Wild Country (The World of the Others #2)- Anne Bishop Page 0,81

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CHAPTER 19

Watersday, Messis 18

Tobias set the nozzle into its slot on the pump and winced at the total cost. At this rate, he was pouring his pay into the pickup’s gas tank. Sure, the gas station was running a tab so that anyone from the Prairie Gold ranch could fill up here in Bennett, but more new people coming into the town meant more vehicles would be put back on the roads—and if he wasn’t careful, those people could come to resent the Prairie Gold folks for being given special treatment when it came to some rationed goods like gasoline.

“Good morning, Mr. Walker.” Tolya Sanguinati approached him, having come from … somewhere. “I thought all the new employees had gone to their assigned ranches yesterday.”

“They did. I’m not concerned about the old Black ranch, which is now the Skye Ranch. Truman’s a good man, and he knows the importance of being a good neighbor.” Truman had been with him the day Joe Wolfgard had told them about the Elders, the day they had seen a half-grown bison being carried away from the animals that had been slaughtered by the Humans First and Last movement. Had seen the bison, anyway. The human eye couldn’t see the terra indigene in their true form, couldn’t detect anything more than what could be mistaken as a shimmer of heat. “I came back this morning to help Deputy Paniccia choose a horse.”

“I thought she had a horse. She is at the stable now, riding it.”

“She needs the right horse.” Unsettled, Tobias removed his hat, ran his fingers through his hair, then put the hat back on. “I’ll make it a point from now on to fill the truck before I leave Prairie Gold when I’m coming up for personal business.”

“Choosing the right horse would be important for Deputy Paniccia to fulfill her duties?” Tolya asked.

“I think so.” How much did the terra indigene understand about human romance? Especially when a man wasn’t sure if his interest would be reciprocated?

“Then I think this tank of gas should go under the column for town business.” Tolya smiled and walked away, leaving Tobias to wonder if the Sanguinati, at least, understood more about humans than humans realized.

* * *

* * *

Jana rode round and round the corral and felt keenly disappointed. She was riding a horse, which was what she wanted. She would be a mounted deputy, which was what she wanted. But she felt like a little girl riding a pony in a ring while the grown-ups stood on the other side of the rails smiling and nodding indulgently.

And now there was Tobias Walker standing with the men who were in charge of the livery stable, and wasn’t that just perfect? She knew she was a beginner, but she hated looking foolish. And she hated feeling disappointed when she and the bay circled round again and she realized Tobias wasn’t standing there anymore.

Then Tobias walked out of the stable with a caramel-colored horse and headed for the corral at the same moment the bay bolted to the far end of the corral. Jana grabbed the saddle horn and managed to hang on instead of landing in the dirt, but it was a near thing.

“Dismount and bring him over,” Tobias said as he opened the gate and led his horse into the corral.

Embarrassed and shaky, Jana dismounted and tried to lead the bay, but the horse wasn’t having it.

Dropping his horse’s reins, Tobias walked over to them, grabbed the reins under the bay’s chin, and said firmly, “That’s enough of that. If he was going to hurt you, he’d have done it by now.” Tobias led the bay to the rail and tied him before returning to the other horse. Then he wagged a finger at Jana.

Jana moved slowly, trying to figure out who the he was that might be doing the hurting. Not seeing anyone except the Simple Life and Intuit men who had been watching her ride, she approached Tobias.

“This is Mel,” Tobias said.

“Is that short for Caramel?” she asked.

Tobias grinned. He was amused, but she didn’t feel like he was laughing at her.

“I can see how you might think that, with him being a buckskin. But, no, Mel isn’t short for anything. Mount up and I’ll adjust the stirrups for you.”

Mel snuffled her, then gave her a shove that knocked her back a step.

“Mind your manners, boy,” Tobias said sternly. Then to her, “He’s a gelding with a stallion’s ego. He expects to