Page 29 of Back in the Saddle

Hunter smiled at the screen as he told her he would. Pushing his hands in the pockets of his jeans, he hummed a tune, unsure where he had picked it up from, as he leisurely strolled back into the barn.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Caroline

Caroline pushed her aviator sunglasses up the bridge of her nose, watching the rolling flat landscape outside the car window.

‘So, what exactly are we doing?’ she asked.

Anna laughed from the driver seat. ‘You said that you wanted to take your mind off things at the centre, what better way to do it than by getting out of the city?’

‘And we’re going to an actual ranch?’

‘Yeah. I know you used to really enjoy horse riding. I thought you might like to get back in the saddle again.’

Caroline’s head snapped up. She stared at Anna with a mix of panic and excitement. ‘It’s been a long time since I rode. I’m not sure I remember how.’

‘Don’t worry, my patient’s son is amazing with horses. Used to be a rodeo star. Now, he’s taken over running the ranch but sometimes he still gives lessons.’

‘OK. But is your patient fine with us just turning up?’

‘I wouldn’t have come up with this unless I’d checked with him first. Plus, the place is massive. We probably won’t even see him.’

Caroline let out a sigh. It seemed like the matter was settled. She shouldn’t be grumpy. Anna just wanted to cheer her up. Even though she was only in Oklahoma for one year, she already missed her life in Scotland. There were times she longed for the easy camaraderie with her colleagues at the hospital. Or going for a walk in one of the country parks near Glasgow. Sometimes, she even missed the weather, even those famous four-seasons-in-an-afternoon days.

She shifted in the car’s leather seat, stifling a yawn. In a very irresponsible turn of events, she had stayed up until 2 a.m. last night messaging Hunter. She didn’t mean to send him another message after they agreed to meet tomorrow at Robbers Cave State Park. But Chris Stapleton had popped up on her playlist and her mind had immediately rushed to The Rouge Scot and their kiss. And she had stupidly messaged him, just before midnight.

Now, she knew that he thoughtThe Godfatherwas overhyped. He liked reading psychological thrillers. And he was afraid of reptiles.

They’re just so weird and slimy.

A song came on the radio and Caroline found herself bopping along.

One thing that was amazing about being in Oklahoma, aside from being able to spend time with her aunt and Gian, was the abundance of country music. The number of amazing artistson the radio always flooded her heart with warmth. Without thinking, she reached to volume control and turned it up.

‘He’s good.’ Anna smiled, moving her head to the rhythm of the music.

‘Agree, amazing voice,’ Caroline paused, listening to the chorus. She unlocked her phone and typed the first line of lyrics into the search engine. ‘Bailey Zimmerman, this one’s called “Religiously”.’ The song finished shortly after, but Caroline had already managed to download his album on the app to listen to later.

‘Oh, I love this!’ Anna turned up the volume even higher and started dancing in her seat, both hands on the wheel. ‘Come on, Caroline. Sing with me, I know you know it.’

Caroline laughed, joining Anna’s ‘Wagon Wheel’ singalong. As the song finished, she looked out of the window, wanting to stay in this moment. There were definitely some things that Oklahoma did right.

Anna turned the radio down and turned to her. ‘Welcome to Purcell, also known as the heart of Oklahoma.’

It took them a little longer to reach their destination, which lay just outside the city’s limits. They turned right off the main road onto a wide dirt track. As the buildings came into a clearer view, Caroline noticed a wooden sign outside the gate that readJackson’s Ranch.

Anna parked the car outside one of the outbuildings and Caroline got out, looking around in awe. ‘How big is this place?’

‘Just over two thousand acres.’

She almost jumped as she heard a male voice behind her.

The stranger laughed and extended his hand. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m Duke. And you must be Big Al’s oncologist?’

Caroline shook his hand but looked to Anna. ‘Nice to meet you, Duke. That’d be my aunt, over there. Dr Anna Kennedy. I’m Caroline O’Kelly.’

‘Ah. How d’you do, ma’am?’ He tipped the brim of his leather cowboy hat in greeting. ‘Al told me you were coming and hoping to do some horseback riding?’