Free Randall Honor by Judy Christenberry

on,” he assured her, frowning.
    “And you will. Right now we’re taking a break. There’s water here for the horses, and some grass, too. You have to take care of your ride.”
    “Oh. Right.”
    She led the horses to the edge of a small creek. As they drank their fill, she took out a thermos, a plastic cup, and a pack of oatmeal-raisin cookies. She handed all that to Jon and led the horses over to a grassy area. She dropped the reins to the ground and came back toward Jon.
    “Aren’t you going to tie them up?”
    “No. They’re fine.”
    She sat down on the grass and stretched her arms up for the things she’d handed him. He gave them to her but remained standing.
    “Aren’t you going to sit down?”
    He gave her a rueful grin. “I’m afraid if I do, I won’t be able to get up again. It’s been a while since I’ve ridden.”
    She admired his honesty. A lot of men refused to admit a weakness. “I’ll help you up. I promise I won’t leave you behind. And if you stretch out a little, it will hurt less this evening.
    “Okay, I’ll give it a try.” With a few moans, he managed to get down.
    Tori handed him the plastic cup filled with steaming coffee.
    “What are you going to use?”
    “The top of the thermos.” Then she opened the pack of cookies. “These are as close to breakfast as I could figure out. They’re oatmeal-raisin cookies. Think of it as oatmeal.”
    “Thanks. I didn’t eat much breakfast.” He ate several cookies before he spoke again. “The cookies are great.”
    “Eat as many as you want. I’ve got more for the morning.”
    “When we start back?”
    She nodded.
    “Okay.”
    She grinned. “You don’t sound as enthusiastic as you were earlier.”
    “I know. But I won’t quit.”
    “Good. Now stand up, if you’re through eating cookies.”
    He grabbed a couple more in his hands and struggled to stand. He made it and sighed. “We mount up again?”
    “Not yet. Stretch your legs. It will help.”
    He followed her instructions, then asked, “You got a pillow for my saddle?”
    “Nope. You’re on your own, there, cowboy.”
     
    J ON FOLLOWED in the tracks of his own personal cow-girl. He’d thought she looked so cute this morning in her jeans, boots and cowboy hat. Like a little girlplaying dress-up. But she was comfortable in her clothes, and she’d demonstrated her skills all morning.
    The way she swung back into the saddle showed her endurance, too. He clambered on like the greenest dude in the world. Damn, he was sore! She’d said it was a nine- or ten-hour ride, so he only had six or seven more hours.
    He shifted in the saddle. He focused on Victoria’s trim behind. Maybe her sexy appearance could distract him from his woes. It didn’t take long for him to discover that an arousal in tight jeans on the back of a horse was a big mistake.
    As they rode upward on narrow trails, he appreciated his horse even more than when they started. He was a surefooted animal. “Hey, what’s this horse’s name?”
    She looked over her shoulder. “I didn’t think I should tell you until you’d spent some time on his back.”
    “Why?” he asked suspiciously.
    “His name is Devil.”
    Jon stared at her in confusion. “Why? He’s well behaved.” He feared the horse had a trick he hadn’t played yet, like throwing him off on the steepest trail.
    “Don’t worry. Casey, my youngest cousin, got to name him and he thought he looked like Red’s devil’s food cake. But if I’d told you that this morning, you probably wouldn’t have believed me.”
    “You’re right. What’s your horse’s name?”
    “Snowflake. The packhorse is Snoopy. Now we’re all introduced.”
    “Yeah.”
    “We’re going to stop for lunch when we get to the top of this ridge. Can you hang on that long?”
    His cheeks flushed. She must have seen how desperate he was for a distraction. “You bet,” he returned, trying to sound enthusiastic. Then he ground his teeth and closed his eyes, trusting