Page 13 of Falling For Her Cowboy (Silver Creek Ranch #9)

Daisy neighed softly. Melah giggled at the way Daisy was careful to take the donut into her mouth. She was such a precious horse. She deserved all of the sweet treats—within reason.

Melah rubbed her hands on the back of her jeans and blew out a nervous breath. She’d never had to do a wound dressing on a horse before, but she was anxious to try it. At least Ridge was there to guide her.

“You sure you don’t want me to do it?” Ridge stood next to Daisy. He slowly stroked the horse’s neck.

Daisy, the little hussy, was loving the attention. She blew out a shaky breath and leaned into Ridge.

“Nope. She’s my responsibility, and I need to take care of her.” Melah bent down and removed the barely hanging on material that was on Daisy’s leg.

Her horse automatically lifted it for Melah. With Ridge patiently guiding her, she was able to ensure Daisy’s wound was still clean and redressed it. Daisy was the best horse a girl could ask for and had held still while Melah worked.

“I should have brought you two donuts!” Melah stood and rubbed Daisy’s nose.

Daisy shook her head and gave her a little sassy neigh in response. Ridge and Melah shared a laugh at the horse who took a few steps away as if to test out the dressing on her hoof.

“Yeah, she will be just fine. You did well in catching the issue early.” Ridge stood back and folded his arms .

Melah tried to not grin too wide as she gathered the supplies and tossed them back in the bag.

“Well, I had this amazing doctor stop in to check on her. He apparently knows a little something about horses,” Melah teased.

Ridge snorted and opened the door to the stall. They stepped outside of it and shut the door. Melah hung the bag back up on the hook and paused in front of Daisy’s stall one last time. Her heart was so full of love for her horse. She couldn’t wait to get her back out on the ranch.

“How much longer should I keep her from working?”

“Give her another day or two. I’ll look at it to make sure it’s healed. I didn’t have to cut her too deep, so it should be fine.”

Melah nodded and stepped back, satisfied with his response. Daisy loved being out in the open and working. She made Melah’s job so much easier. She was an experienced ranch horse who enjoyed working.

“Good.” Melah grabbed her purse and swung it up on her shoulder.

They walked in silence through the barn. They arrived outside with Melah stopping to turn to Ridge. She didn’t know what to say at this point. It had been so long since she’d kissed a man, much less got involved with one.

“Thanks for letting me treat you for dinner.”

“It was my pleasure.” His eyes crinkled in the corner as he smiled.

She realized he did that often and that was probably one of the reasons why she was immediately comfortable with him.

“Let me drop you off at the bunkhouse.”

“You don’t have to, I can?—”

“I want to.”

Melah paused and looked at him. His smile slowly disappeared.

He reached for her hand and took it in his.

The warmth covered hers. It was callused from hard work, and the sensation of his hand holding hers had her brain going somewhere carnal.

Her breath caught in her throat at the fantasy of his rough palms sliding along her smooth thighs to push them open.

She blinked to erase that image from her mind. Her heart rate had skyrocketed at the thought.

“Okay.” In all honesty, she didn’t want the night to end. This was one night where she felt whole, like a normal person. Even though it hadn’t been considered a date, it had all the feelings of one.

Ridge gave a short nod and guided her back to his truck.

He helped her inside again. She pushed down the giddiness that filled her.

The woman inside her liked the feeling he gave her, while a voice of reason tried to kill her high by suggesting he was probably helping her inside again since it was a high truck and she’d almost fallen out of it before.

The ride took a couple of minutes. He parked in the exact spot he had when he’d picked her up. She turned to him and met his gaze. They didn’t say anything for a moment, then a bubble of laughter came forth. She didn’t know where it was coming from or why.

“What’s so funny?” Ridge asked with a smile lingering on his lips. He combed his fingers through his hair and focused on her.

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. She glanced at the house.

A soft light glowed in the room where Aimee was staying.

She already knew Aimee would wait up until she returned home.

If the shoe was on the other foot, Melah would stay up until Aimee made it home safe.

“I hadn’t figured I would meet someone like you here. ”

“What is that supposed to mean?” he asked.

“Well, I figured all of the men on the ranch would be older, other soldiers who were like me. You know, fucked up in some kind of way.” She truly hadn’t known what to expect.

She’d been so focused on the fact the ranch offered a way for a person to get on their feet that she hadn’t thought she’d meet someone as handsome and kind as Ridge.

Someone she was wanting to have a physical relationship with. Her legs clamped together with that thought.

“Well, you aren’t too far off the mark. Most of the hands are ugly sons of bitches.”

That brought a giggle out of her.

He reached over and held her hand. “And just because I smile and joke, don’t mean that something’s not off up here.” He pointed to his head. He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it.

She tilted her head and regarded him again. Did Ridge have skeletons in his closet? He had served, too, so there was quite a possibility. He hid it well if he did.

“You better head in. Aimee has peered out the window at least twice since I’ve parked.”

Melah looked over at the house and, sure enough, Aimee was watching them from the window. He was right. She’d better go in before Aimee came out to check on them.

“I really enjoyed myself tonight,” she said .

He released her hand, and she felt saddened by it. She liked the feeling of his larger one holding hers. She gripped her purse to keep from reaching for him again.

“I did, too. We should do it again, but maybe next time I’ll do the paying.”

“What? You didn’t like having a woman pay for your meal?” she teased.

Not Ridge, being chauvinistic. He grinned and reached for the handle of his door.

“It’s not that I didn’t like it, I just prefer to be the one providing a good meal for a beautiful woman.” He got out of the truck and shut the door.

Her mouth opened slightly.

He thought her beautiful.

Her cheeks warmed. Was this embarrassment? She’d never done well with compliments. He arrived at her door and opened it.

“Thank you.” It was the least she could say. Vernon Battle had taught her manners.

“Now let me help you down so you don’t fall again.” He held his hand out to her, and this time when she moved to get out, his other hand came to her waist.

She hopped down from the truck .

“See, I can do it. I said something caught on my foot,” she muttered.

“Sure, but if it would have happened twice, then I would have known it was done on purpose and I can’t help but admit that I liked it.” He tossed her a wink. He stepped back from her and shut her door.

Aimee peeked from behind the curtain again. Melah held back a smile at the impatience the woman was exhibiting.

“Whatever.” Melah rolled her eyes. She moved her purse strap to her shoulder and motioned to the house. “I better go. Thanks again.”

“My pleasure. Have a good night.” He gave her a nod and folded his arms.

She waved and walked toward the front door. She didn’t need to turn around and see he was watching her. She could practically feel the caress of his gaze on her. A shiver rippled through her.

Melah put a little more sway into her hips as she walked. She arrived at the door and slid her key into it. She opened the door and stepped inside. She turned and found him standing by the driver’s door. He saluted and got inside the vehicle. She closed the door and breathed a sigh.

“Have fun?” Aimee came out of the sitting area where she must have been waiting for her. There was a curious look in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything else.

At the moment, Melah had to process everything that had happened.

“Yeah, I did.” Melah hid the smile that threatened to erupt on her lips. She kicked off her shoes and scooped them up. “I’m off to bed. Work will be here before I know it.”