A Special Kind of Love (5 page)

“All
set.”

Everyone
was mounted now, including Tammy. Tanner swung up onto Phantom’s back.

Tammy
was giving last minute instructions to the ranch guests.

“We’re
going to follow along behind the rest of the group, so I can keep an eye on you
two. The trail is wide enough that we can ride side by side for most of it.
I’ll ride in the middle, with you and Aaron on either side until you both get
comfortable. Okay?”

“Sounds
good.”

Tammy
opened the corral gate and the assembled guests followed her out, some in pairs
and some in single file.

Tanner
maneuvered Phantom between Red and Missy.

“Just
squeeze a little with both legs and make a kissing noise and the horses will
start to walk. Like this…” Tanner made a noise like a big wet air kiss and
Phantom moved out, Missy and Red followed right along. Tanner stopped at the
gate and allowed Sharon and Aaron to exit single file, he took up the rear,
closing and latching the gate behind them.

The
three
rode
side by side out across the green pasture
following in the wake of the rest of the riders. Sharon’s stomach was tight.
She wanted everything to go well, but with Aaron you never knew what was going
to happen.

* * * *

Tanner
kept the pace slow, allowing the rest of the group to move ahead, so that he
could concentrate on Sharon and Aaron, and keep them away from any other
ignorant comments.

The
boy seemed to have a natural seat. He was moving well with Missy.

“So
Aaron, the first thing you need to know about riding—”

“I
know how to ride,” Aaron interrupted.

“
Don’t be rude, young man
,” Sharon admonished.

Tanner
held up a hand to silence her, and he turned back to the boy.

“I’m
sorry,
I was told this is your first time on a horse…”

“It
is. But I know how to ride.”

“
Ooookay
,” Tanner gave him a speculative look. “Tell
me what you know about riding then.”

“Sit
deep into the saddle, tucking your,
hehe
, butt under your hips. Allow your lower body to move
with the horse so you don’t bounce. Keep your upper body firm, but not stiff,
with your shoulders in line with your hip bones and center your weight in the
saddle. Most horses can be steered with both direct reining and neck reining,
but when riding in a western saddle, neck reining is the preferred method. Lay
the rein gently but firmly against the opposite side of the horse’s neck from
the direction you want to turn, do not pull on the bit in the horse’s mouth.
Some horses can also be turned with leg pressure commands. Press firmly with
the lower portion of your leg on the opposite side of the desired turn to
indicate which way you want the horse to go. Don’t kick. Pressing with both
legs will cause the horse to increase in speed. Hold the reins in your left
hand, above the horse’s withers and in front of the saddle horn. Keep your
right arm bent at a forty-five degree angle and pressed close to your torso. Do
not wave your arm around, it will distract or spook the horse.”

Sharon
was trying very hard not to laugh at the look on Tanner’s face. The man looked
like he was about to swallow his tongue. Aaron continued his dissertation.

“If
you want the horse to canter, press the heel of one foot firmly into the
horse’s side. The horse will break into a canter using the lead on the opposite
foot.”

“Well
da
…uh dang. That just about covers it all doesn’t it?
Did you get
all that,
Mom?” Tanner turned toward
Sharon and arched a brow.

Sharon
cleared her throat, struggling against her mirth.

“Well,
I
may still need
a little help, Chief West.”

Tanner
smiled.

“Since
you seem to have it all under control, would you like to try a trot, so we can
catch up to the group?”

“I
want to gallop,” Aaron demanded.

Tanner’s
demeanor firmed.

“That’s
not going to happen right now, Aaron. Just like you have to walk before you
run, no matter how much you’ve read about riding, it isn’t the same as having
experience. We need to take things one step at a time.”

Tanner’s
firm voice brooked no argument, and thank God, for once Aaron conceded without
an argument.

“Okay,
let’s trot.”

“Give
your horses a squeeze with both legs and let’s give it a try.”

All
three horses took off at a gentle trot. They rode for better than an hour,
alternating from a trot to a walk as the trail permitted. Aaron had taken the
lead and Sharon rode beside Tanner as they discussed the town, the coming
school year, and the RNR.

They
rode into a large clearing and Tammy halted the procession.

“This
is our first rest stop,” she called “Everybody dismount and let’s give the
horses and our
fannies
a break.”

Their
little group stayed together. Tanner dismounted first and was in the process of
helping Sharon dismount when Tammy walked over to them. Once Sharon had both
feet on the ground, he turned to help Aaron, only to discover the child had
already dismounted.

“How’s
everything going over here? You have everything you need?” Tammy asked.

Sharon
smiled. “Things are great. This is beautiful
country,
I’m really enjoying the ride.”

Tammy
directed her next question to Aaron.
“How about you, big
guy?”

I
like Missy. But I want to gallop.”

Single minded, that’s
my son
.
Sometimes she wished Aaron was as easily distracted as other children. It would
sure make her life less stressful.

“We
don’t gallop on trail rides,” Tammy replied. “The ground is uneven and there
are too many horses grouped together. It would be dangerous. The horses could
trip and hurt themselves, or their riders.”

Aaron’s
brows drew together and Sharon recognized his
thinking
face.

He
nodded. “Okay.”

That
was one thing about her son, if you could give him a good explanation, he
accepted it without challenge. Sharon smiled and mouthed
thank you
to Tammy.

“Grab
some water and a snack and walk around a little while we’re stopped so you
don’t get stiff. We’ll be heading out again in about fifteen minutes.”

Tammy
waved and walked off to mingle with the guests. Sharon drew a bottle of water
from the backpack and handed it to Aaron.

“Would
you like one?” she asked Tanner

“I
have some in my saddlebag, thanks.”

They
drank their waters and Aaron ate a protein bar. Before she knew it they were
mounting up again. Sharon could already feel the strain on muscles unused to
this exercise and knew she would need some
ibuprophen
before the day was over.

Their
next stop was for lunch. The RNR had an old-fashioned camp style cook out all
set up for them, complete with a chuck wagon and a weathered old cowhand to
serve up the grub.

Sharon
walked around the campsite, stretching her muscles, swinging her arms in
circles and twisting from side to side to stretch her back. Tanner was seeing
to the horses, loosening the saddles and looping the reins over a tree branch
at the edge of the clearing so the horses could rest and graze while they ate.

Sharon
surveyed the food choices and wondered if there was anything Aaron would eat.
She had brought food for him, of course, but she always wanted him to feel as
normal as possible.
Hmm, biscuits, that he would eat.
She didn’t see anything else though. Cowboys seemed to want meat in just about
everything they ate. The baked beans had pork fat floating in them, and the
green beans had bacon. Then of course there was a beef stew, hamburgers and hot
dogs, fried chicken.
Not exactly vegetarian fare.

Sharon
fixed herself a plate. The food smelled wonderful. Was it the fresh air or the
exercise that suddenly made her starving? She grabbed a second plate and some
biscuits for Aaron and headed over to where Tanner and Aaron rested near the
horses.

“You
better go get some food while the
gettin
’ is good.”

“Damn,
I mean, dang straight.” Tanner stood up and headed to the chow line. Sharon sat
down next to her son. It was so sweet that Tanner thought to curb his tongue in
front of her son. He really was a nice man. She set her plate in her lap and
handed Aaron the backpack.

“There
is fruit and some more protein bars for you, and I got you some biscuits.”

She
handed him the plate she had brought for him.

“Yum.
I’m famished,” he said.

She
smiled.
Her baby and his ten dollar words.
God, how she loved him.
As she looked around the campsite
she noted several people observing them with curious glances. She supposed they
wondered why they were receiving special treatment. But, no one looked more
than curious. She didn’t sense any hostility or judgment coming from the crowd.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the clean mountain air. It was
turning out to be a perfect day.

Tanner
returned with a heaping plate of food and plopped down next to her. She raised
a brow at the amount of food on his plate and he shrugged.

“I’m
a growing boy.”

* * * *

Tanner
hardly tasted the food he ate. All his attention was on the woman at his side.
They would be heading back after lunch. It was time to make his move.

“Sharon,
are you and Aaron coming to the Fourth of July Fireman’s dance and fireworks
display? As fire chief, it’s my responsibility to make sure all the pretty
girls in town show up for the dance. It would be my honor to escort you.”

“This
is the first I’ve heard about it. I’m sure Aaron would love the fireworks
display, but I don’t see how I could go to a dance. I don’t know anyone in town
I could ask to babysit for me.”

“Not
a baby,” Aaron interjected.

“Yes,
I know.” Sharon sighed “It’s just an expression, Aaron.”

“Oh,
you don’t need
child
care.” Tanner
said “Everyone in town will be there, and all the kids come. We have lots of
great food and music, and games set up for the kids, like
cornhole
and horseshoes.”

“
Cornhole
?”
She laughed. “Dorothy, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.”

“I
promise it will be lots of fun. My mom and my sister will be there and I know
they wouldn’t mind helping to keep an eye on Aaron. My sister, Jasmine has two
children. Her oldest, Josh, is nine and Annabelle is four, so they could all
play together.”

Tanner
held his breath waiting for Sharon to make up her mind. He really wanted her to
be his date. He needed an excuse to get her in his arms as soon as possible.
He’d never felt so instantly attracted to a woman before. There was just
something about her that drew him. She seemed to like him, too. He never lacked
for female company, but some of the locals still had a problem with a
half-breed
. Sharon didn’t seem to care.
At least he hoped she didn’t.

Sharon
stared straight into his eyes and he held her gaze. He wondered if she could
read the thoughts running through his head on his face.

“Please
be my date?” He entreated, giving her his best puppy dog eyes.

“It
would be my pleasure, thank you.” That beautiful blush spread across her
features again and Tanner wondered just how far the flush traveled. Would the
pink spread across the creamy skin of her breasts? He began to harden just at
the thought.

He
took the empty plate from her hands, setting it beside him on the ground. He
brought her hand to his lips and kissed her palm.