Page 17 of Rocky Mountain Home

She’d been walking and watching the action by the barns where a few men were working with the bay and chestnut horses.

Okay. Get to know you time. That much he could deal with. “You have a horse?”

Dare flashed him a quick smile. “Yeah, Baby.”

Jesse opened his mouth, then shut it. “Seriously?”

“He’s a sorrel gelding, and nearly ready for retirement. He was my mom’s, and when she passed on, I took him as my own.”

Oh man. “I’m sorry to hear about your mom.”

She nodded. “Hey, I did have a hint at your last name.”

Obviously changing the topic. He went with it for now. “Was it tattooed on my ass?”

“Your sister emailed my blog today. Wanted to know the current whereabouts of my March model.”

Sister?

“That picture just keeps giving and giving. Who was it that emailed?” He led her to the driver’s side, holding the door open for her.

She frowned.

“You know the territory. You may as well drive.”

Without another word Dare climbed in, adjusting the wheel angle to place herself comfortably on the wide bench seat. She waited until he settled on the passenger side before answering his question. “Someone named Jaxi. She said you got on her last nerve.”

“The feeling is mutual at times. She’s my sister-in-law. Married to Blake, my oldest brother.” How much did he share? Man the torpedoes, full steam ahead. “I had a wicked crush on her at one point, but she and Blake are perfect together. Disgustingly in love.”

She drove to the end of the driveway and headed west. “Typical younger brother in love with the forbidden older woman?”

Jesse snorted. “Forbidden, because Blake would have ripped me apart once he stopped being stupid and denying he was in love with her. But she’s barely a year older than me. She just bosses the hell out of everyone because she kind of grew up with the family.”

“Sounds a little like Caleb—the bossy part.”

“He your oldest brother?”

“Sort of?” She turned onto a gravel road and drove them up a steep section of road, following the sweeping curve of the foothills. In the near distance the Rocky Mountains rose majestically, sharp grey granite peaks and dark shadows. The mountains were closer than the section of Rockies the Colemans saw at home, the landscape changes here in central Alberta sharper and more intense.

Dare took them counterclockwise, the road changing to angle northward as they rose. They were now tucked against the hillside, the mountains to the west hidden from view, but the land to the east was laid out like on a map. Thin roads stretched in straight lines all the way to the horizon. Between them lay acre after acre of grazing land, tiny dark dots of cattle and horses peppering the land.

She parked at a wide turn out on a corner. Jesse got out and shut the truck door behind him, waiting until she came around to join him. His gaze drifted over the land. They didn’t have this kind of viewpoint back home.

“That is a gorgeous sight. We have a few rises where you can see for miles, but this is incredible.”

Dare paused. “It is. I find it humbling. We’re just a speck in the middle of something so much bigger than we are.”

“Cowboy philosophy 101. There’s always something bigger than you are.”

“Seems that way.” She touched his arm briefly. “Follow me.”

She led him to a path at the side of the lookout where a narrow trail meandered horizontally toward a patch of tall pine. Tucked into the trees was a bench, and Dare settled on one side, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees. She stared over the land, and he paused to admire the closer view. With worn jeans, a pale blue shirt and a dark cowboy hat, she made the prettiest picture, and the panic that had seized him eased slightly.

He didn’t know her yet but she seemed a decent person. They could do this.

They had to.

He joined her on the bench, taking a cue from her and checking the land.