Roped Tight (Ryker Ranch #4) - Kim Loraine Page 0,7

toward the arena, ready to intervene, but Sam Ryker ran to the fence, climbed up, and jumped in with the boy. It’d been a week since he kissed me in my truck, and we weren’t any closer to figuring out what, if anything, was going on between us. I’d done a damn fine job avoiding him after our awkward conversations while mucking stalls.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Justin? You mess with an animal like this before you're ready, you'll end up in the hospital, or worse." Sam’s surly tone betrayed how worried he was about Justin.

"I'm sorry, Sam. Mister Ryker wants him broke.”

Sam shook his head. "I'm sure he didn't say by you. Did he?"

Justin hung his head. "No. I just thought…"

"You thought if you showed him you could break a wild horse, he’d give you more responsibilities around here?"

“Yes.”

"That's not how this works. Not when it's gonna end up putting you at risk of getting kicked in the face. You're not a wrangler. Not yet. You don't break the horses—they'll break you." Justin nodded and made his way to the gate, but Sam stopped him. "Now, if you want to help me out, you can go get me everything I'll need to saddle up this beast. We’ll have him broke. But I'm gonna do the breaking."

Justin opened the gate and ran for the stables, excitement in his eyes. I had to admit I was impressed. Sam could have crushed that kid’s spirit; instead he taught him a good lesson and was helping him figure out how to break a horse safely.

I watched Sam as he stood in the center of the arena, one arm outstretched keeping the horse at bay. That red devil ran circles over and over, posture radiating tension. But with every pass he made, he relaxed just a fraction. His gaze turned from hard to a little more trusting each time Sam didn't let up. Justin returned, arms laden with everything he'd need. He tossed the saddle and pad over the top fence rail, getting it ready, and when Sam held out a hand, Justin passed him the bridle with the rings.

The horse, finally slowing, dipped his head and slowly approached Sam. Sam chuckled, that low rumble going straight to my dick. I shook my head. I couldn't be thinking about the boss’ son like that. Sam might've kissed me once, but he was drunk, and he would barely look at me now.

"Oh, now you want to be friends, huh?" Sam murmured. It took me a second to realize he wasn't talking to me. The horse had begun nuzzling him with his head. Carefully, Sam slipped the bridle over the horse’s ears and began a slow walk that would lead the horse around the arena and show him exactly who was boss.

"You think you're gonna be able to get a saddle on that thing?" I couldn't help but ask the question. I wanted to see him try. That horse was trouble. I knew it the moment the trailer had pulled up and I could hear him kicking.

Sam grinned. "Of course. I'll be able to ride him too.”

"I'd pay to see that." The laughter in my voice was impossible to disguise. I really would. I’d pay to see Sam Ryker do all kinds of things. Dammit, I needed to get myself under control.

After hitching the horse to the fence, Sam carefully put on the saddle, struggling only when he tightened the cinch and the animal reared back, trying to get away from the pressure. Then, he did exactly what he said he was gonna do. He draped those reins over the horse’s neck, mounted him, and held on for dear life as that stallion gave any champion bucking bronc a run for his money. I watched in absolute shock as Sam rode that animal into pure submission. He didn't even look a little panicked as twice, the horse threatened to go over. He rode like it was second nature. Like he was made to do it. And dammit if that curl of attraction I'd felt didn't grow into a ball of desire I didn’t want to admit to and didn’t have the will to resist.

"Tuck. Do I pay you to stand around all day?" George Ryker called as he approached the arena. The big, barrel-chested man shoved his hands in his front pockets as he watched his son break that horse. "No one breaks them like he does."

"I can see that."

“And no one ropes