Cowboy Dad

“This won’t be any run-of-the-mill trail ride.” There was a slight challenge in Gary’s voice.

Aaron smiled. He liked challenges. “Looking forward to it.”

“Leather punch is hanging on the far wall,” Gary said and strode off to saddle his horse. With four perfectly matched stockings and a gleaming Sorel coat, the gelding wasn’t run-of-the-mill either.

Their plan was to ride every one of the ranch’s eight horse trails winding through the surrounding mountains. They would make sure the trails were, first, accessible and, second, safe. Winter storms were notoriously destructive. Depending on what they found, maintenance crews would be dispatched to clear the trails of debris or repair places where the earth had eroded. Later in the week, Gary and Aaron would lead the riding stock over the same trails, reintroducing the horses before they carried people.

During breakfast that morning, Aaron learned more about Bear Creek Ranch and the many intricacies of its operation than he ever had from his late wife. In many ways, the ranch was like a small, highly organized village. Each resident had a job, from Jake Tucker to Randy and Skunk, and the ranch thrived only when everyone did their job. Aaron had observed a strong camaraderie among the staff, no doubt fueled by the closeness in which they lived, worked and recreated.

Becoming a member of their tight-knit clan, if that was even what he wanted, would require some doing. He might be one of the village leaders, but he hadn’t been born into the position, and acceptance didn’t come automatically for him.

One aspect of the ranch that had taken him by complete surprise was Jake’s living arrangements. Gary apparently assumed Aaron had prior knowledge of Jake’s divorce and his move to a house several miles away. Aaron hadn’t asked any questions at Gary’s casual reference despite a burning curiosity. Faults aside, Aaron’s former brother-in-law was a family man through and through. Leaving his daughters must have been a terrible blow and maybe accounted for the anger constantly simmering beneath the surface.

Stepping into the tack room, Aaron looked around. Like everything else in the barn and stables, on the entire ranch for that matter, the place was neat and tidy.

Saddles on racks occupied one entire wall, bridles and halters, another. In the center of the room were back-to-back shelving units. One side held an array of boots in varying sizes and styles, Aaron presumed for guests who didn’t bring their own. Cowboy hats and baseball caps were on the other. At the end of one shelf were three child-size riding helmets.

He went over and picked up one of the helmets. Turning it over, he inspected the condition of the straps, buckles and padding. While not new, the helmet was in decent shape and should adequately protect the small head inside it. There were no adult-size helmets in and amongst all the cowboy hats and baseball caps. Did guests not want them or did the ranch not provide them? Aaron intended to find out.

Many of the men he rodeoed with argued helmets didn’t make a difference and laughed in the face of anyone suggesting they wear one. They claimed all the safety equipment in the world hadn’t helped the actor Christopher Reeves when he suffered his tragic fall from a horse. Aaron wasn’t one of those men. If Hailey had been wearing a helmet, she might have survived and he wouldn’t be a widower.

It was Aaron’s goal, his plan, to see that others did survive. Children most especially. For that reason, and to honor Hailey’s memory, he’d returned to Bear Creek Ranch.

“Did you find the leather punch?” Gary asked from the doorway.

“Not yet.” Aaron replaced the helmet. On impulse, he asked, “Do you have any of these for adults?”

“Helmets? No.”

“Can I ask why?”

Gary scratched his chin. “No reason I can think of.”

“Have any guests ever requested them?”

“One or two.” Gary’s expression changed, becoming slightly guarded.

Aaron suspected that while Gary had an obligation to answer all his questions, he didn’t want to say anything that might reflect ill on the Tuckers.

“I’m going to recommend to Jake that we purchase some adult helmets.” Aaron crossed the room to the wall of tools and removed the leather punch. He turned back around and met Gary’s gaze head-on. “That won’t be a problem, will it?”

“Not at all.”

A safe, noncommittal answer. Aaron wasn’t annoyed at Gary. On the contrary. He admired the man for his loyalty to his employer.

The morning ride went smoothly. Gary didn’t say much the first hour. He must have grown tired of listening to himself think, because he eventually opened up and began chatting. They rode the two shortest trails first. Using a GPS device, Gary marked locations for the maintenance crews to check.

“What about the hiking and ATV trails?” Aaron asked. They guided their horses around a fallen log.

“Those are to the east and south of the ranch. Horse trails are to the west. We have crews inspecting those as well.”

“Are all the trails on ranch property?”

“The shorter ones are. The longer ones cross over onto federal land. We stay in constant contact with the neighboring ranches. They let us know in what areas their cattle are grazing so we can avoid any accidental run-ins.”

Gary was in the middle of telling Aaron about the all-day trail rides, which were combined with mini fishing trips, when the radio clipped to his belt emitted a loud beep.

Pulling his horse to a stop, he held the radio to his mouth and said, “Yeah, what’s up?”

“Where are you?” a male voice Aaron didn’t recognize asked.

“Five miles out. At the base of Windy Pass.”

“Hoof it on back. Jake’s orders.”

“Something wrong?” Gary shifted in his saddle, his steel-gray brows drawn together in a deep V.

“He needs Aaron back here on the double.”

“What for?” Aaron asked, feeling himself tense. Jake was up to something.

“Did he say what for?” Gary repeated Aaron’s question into the radio.

“Nope. And I didn’t ask.”

“All right.” Gary signed off after giving the caller their ETA.

It was faster to ride the trail to the end than turn around. Once again, he and Aaron talked very little. Probably because the scowl on Aaron’s face discouraged conversation. He considered refusing to return then thought better of it. Gary could wind up taking the heat for something that wasn’t his fault.

It was past one o’clock when they arrived back at the ranch, and Aaron was hungry. Had Jake’s call not come in, he and Gary would have broken for lunch. While Aaron was unsaddling Dollar, Natalie arrived in her golf cart. She parked far enough away not to spook the horses.

Walking toward him, she waved hello.

Because he liked what he saw, he stopped to watch. Her strides were long and her shoulders straight. She might only be a shade above five-six, but she carried herself like someone much taller. Aaron supposed there were guys put off by a woman exuding so much self-confidence. Not him. She had the makings of a true competitor, and Aaron found that a whole lot sexier than tight jeans and a low-cut blouse.

“I’m your ride,” she said, going up to Dollar and scratching him between the ears.

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. I was just told to come get you.”

“And take me where?”

She followed him when he carried his saddle and bridle into the tack room. “Founders Cabin. It’s where Walter and Ida Tucker lived. They were the original owners of the ranch and started the resort.”

“Hailey and Jake’s grandparents?”

“That’s right. After they passed on, their cabin was converted into a sort of museum and conference center.”