Royal Chase(24)

“Iowa,” she said. “Farm girl.” Which explained it.

There were indeed hats downstairs by the front door, and we picked up a couple.

We were also the first ones down. There were two twelve-passenger vans waiting. We climbed into the first one, where I asked Genesis more about where she grew up.

Just as it was time for us to leave, the other women arrived en masse. And most of them were wearing Daisy Dukes, tank tops, and high heels. They all had cowgirl hats on as well, and a couple had even tied bandannas around their throats. Like they were doing their own slutty interpretation of what a real cowgirl would dress like.

They were going to be sorry later when the inside of their legs had been rubbed raw from saddle burn. The high heels were the stupidest part though. They would be sinking into the ground left and right, and they would slip in the stirrups.

It wasn’t my job to babysit them though. Just to find out which one was the least vain and the least stupid and point Dante in her direction.

When we got to the ranch, Dante was already there, and everyone spilled out of the vans, racing toward him. And, as I’d predicted, they very nearly broke their ankles on the way. One of the ranchers called everyone over and asked who knew how to ride a horse. Genesis and I were the only ones who raised our hands. He told us a couple of basic commands that they used, and then sent us over to the stables to choose a steed while he taught the other girls how to control their horses.

A ranch hand showed me the horses, and I saw a beautiful caramel-colored palomino in one stall that made me homesick. I saw the name “Butterscotch” on the door. “Hello, Butterscotch.” I petted her on the nose, and she whinnied at me. I let myself in and saddled her, cinching it tight, making sure I left two fingers between the girth and her side. I adjusted the stirrups to the right length.

As I led her out, Dante came up behind me with a large black stallion. “Who’s this handsome fellow?” I asked.

“Dante.” He winked.

And, against my better inclination, I laughed. “I meant the horse.”

“This is Prince, believe it or not.”

“So why did you choose horseback riding?” I had wondered if he chose it because of me. I had told him once how much I loved my horse Honey back home.

“Genesis grew upon a farm and is studying to be a veterinarian. We thought she would like it. The show originally wanted to have you all mud wrestling in order to win a date. I vetoed it.”

Why did that make my heart sink faster than a lead balloon?

“That’s nice,” I said. The lady in question came out of the stables with a white mare, and she mounted her horse quickly and easily. I went to Butterscotch’s left side and did the same. Dante followed suit.

We rode the horses over to the rest of the group, where they were passing out riding helmets. I heard several of the women complain about how it would ruin their hair. I thought of telling them that if they fell on their head, ruining their brain would be worse, but in some cases that probably wouldn’t be true.

Several mounting blocks were brought out to help them get on top of their horses. The head rancher went down a path and told everyone to follow. There were multiple handlers who stayed off camera. They were necessary because it was like herding cats. Apparently nobody had listened to their instructions, and now the horses were meandering off in different directions.

And even that wasn’t enough to keep them safe, because Genesis had to race off after a girl whose horse was trotting toward a small creek.

“Want to race?” Dante asked me, once it looked like the chaos had been contained.

“You’re on,” I said. Momma always said I was too competitive for my own good.

I kicked Butterscotch lightly with my heels and yelled “Yah!” and she was off. I heard Dante laugh behind me as Prince galloped to catch up. I leaned close to Butterscotch’s neck, crouching above the saddle to encourage her to go faster.

But it didn’t matter. Dante easily caught me and surpassed me, winning the race. I admired him as he left me in the dust. There was something unbelievably appealing about a man who knew how to handle a horse. I called out “Whoa,” and Butterscotch instantly and obediently slowed down, coming to a complete stop. I led her over to where Dante waited for us.

“About time you got here,” he said.

“I don’t think that was very chivalrous of you.” I actually liked that he didn’t let me win. That he made me fight hard to get what I wanted. Because if I ever beat him at something, I would know that I had earned the win.

He took me seriously. Very few people did that.

“You wound me to the quick, my lady! I am always the master of chivalry. I actually wanted to be a knight-errant when I was younger.”