The next day after breakfast, Missy Owens, one of Mrs. McDonald's other boarders, offered to lend Remi one of her riding outfits after hearing Nick was going to take her out to see the Barkley Ranch. They were of a similar size and Missy assured Remi that she wasn't going riding anytime soon. Her fiancé was a bookkeeper for the bank and Missy herself was a bank teller, so the chances of her finding herself on horseback were very slim.

Pulling on the wide-legged pants, Remi couldn't help but think how scandalized her acquaintances back east would be by this outfit. Going riding back home would have involved a full corset and riding habit buttoned up uncomfortably under the chin. The white cotton blouse and full cut pants were much more comfortable and much better suited to the western style of riding.

Remi felt a moment of alarm. The only riding she had ever done was a genteel ramble through the local park, sidesaddle! She hoped she wouldn't embarrass herself too badly in front of Nick. Even worse, she hoped she wouldn't fall off! As she slowly made her way out the front door, she was convinced Nick would be appalled at her lack of skill on horseback. And there he was, standing in the bright California sunshine, the perfect image of a hard-working, handsome cowboy, holding the reins to two of the biggest horses she'd ever seen. She walked slowly towards him.

"Red!" Nick shouted. "You all ready to see the most beautiful land on God's green earth?"

She couldn't help but smile at his boyish enthusiasm. "As ready as I'll get, Nick," she replied.

Nick handed her the reins to the black horse. "This here's Dusty. He's a good, solid horse, you shouldn't have any trouble." Nick gathered Cocoa's reins, mounted easily and sat, waiting.

Remi eyed Dusty nervously. How was she supposed to get on? You used a mounting block when riding sidesaddle and there didn't seem to be anything nearby to serve that purpose. She put her left foot in the stirrup as she had seen Nick do and awkwardly hoisted herself into the saddle. Dusty shifted a little, sensing her nervousness and she grabbed for the saddle horn.

Nick looked at her curiously. "Red, haven't you ever ridden a horse before?" he asked. "You're sittin' in that saddle like it was a cactus."

"I have ridden one or twice, Nick," Remi admitted, "but always sidesaddle and never more than a fast walk." She looked toward the ground. " And never on a horse quite this big." She looked away, embarrassed. What must he think of her?

Nick dismounted and came over, checking the length of the stirrups. He felt guilty. He had never even considered she hadn't done much riding; heck, everyone in his family could ride before they learned to walk! Satisfied the stirrups were adjusted properly, he remounted Cocoa and brought him next to Dusty, determined to make up his lack of foresight with some good, solid instruction.

"Here, hold the reins like this," he showed her, correcting her grip. " And sit a bit straighter." He eyed her new position. "Looks good," he complemented. Now that she was properly positioned, he could see she was going to be an excellent rider. "Now just relax and let yourself move with your horse's movements. Like I said before, Dusty's a good, steady mount. He and I won't let anything happen to you." He placed a hand on her knee. "You've got nothing to worry about, Red. You just happen to have the best riding instructor in all California!" With that, he clucked to Cocoa and started off, Remi and Dusty right behind.

It turned out to be one of the most wonderful days Remington had enjoyed in a long time. Nick showed her the orchards and some of his favorite spots; she even got to watch he and Heath drive a small group of cattle into a new pasture. She soon got the feel for riding astride and Heath commented he had never seen a more natural seat. Remi was sure he was only trying to make her feel better, but it worked just the same. On the way back to town, Nick managed to make her agree to come to the rodeo on Saturday and accompany him to the dance following. She wished the wonderful day would never end.

.

.

Nick stormed into the house. He couldn't believe he'd had to find out the details of the "disturbance" at Anderson's mercantile from the sheriff rather than his own brother! Especially since it had involved someone Jarrod knew was a good friend of his! He stomped into the office where Jarrod was going through the household finances.

"So when were you planning to tell me?" he snarled.

Jarrod looked up. " And hello to you too, brother Nick," he greeted. He wasn't positive he knew what Nick was referring to, but he could make a reasonable guess. He should have told Nick the details of what had happened on the street in Stockton, but he wasn't quite ready to confront the feelings that incident conjured up. He decided it was past time to come clean. "I suppose you're referring to the events in town yesterday?"

"Damn right I am," Nick replied angrily. "A little disturbance? Red nearly got killed!"

Jarrod got up and walked over to pour Nick a whiskey, trying to appear more detached than he felt. "You look like you could use this," he said, handing the glass to his brother.

"Thanks," Nick said ungraciously as he took a large swallow.

Jarrod poured himself a glass of scotch and came over to sit on the edge of the desk. He wasn't sure how to start.

"I didn't say anything because I didn't want to ruin the evening," he said finally. "It would certainly have put a damper on dinner. And I didn't say anything afterwards because…" Because all I can think of is how it felt to hold her in my arms. Because all I can see when I close my eyes is her beautiful face. "Because I thought if she wanted you to know, she'd tell you when the two of you went riding today."

Nick stared into his glass for a long while. "I'm sorry, Pappy," he finally said. "I shouldn't have come at you all half-cocked. After all, you were the one who saved her. It's just…she means a lot to me and imagining that snake holding a gun on her…" He held up his glass in a toast. "I should have just said 'Thank you, Jarrod'."

Jarrod returned the toast. "All in a day's work, Nick." They finished their drinks in silence.

Nick clapped a hand to Jarrod's shoulder. "Better let you get back to them books, counselor. I've got a few things to do around the place before dinner."

"See you at dinner, Nick," Jarrod replied. When Nick was gone, he walked over and fixed himself a second drink, downed it in one swallow, then poured another as he tried to dampen the image of Remi's lovely face.