His Outback Cowgirl(12)
Bridie paused to slip the pebble into her jeans pocket and then commenced pacing again. She’d wear a track in the cave floor if she didn’t relax soon.
“We’ll be all right to head back soon,” he said as he walked over to the horses. “The rain’s easing.”
Bridie came to his side. She stared at the wall of water in front of them with a desperate intensity. “Are you sure?”
“Yep.” He pointed to a small patch of blue to their left. “See ... blue sky.”
Bridie stared for a second and then let out a breath loaded with relief. “So there is.” She swung away to head for Molly. “Let’s go.”
Ethan caught Bridie’s elbow in a gentle, brief grasp. “Whoa, not quite so fast. There might be blue sky but it’s still raining.”
A crease marred her brow. Dark smudges of exhaustion underlined her eyes. “But we’re wet anyway, what’s a little more rain?”
“We might be but the horses aren’t. Another five minutes will mean the difference between them getting soaked again or just being damp.”
“Good point. It might be summer but I keep forgetting it’s not as hot here as back home and the horses won’t dry off as quickly.”
She walked over to Molly and the mustang rubbed her head on Bridie’s jeans. Bridie combed her fingers through her black mane and sectioned off areas for braiding.
Ethan collected his Stetson from off the rock, put it on and secured Captain’s reins over his arm. He glanced at Bridie’s set profile as she concentrated on a braid. He was sure she’d be mentally counting down from five minutes to zero.
“So tell me more about your home?” he asked, to help the time pass. “I’d love to go on a tour of some Angus cattle studs down there one day.”
She shot him a quick look and stopped braiding. “You breed Angus cattle?”
“Yes. Black Angus.”
She started braiding again. “Be sure to look us up when you visit. My family property is Mayfield and we too breed black Angus.” She paused as pain pinched her mouth. “Well, Dad and I did and now my uncle will continue with the stud.”
Ethan’s gaze remained on her mouth. “And you won’t?”
She shook her head. “Not on Mayfield. My uncle has bought Mom and me out. He has two sons and eventually the farm will pass to my cousin, Angus, who’ll take good care of it. The place holds too many memories for us. Eventually we’ll buy another farm but Mom looks like she’s settled in her Marietta home for the moment. I’ve an agricultural science degree and run courses online for farmers so can work from anywhere. I’m just taking the summer to decide where my own ... new home could be.”
“Good luck with finding it and if you ever need a cattle-fix you’re welcome to visit my ranch at Colorado Springs.”
“Thanks.”
The quick way she answered let Ethan know she wouldn’t be taking up his offer anytime soon. Bridie’s independence might make her as prickly as a cactus but it also reminded him that they’d never work as a team, let alone a couple. They’d be locking horns more than a few times in their two days away. He blew out a slow breath. The fact that she hadn’t mentioned anyone waiting for her in Australia shouldn’t make him feel so relieved that she was single.
He examined the blue patch of sky now easily visible through the thinning rain. “Okay. We’re good to go.”
Together they led the horses out of the rock shelter into a glistening world. Water dripped off boughs and leaves and gleamed on water-slickened rocks. The breeze carried the kiss of rain along with the fresh scent of damp earth and pungent pine.
They swung into their saddles and retraced their steps to the north meadow. By the time they emerged from the treeline the rain had eased to an intermittent flurry of tardy raindrops.
Ethan glanced over his shoulder to where Bridie trailed behind him. He pulled Captain to a stop. Bridie had reined in Molly and now dug into her jeans pocket for her cell. Face relaxed and a smile curving her mouth, she snapped pictures of the rainbow that arced beside them.
“It’s so beautiful here.”
“It is.”
Ethan answered without once looking at the rainbow. Wet and windblown Bridie too was beautiful. Her grey-blue irises mirrored the grey-blended sky, her smooth skin shone after her drenching and her damp shirt clung to curves that were all woman.
Molly tossed her head. Bridie soothed her with a soft hand on her neck and a gentle word. Henry had been right. The mustang was a perfect match for Bridie. Ethan had been worried the young mare would prove too excitable but seeing the bond that already existed between the two restless spirits, he knew Bridie wouldn’t be happy riding any other horse.