Free Cowboys Down by Barbara Elsborg

laughing.
    “Cooking on a campfire, roasting marshmallows.” Melissa sighed. “Do you have those in England? Marshmallows I mean, not campfires. They’re sort of round and mainly white and pink but at Easter and Christmas and Halloween, you can get them in different shapes and colors.”
    She went on and on, and finally Jasper had more than he could stand. “Do you know what marshmallows are made of?”
    “Sugar,” Janie said.
    “And gelatin,” Jasper said. “Know what gelatin is?”
    “No.” Melissa shook her head.
    “It’s a thickening agent made from animal bones and skin.”
    After a few exclamations of disgust, they were quiet for a blissful two seconds before it started all over again.
    “It never gets really cold in LA. Does it get cold in the UK?” Melissa asked.
    “At times,” Jasper said. Oh God, will she ever shut up?
    “Not like here,” Ring said. “You have to be a real man to cope with our winters. The wind’s so strong, sometimes the snow doesn’t even reach the ground.”
    Jasper bristled. “No pretend men live in Wyoming then? Only real men?”
    The girls laughed and Jasper’s spine prickled. No doubt Ring’s laser eyes were boring into his back.
    “That’s rich, considering you probably spend your days sitting on your backside in air-conditioned comfort,” Ring snapped.
    “We’re a bit short of open ranges in London.”
    Jasper kicked Zander on and after some hard, persuasive work with his thigh muscles, he managed to get him ahead of the other horses. Jasper pulled away on a diagonal and then mentally pleaded with Zander to pick up the pace. He wouldn’t.
    “Where are you going?” Ring called.
    “I’ll call if I need you for anything.” Jasper clicked Zander on and to his relief, this time the horse cooperated.
    According to the literature guests were not required to ride with the wrangler. They only needed to stay within shouting distance in case they needed help. Jasper wouldn’t lose sight of Ring, but he damn well didn’t need to ride with him.
    It wasn’t long before the three of them were well ahead and Jasper turned back to tag along behind. When the ranch was in sight, he slipped off Zander’s back and walked him the rest of the way. Ring and the girls didn’t bother. That was fine with Jasper. He couldn’t stand another minute of their company. He just hoped he wasn’t supposed to ride with them tomorrow.
    By the time he led Zander into the stable, his shirt was sticking to his back. Ring was in there taking the saddle off the horse Janie had been riding while a white-haired guy removed the tack from Melissa’s. There was no sign of the girls. Guests might not have to look after their horses, but he disagreed. How could you bond with the animals if you didn’t take care of them? Jasper had already loosened Zander’s cinch. Now he went through the rest of the procedure—removing the bridle, putting on the halter, taking off the saddle. Years since he’d done this, but it was second nature.
    He talked quietly to the horse as he worked and then walked him over to a bucket holding a damp sponge so he could wipe him down. Aware of Ring’s gaze, Jasper treated Zander like a prince. He cleaned the horse’s mouth and even brushed his hair flat.
    “Like handling all that male flesh?” Ring whispered. “Does it make you hard?”
    Bastard. Jasper ignored him, but how did the guy even know he was gay? Though ignoring him rather than reacting with indignation had probably told Ring what he wanted to know. Jasper checked Zander’s hooves to make sure he hadn’t picked up any rocks and then ran his hand over his flank. Zander nuzzled insistently against the pocket with the mints and Jasper smiled. “Not yet.
    “In a stall or outside?” Jasper asked.
    “Inside,” Ring told him.
    The stalls were all named so he walked him down the center until he found Zander’s, between Blue and Misty. Both horses were in their stalls. So Calum was back.
    “Halter