Page 24 of On the Rocks

Noah

I didn’t know what made me do it.

I didn’t know what made me fill a second cup up with beer after my own was full and walk it across the Black Hole to Ruby Grace Barnett. Part of me really did want to apologize for whatever I’d said that had upset her after the tasting at the distillery, but part of me also just wanted to talk to her — period. I didn’t have a reason, so I’d brought that beer, thinking it’d be an ice breaker.

For a less stubborn woman, it might have been.

But, whatever the reason, I was glad I’d gone over to talk to her, because regardless of her being feisty and acting like she didn’t want to give me more than two minutes of her time, she’d let that same part of her slip that she had at the distillery — the young girl inside. She’d let her guard down, confessed her anxiety over being back home, over being at the Black Hole. I didn’t know the complete reason why, but she’d needed someone in that moment.

And I was that someone.

I smiled as Ruby Grace ran her hands over the smooth, white and black tobiano pattern of Tank’s neck, her polished fingernails scratching a little as she did. Tank leaned into the touch, neighing softly, tail swishing back and forth in his stall.

“I never knew you rode horses,” she said after a long moment, wide eyes glancing at me before she focused on the horse again. “No offense, but it’s not exactly something I pictured a Becker doing.”

I scoffed. “What, you think we just drink and fight all day, every day?”

She didn’t respond, but her apologetic glance told me she actuallydidthink that.

I chuckled, kicking off where I’d been leaning against the stable watching her. “My mom taught me how to ride when I was a kid. My other brothers never really got into it, but it’s always been a release for me. Dad bought me Tank when I turned fourteen. He was just a year old, then.” My heart ached a little at the mention of my father, just like it always did. “We keep him out here at the Jensen’s because they have everything they need to take care of him. I pay them a monthly fee, and I can come out here and ride him whenever I want.”

“And do you often?”

“At least once a week, sometimes more.”

Ruby Grace smiled, both of us falling silent again as she ran her fingers through Tank’s mane. He was an American Paint Horse, strong and muscular, his spotted coat and multi-colored mane the most eye-catching elements about him. Tank was fifteen years old now, and though he didn’t show signs of becoming a senior horse anytime soon, I still went easier on him now than I had when I was younger. We used to jump logs and round barrels, dredge through the creek, gallop as fast as I could get him going. Now, I usually took him for long, easy rides, letting him stretch his legs as I got lost in my thoughts for an evening. Sometimes we’d go out to the old tree house Dad built for me and my brothers, other times we’d just walk the trails, along the river, or wherever Tank’s hooves wanted to take us.

Watching Ruby Grace pet him made my pulse quicken. She wasn’t the first girl I’d used that line on. I’d used it plenty of times, bringing whatever girl was into me that night down to the stable to watch them pet Tank and fuss over how cute he was before I laid them down in the straw bales and fucked them until the sun came up. But Ruby Grace was the first one I brought here because I knew she needed to get away, she needed to escape.

And this is where I came to do just that.

I knew I wasn’t going to fuck Ruby Grace. For one thing, she was nineteen. For another, she was engaged. She was also the most infuriating girl I’d met, stubborn and judgmental, and nowhere near my type. I liked my women wild, little spitfires who could give me a run for my money in the sack. But none of that changed the fact that she was very,verynice to look at.

I’d wondered that day at the distillery what she would look like in boots instead of heels, and I’d gotten my wish. Her brown and turquoise buckaroo boots covered her calves, spanning up to just below her knees where her smooth, tan skin was exposed. That skin was mesmerizing, her toned thighs seeming somehow longer in those boots and the tiny, ripped-up white shorts she’d paired them with. The outfit was nothing like what I’d seen her in that first day, no fancy dress or belt or designer heels. She was just a girl in a tank top and shorts and boots.

A country girl.

And I hated what seeing her that way did to me.

I swallowed, shoving those thoughts aside and tearing my eyes from her legs as I crossed the space between us. I reached up to pet Tank right under where she did, debating if I was really ready to offer my next statement, because I never had before.

“Wanna ride him?”

Ruby Grace lit up, smile as wide as her face as she turned to me. “Really? You’d let me?”

My chest tightened again, because I’d never letanyoneride Tank — save for the Jensen family who cared for him. But, this was the most relaxed I’d seen Ruby Grace since she barreled back into town, and for some reason, I wanted to keep her like that.

“Yes, really,” I said on a chuckle. “Hang on, let me get her suited up.”

Ruby Grace looked around the barn as I brushed Tank, strapping him up with his riding pad, saddle, girth and bridle next. I checked everything twice, including each and every hoof. I’d been out earlier that week to trim his hooves, but I wanted to be sure they were in good shape to ride. Once I was satisfied with my inspection, I guided Tank out of the barn and into the warm summer night.

“Alright,” I said, patting the saddle before I turned to Ruby Grace, reins still in my hands. “Hop on up.”

I expected her to whine, or scoff, or askhow in the world to you expect me to do that in these shorts? But to my surprise, little miss Ruby Grace didn’t say a single word. She put the toe of her boot in the stirrup, reached one hand up to grab the horn, and heaved her opposite leg up and over, shifting her weight a bit until she was comfortably seated.

She smirked when she saw my face, tossing her long red locks behind her shoulder as she shrugged. “What? Did you think I was too prissy to know how to ride a horse, Noah Becker?”

I put my hands up in a surrendering gesture. “I didn’t say a word.”