising her, he did exactly that. He backed up
until his back hit the wall, and then he showed her his hands, palms innocently
turned up, but he still wore that grin.
    Lainie glanced toward the doorway, gauging the
distance because she didn’t trust him. But there was only one way out of the room.
She stepped out of his reach as she walked past—or at least thought she did.
    His hand snaked out, caught her arm, and suddenly
their