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A gasp escaped Tildi’s lips when the back of her knuckle stroked the horse’s muzzle. “He’s so soft.”

Boone wanted to laugh when Dollar snorted at Tildi’s words. “Here, babygirl. I’ll show you how to saddle him, and then we’ll ride him together. You’re going to love it. There’s nothing else like it in the world. And with me doing the steering, all you’ll have to do is enjoy. If you don’t like it, that’s okay, too. Remember our rules?” At her nod, he continued. “Do you remember the one about riding horses?”

She continued to nod but snapped her gaze to him when she realized what he’d said. “Daddy! We don’t have a rule about horses at all.”

“Huh. I guess you’re right. So, if you don’t like it, you won’t be in trouble.”

That earned him a real smile. “I get you. But I hope I like it.”

He did, too. He had plans for secret places they could go if they were on horseback that would be more difficult on an ATV.

Once they saddled the horse and mounted, they headed out at a gentle trot. God, she felt good in his arms. He wasn’t sure how long he was going to last with his arm nestled under her firm breasts and her tight ass rocking against his cock. It might kill him, but he’d die the happiest Daddy on the planet.

Not for the first time that day, her phone vibrated. He knew this because it was in her back pocket. “Who keeps calling you, bluebell?” She’d only been here a day. It sure as hell wasn’t any of her family in Tennessee.

“Oh, um, it’s no one. Not anyone I know anyway. It’s a wrong number.”

Seemed awfully persistent for a wrong number. “Did you tell them they had the wrong number?”

“I tried. I, um, I guess they don’t believe me.” She pointed to the left. “Are those mountain bluebells?”

Following the line of her arm, he spotted the clusters of bluebells scattered around the field they crossed. “That they are, darlin’. That they are.”

As obvious distractions went, it was a perfect example. She might think she’d gotten away with dodging his question. They might not have a rule about horses, but they did have a rule about honesty. And his sweet babygirl had just lied her ass off. What he needed to do was find out why.

Tildi

Tildi had thoughtsunsets on the ocean were the most beautiful she’d ever seen, and they had been. Right up until she watched the sun disappear behind the crests and ridges of the Wyoming Rocky Mountains. Of course, sitting on a waterproof thermalblanket, wrapped up with Boone in a thick woolen blanket helped since the snow hadn’t melted. He even managed a campfire.

“It’s beautiful.” She kept her voice at a whisper. To do anything else would break the spell.

Boone didn’t whisper, but he kept his voice low. “It’s always been my favorite place to watch the sunset. I found it when my folks were killed.”

She took his hand and pressed it to her chest, right above her heart. “I’m so sorry. How long ago was that?”

He squeezed her hand, but she couldn’t tell if it was intentional or a reflex at her question. “Seven years. Sometimes it feels like a lifetime. And sometimes it feels like yesterday.”

Tildi hadn’t lost anyone close to her, but she knew the feeling well. Time was a funny thing. “What happened?”

“They were hit by a drunk driver on their way home from a weekend getaway. I came home to see to the funeral and the ranch. I’d have told you there wasn’t an inch of this land that I hadn’t seen, but one day when I needed some time alone, I took Dollar out and wound up here at sunset. I sat here taking in the view and feeling more alone than I’d ever felt in my life. Then, damndest thing I ever saw, a great horned owl and a little pygmy owl flew in and settled on a branch of that poplar tree right over there.”

Tildi leaned forward to take in the giant tree, blue-green boughs blanketed with snow. “Is that normal? Two different kinds of owl like that?”

Boone shook his head. “Never seen it before or since. I figure the big brown one was male, and the tiny gray puffball was female. He towered over her, staring at me like he'd rip me into pieces if I messed with his girl. Just like dad used to be with mom. He could give her a hard time, but none of us kids bettergive her any lip. And god help anyone outside the family who upset her.”

He smiled at the memory and Tildi was so glad he had them.

Boone took back up the story. “Anyway, they just sat there and stared at me. After a few minutes, they flew off together. It may not make any sense, but I felt like it was my dad, taking care of my mom like always, saying goodbye.”

Silence fell after his words, but it wasn’t awkward. At least not the silence stretching between Tildi and Boone. She rested her head against his shoulder, trying to remain relaxed. Her hand itched to take the phone from her pocket. She’d turned the ringer off when her Daddy had noticed the last text she’d gotten.

She hadn’t lied… exactly. It might be a wrong number. It was a brand new phone Boone had gotten for her as soon as they’d docked. No one could be targeting her, not this soon. Whoever was texting was trying to scare he last owner of the phone number she was now using. Right?

Somehow, she wasn’t sure Boone would see it that way. Pretty sure he wouldn’t, actually. One hundred percent pretty sure.

If she told him now, he’d worry when there probably was no need. She wasn’t trying to stay out of trouble by not telling him about the texts. Not at all. She was just looking out for him.

She wasn’t lying by omission. The texts would stop coming in a day. Two at the most. A few dozen texts never hurt anyone. But even though they absolutely were probably not meant for her, they were still really scary.