Chapter Six

Beau slowed the truck and pulled into the driveway of the Jones residence. He wanted to get information, and he had a feeling Shelby Jones was the one who would talk first. After pulling into the driveway, he shut the truck off, stepped out, and walked to the door, then pushed the doorbell button.

He glanced around. It was a nice neighborhood but living with neighbors so close that their houses almost touched, was not for him. He preferred being out in the country.

When the door opened, a man frowned at him.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes, sir. I'm Agent McCallister with the Montana Department of Livestock. Is Shelby your son?" He opened his coat to show the man his badge.

"Yeah, Shelby's my son. Why do you need to speak to him?"

"I just need a few minutes of his time. If you could get him, I'd appreciate it."

"He's fifteen. Anything you say to him, you can say in front of me."

Beau sighed. Why couldn't people just do as you asked?

"You're welcome to stay while I speak with him, but if you don't allow me to speak to him here, I'll take him into the office. Without you." Beau glared at the man.

"Is he in some kind of trouble?"

"That's what I'm here to find out."

"Alright. Come inside and I'll get him for you, but I'm going to be with him."

"Yes, sir. I understand." Beau removed his hat, wiped his feet on the mat, and entered the house. He stood by the door while Mr. Jones went off to get his son.

When the man and his son walked toward him, Beau could see the fear in the kid's eyes.

"Shelby? I'm Agent McCallister with MDOL. I'd like to ask you some questions." Beau put his hand out for the kid to shake. He wanted to put him at ease.

Shelby shook his hand but wouldn't meet his eyes. Beau looked at Mr. Jones.

"Is there somewhere we could sit and talk?"

"Sure, come into the living room." Jones led the way.

Beau did his best not to grin as he looked at the boy shuffling his feet like he was going to his hanging.

"Have a seat, Agent. Would you like something to drink? Water? Coffee?"

"No, thank you." Beau waited for Shelby to sit before he did. He wanted to make him as comfortable as possible while he questioned him.

After Shelby and his father sat down, Beau sat in a recliner, and stared at the boy.

"Agent—" Jones stopped when Beau glanced at him and shook his head.

"Mr. Jones, I'm here to ask some questions concerning a stolen horse and I'd like him to speak for himself."

"A stolen horse? Why would Shelby steal a horse?"

Beau didn't answer him, he just stared at Shelby before speaking.

"Shelby? Do you know anything about a horse stolen from the Lawrence ranch?"

"No," Shelby muttered.

"Are you sure about that? I know you weren't the ringleader, but you do know who was. Do you realize how much trouble you're in by stealing that horse?"

Shelby looked at him, then at his father.

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Are you telling me you were involved in a theft?" Jones bellowed as he stood and paced, then stopped in front of Shelby. "You tell the truth. No matter what. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir." Shelby swallowed hard and looked at Beau.

"How many of you were involved?" Beau asked.

"Three of us."

"You, Timmy Matthews, and Donnie Simpson, correct?"

"Yes."

"Why did you boys take the horse?"

"Donnie said he thought it would be fun and we didn't have to worry about getting into trouble since we're under eighteen."

"He's not exactly right. You can't be put in prison since you're under eighteen, but I can still arrest you and put you in juvenile detention. Trust me, it's not fun."

"Juvie? I don't want to go there. Can't I just pay a fine?"

"Oh, you'll be paying a fine too."

"But I really didn't do anything. I sat in the truck while Timmy and Donnie went after the horse."

"I understand that, but you were there. You'd probably get a lighter sentence than the other two, but you will have to pay for your crime. Son, rustling is a federal offense, and I will make sure all three of you are punished for it."

"Donnie said if we got caught, all we'd have to do is community service, like Joey Callaway did."

Beau shook his head. "Joey still had to pay a fine and his community service wasn't a walk in the park. Trust me, yours won't be either, if that's what you get. Joey also lost his truck in the process. Whose vehicle did you use?"

"It belonged to Donnie's father."

"Well, I'm sure he's not going to be happy when that truck is confiscated." Beau got to his feet. "I'll be in touch. I need to talk with the other two." Beau looked at Mr. Jones, who was sitting on the sofa with jaw clenched and he knew the man was beyond pissed. "Do not let him call the other two."

"You can bet I won't." Mr. Jones stood and shook Beau's hand. "I'm sorry this happened."

"You're not the one who should apologize. I'll talk to you soon." He placed his hat on his head, walked to the door, then outside, closing it behind him.

As he stood on the porch, he could hear Mr. Jones yelling at his son, and he was sure Shelby would rather be in juvie than deal with his father's wrath right now.

Later, he pulled into the driveway of the Simpson residence. After stepping out, he walked to the door and knocked. When it opened, he knew he was staring at Donnie Simpson.

"Donnie Simpson?"

"Who wants to know?" Donnie said with a raised chin and Beau had to bite his lip to keep from grinning. He knew Donnie was acting tough, but that's all it was, an act. Beau could see the fear in his eyes.

"I'm Agent McCallister with the Montana department of livestock. I need to speak with you."

"About what?"

"Do you want to do this outside? Because if you do, I'll wait while you put a coat on."

"What's going on here?" a man asked as he came to the doorway.

Beau told him who he was and that he needed to speak with Donnie.

"Alright. Come inside. I'm Aaron Simpson, Donnie's father."

Beau shook hands with him and entered the house with them. He removed his hat and coat then took a seat on the sofa.

"So, what can we do for you, Agent?"

"I believe your son, along with two of his buddies, stole a horse from the Lawrence ranch."

"What? You must be joking."

"Mr. Simpson, there is nothing funny about rustling."

"Damn it, Donnie. What the hell did you do?"

"I didn't do it."

"I know you did, Donnie. Your friends gave you up."

Donnie folded his arms and leaned back against the cushions on the sofa, and Beau was losing his patience. The boy refused to meet his gaze, staring instead at the floor with a defiant set to his jaw. But Beau was not about to back down. His voice was sharp and cutting as he glared at Donnie Simpson, his frustration evident.

"You need to start talking," he snapped, as he stood and tried to control his anger.

"I don't have anything to say. I'm sixteen, and I don't have to talk to you," Donnie shot back, his tone full of adolescent rebellion, as he stood up.

Beau narrowed his eyes, as he took a step forward, getting closer to the boy, and he saw him swallow hard. Not quite as brave as he was pretending to be.

"Yeah, I know exactly how old you are," he said through gritted teeth, "old enough to be put in juvenile detention. So do not push me."

The color drained from Donnie's face at the mention of juvenile detention. He had clearly never considered the consequences of his actions until now.

"Juvenile detention?" he repeated, fear creeping into his voice.

"Yes," Beau confirmed, his expression stern. "There's no minimum age specified in the Juvenile Code for committing a crime. Once a person turns eighteen, they are considered an adult in the court's jurisdiction. So, since you're only sixteen, you'd be charged as a juvenile and will go to juvenile detention."

Beau watched as Donnie's eyes widened in realization and fear. But before he could say anything else, Beau's attention was drawn to Aaron Simpson, Donnie's father, who was now standing next to them.

"Dad?"

"I have no say in this, Donnie," Aaron said firmly. "You made a mistake and now you have to face the consequences. I can't save you from them." He sighed again. "Why did you think it was okay to steal from someone? We raised you better than that. I'm extremely disappointed in you." He shook his head. "I can't imagine how your mother will take this."

Donnie clenched his jaw tightly in response to his father's words, clearly struggling with a mix of emotions. But Beau was not about to let him off the hook. He needed to learn a lesson.

"Put your hands behind your back," Beau commanded, holding out a pair of handcuffs.

"No," Donnie refused, his rebellious nature coming to the surface again.

Beau exhaled loudly, growing more frustrated by the minute. "You're not getting out of this; I'm taking you into custody one way or another, so make it easy on yourself."

"Do you really need to use handcuffs, Agent?" Aaron questioned, trying to intervene on his son's behalf.

"Yes, sir," Beau replied firmly.

"What's he looking at for punishment?"

"A person convicted of the theft of any commonly domesticated hoofed animal will be fined an amount of not less than five thousand dollars or more than fifty thousand or be imprisoned in a state prison for a term not to exceed ten years, or both. Considering Donnie is a minor, he'll be sent to juvenile detention. Depending on the outcome of the case, if he's kept in juvie until he turns eighteen, he would then be sent to prison since he would be an adult."

"Dad, if you let him take me away, I will never speak to you again!" Donnie yelled in desperation.

"Son, I'm not letting him do anything. He's just doing his job," Aaron gritted out through clenched teeth. "You stole a horse."

"Not only that, but your truck was used in the theft, Mr. Simpson, so it will be confiscated, and you'll lose it. A tow truck will pick it up later today."

"Damn it, Donnie," Aaron Simpson shouted.

Donnie glared at Beau with defiance and entitlement written all over his face, believing that his father could get him out of any trouble he got into because he was a lawyer.

"Turn around and put your hands behind your—" Beau ordered, but before he could finish speaking, Donnie swung a fist and hit him on the chin.

Beau stumbled back a step, caught off guard by the unexpected blow. But he quickly straightened up and took hold of Donnie's arm, spinning him around and pushing him against the wall, then he snapped on the handcuffs.

"Now you've added assaulting an officer to the charge," Beau growled as he led the boy out the door, toward his truck. As they approached it, he saw tears streaming down Donnie's cheeks and couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the troubled boy. But what he did was wrong, and he needed to face the consequences.

"I'll get his jacket," Aaron Simpson said, then looked at Donnie. "Damn it, Donnie. From the frying pan into the fire. You don't hit someone in law enforcement. You might have put the last nail in your coffin."

"You can follow me to the detention center if you'd like," Beau offered, turning to Donnie's father.

"I'll be there later. I think a few hours in jail will make him realize what a mistake he made," Aaron replied with a heavy sigh, as he draped Donnie's coat over his shoulders.

Beau nodded in understanding before walking out the door. He opened the back door of his truck and had Donnie climb in, then he put the seatbelt on him. Once Beau got into his truck, he drove off toward the Clifton Juvenile Detention Center. It was never easy arresting someone, especially a troubled teenager like Donnie, but it was part of his job as an agent. Hopefully, this experience will teach Donnie the importance of making responsible choices.

Beau glanced into the rearview mirror to see Donnie staring out the window with tears rolling down his cheeks.

"If you tell me where the horse is, I'll drop the assault charge," Beau said, glancing into the mirror again, but the kid didn't say a word, making Beau blow out a frustrated breath. He wasn't sure how he would get him to talk.

"I hope you realize how much trouble you're in. I'm taking you straight to juvie, so maybe you can do some thinking over the weekend until you see a judge. You might have ruined your life by doing something so fucking stupid."

"It was just a stupid horse!" Donnie shouted.

Beau pulled his truck onto the berm and turned to look at him.

"It doesn't matter what you stole. Stealing livestock is a serious crime. Just because it's an animal doesn't make it any less of a crime. You heard what I told your dad about rustling. And I'm going to make sure you face the consequences of your actions. You and your buddies will all be in juvie."

"My dad won't let that happen."

Beau chuckled. "Really? He might be able to get you a lighter sentence, but you'll still have to pay for your crime, and it will go on your permanent record. You'll be labeled a thief and not many places would want you working with them. You can't live on daddy's money forever."

After checking traffic, Beau pulled back onto the road, and drove to the Juvenile Detention Center.

"I'll just do community service. Like Joey Callaway did."

Beau glanced in the rearview mirror to see Simpson smirking, making Beau chuckle.

"The only reason Callaway got community service is because the agent who arrested him, helped him out. Otherwise, he would have gone to juvie, like the other two who were with him did. Joey lucked out because Agent Hawkins wanted to help him. I will not help you since you won't cooperate with me. You'll be picking up trash along the roads, wearing a shirt that tells everyone you steal livestock." Beau chuckled.

"I won't wear the shirt," Donnie snapped.

"Don't bet on it, kid. You'll have to do what you're told or be kept in a cell all day."

"Bullshit."

"Oh, you think I'm joking? You'll find out soon enough. This is no joke. You'll be there for rehabilitation, but you'll still be kept confined. You could be locked in a cell as small as seven-by-ten feet, twenty-two to twenty-four hours per day, with no personal belongings, no access to educational services, counseling or mental health treatment, no interaction with peers and with nothing more than a lightly padded mattress on a concrete floor to sleep on. So, if you think you'd rather do that then work off your fine, I'll be sure to let them know when we get there." He looked in the mirror to see the boy pale as his words sunk in. "Where is the horse?"

The boy still refused to answer him. Beau shook his head. Maybe once he realized that he wasn't getting out of juvie, he'd change his mind about talking.

Once inside the detention center, Beau put his card in one of the pockets of Donnie's coat.

"Think long and hard on this. If you want my help, call me within twenty-four hours or you're on your own. Your buddies told me you were the one to take the horse somewhere." He stepped closer to him. "If you've hurt that animal in any way, shape, or form, I'll see you stay here until you're eighteen and then I will personally take you to prison."

Beau stared at him, but Donnie didn't seem to care. Beau shrugged, turned and walked out of the detention center.

****

Brenna's eyes were glued to the clock on the wall all afternoon, anxiously waiting for the time to pass so she could see Beau. But the hands seemed to be moving at a painfully slow pace. Letting out a heavy sigh, she refocused on checking homework for her students.

When the final bell rang, Brenna smiled as she watched the kids pack up their belongings and get ready to start their weekend. Their excitement was contagious.

"Ms. Lawrence, do we have any homework?" one little girl asked eagerly, prompting groans from the others.

"No homework this weekend. Have a good one. You can grab your coats and head out now. I'll see you all on Monday," Brenna announced with a smile.

The kids cheered at the news of no homework, thanked her, and quickly gathered their things before rushing out of the room. Brenna shook her head in amusement as she heard them running down the hallway. They were always eager to leave and especially on Friday afternoons. She couldn't blame them. She was just as eager to leave for an entirely different reason. She couldn't wait to see Beau tonight.

As she sat in her car, she wondered what their dinner plans were. Neither of them had mentioned it beforehand. She pressed the steering wheel button to call Beau.

"Hey, sweetheart. You're not calling to cancel, are you?" Beau said when he answered.

"Nope. I was just wondering what you had planned for dinner?"

"I hadn't thought about it yet. We could order takeout."

"How about I pick up a pizza?"

"That sounds good. I like all the toppings."

"Of course, you do. I'll get half with everything and my favorites on the other half."

"Sounds good. Hey, if I'm not home yet just make yourself comfortable until I get there. It shouldn't be too much longer."

"Okay. Do you have a hidden key or something?"

"No, ma'am. No one ever comes around."

"I can't believe you leave your beautiful place unlocked."

"I live out in the country, Brenna. There's nothing to worry about. Besides, I have a few ranch hands who keep an eye on the place."

"Alright. See you later."

"Can't wait." He hung up the phone.

Brenna smiled as she called an order in for the pizza and it would be ready by the time she got there. She drove out of the parking lot and headed to town.

After picking up the pizza, she drove to Beau's house and parked beside the side door. As she walked up the steps, she heard someone calling out to her. She turned to see a tall cowboy approaching.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" he said, putting his fingers to his hat.

"Yes?"

"Are you here to see Beau? He's not here yet."

"I know. We're meeting here." She held up the pizza box and he grinned at her, almost making her lose her balance. He was quite attractive with his tall frame, dark hair, and blue eyes visible under his hat. She guessed he was in his early-to-mid forties. He was very handsome.

"My apologies. Beau didn't mention anyone coming by. I'll leave you to it." He touched his hat again and turned to leave.

"Wait."

He turned back to face her, raising an eyebrow in question.

"Who are you?"

He walked closer to the steps, removed his hat and offered her his hand with a grin. Dear Lord, those eyes!

"Nate Jefferson. I'm the manager here," he introduced himself.

"It's nice to meet you, Nate. I'm Brenna Lawrence," she replied as she shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you, too. Have a good evening." He raked his fingers through his hair and settled his hat on his head.

"Same to you." She watched him walk back toward the barn, appreciating how well his Wranglers fit him.

With a smile on her face, she climbed the steps and entered the warm house. Setting the pizza box on the island in the kitchen, she took off her hat and coat before sitting down to remove her shoes. Since Beau hadn't arrived yet, she had time to change into comfortable clothes.

An hour passed, and she was sitting in the living room watching TV when she heard the back door open and close. She stood up and walked to the kitchen where she saw Beau removing his hat and coat before hanging them up. When he turned to sit on the bench, he noticed her and grinned, causing her heart to flutter.

"Hey," she greeted him.

"Sorry I'm late. Had to fill out some paperwork," he explained.

"It's okay. I put the pizza in the oven to keep it warm."

"I can smell it. I'm starving, but I need a shower first. You can go ahead and eat."

Brenna cocked her head. "Maybe I'd like a shower too."

Beau took a step toward her, stopping just inches away. He gently cupped her cheek with his hand and looked into her eyes.

"Shall we share then?" he asked with a smirk.

"We could save water," Brenna suggested.

Beau laughed. "I don't care about saving water. I just like the idea of you in the shower with me."

Brenna ran her fingers down his shirt, playing with the buttons before meeting his gaze.

"I've never had shower sex," she admitted.

"That settles it then." Beau took her hand and led her to his bedroom, then into the shower.

After stripping off their clothes, Beau reached for a condom in his wallet before placing it on the shelf inside the shower stall and giving Brenna a playful grin.

"Just in case," he said.

She laughed. "Of course."

Beau picked her up and placed her inside the stall, then stepped in behind her. She turned to face him, and he leaned down to kiss her deeply. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her closer as their kiss intensified.

Brenna wrapped her arms around his waist before trailing them down to his tight ass and digging her nails in. When he pulled away, she playfully nipped at his lower lip.

"I want you, Beau," she murmured.

"Baby, you know I want you too," he replied huskily.

She reached between them and grasped his hard cock, causing him to groan and become even more aroused.

Beau's fingertips gently traced the inside of her thigh, inching closer and closer to the heat between her legs. As they finally made contact, she couldn't help but let out a surprised gasp. He leaned in, capturing her lips in a hungry, passionate kiss while his fingers continued their exploration. His thumb grazed her clitoris, applying just the right pressure that made her whole body shudder.

As her orgasm approached, he didn't break the kiss, allowing her to cry out into his mouth as waves of pleasure washed over her.

****

Beau pulled away slightly, gazing deeply into her eyes as she struggled to regain her breath. The flush on her cheeks and the longing in her eyes were intoxicating.

"Good?" he asked softly.

"Yes," she managed to whisper in response.

He grabbed the condom from its packaging and carefully rolled it onto his throbbing cock. Gently lifting her up against the wall of the shower, he took a moment to appreciate the vulnerability and trust in her eyes before slowly inching into her.

Her legs wrapped securely around his waist as he gradually filled her completely, their bodies connecting in perfect harmony. The warm water cascaded over them, adding a delicious sensation to their intimacy. Gradually increasing his pace, he could feel how tightly she held onto him with both her legs and inner muscles.

"I can feel you tightening around my cock, Brenna. You feel fucking incredible," he murmured into the steamy air around them.

"Please," she pleaded with him, her eyes full of need.

He took her hard and kissed her deeply, his hands gripping her ass as he pushed into her. He wanted to last longer, to savor the feeling of her around him, but with her tightening and clenching around him, he couldn't hold back any longer. He groaned when his orgasm hit him hard, and he moaned against her lips as she shuddered with her own release.

They stilled for a few moments, panting and struggling to catch their breath. He couldn't believe how much he wanted her; how much he needed her. And by the look on her face, she felt the same.

"I didn't know it could be like this," she said in a hushed voice, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest.

He kissed her forehead, holding her close. "Me neither," he whispered. "But I do know I don't want it to end."

And in that moment, Beau knew they had found something special between them. He would do whatever it took to make this work, to be with her.

Beau gently let her down, holding onto her so she wouldn't fall.

"Brenna…" He shook his head. "I think we have something special, and I'd love to see where this goes. I think about you all the time."

"I feel the same. I never knew sex could be so intense, so fulfilling." She shook her head.

"Sex with you is so amazing." He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"It's wonderful."

"Let's get out of here and grab some food. I'm starving."

"Me too."

"We definitely worked up an appetite," Beau said with a grin as he opened the shower door.

"I'll be out in a minute."

"Yes, ma'am. I'll head to the kitchen and take the pizza out of the oven."

"Great." She smiled at him, and he couldn't resist kissing her again.

"I'll see you in the kitchen, then we can watch TV." He left the bathroom and entered his bedroom. After grabbing a pair of sweatpants from the drawer, he quickly put them on and found a T-shirt before heading to the kitchen, pulling on his shirt as he went.

****

The following day, Brenna eagerly followed Beau to the barn to go horseback riding. The air was crisp and cold, but she didn't mind. Being with Beau was worth a little discomfort. As they made their way to the stables, she couldn't help but be happy to spend time with him, not just for physical pleasure but for genuine companionship. She admired him as a good man and thought Liz was foolish to screw around on him and ruin their marriage, along with hers and Eric's.

"It's chilly today," she remarked.

Beau stopped and turned to face her. "We don't have to go if you're not up for it."

Brenna shook her head. "No, I'm fine. Just making an observation."

"If you're sure," he said, with a hint of concern in his voice.

"I am. Plus, you can always warm me up when we get back," she teased.

"I like the sound of that." Beau grinned.

Brenna laughed and followed him into the barn, taking in the scents of hay, horses, and leather.

"It smells wonderful in here," she commented.

"I couldn't agree more," Beau replied. "You're an experienced rider, right?"

"Yes," Brenna said.

"Alright, let me find you a horse. Stay here and I'll bring one out for you."

"I'll be right here," she confirmed.

Beau leaned in and kissed her again before striding down the aisle toward the stalls. Brenna watched him disappear into one stall and emerge less than a minute later, leading a stunning Appaloosa horse. Its white coat was speckled with black spots, resembling a Dalmatian's long-lost cousin.

"Oh, my goodness, he's beautiful," Brenna exclaimed in awe.

"This is Jupiter. He's a six-year-old Appaloosa, and very gentle," Beau said.

"Okay." Brenna approached the horse and gently rubbed its velvety nose, smiling when it nuzzled her hand.

"I'll go get my horse and then we can saddle up," Beau said as he tied the reins around a rail.

Brenna continued to pet Jupiter as she watched Beau disappear into another stall. Suddenly, she noticed Nate entering the barn.

"Hello, again," he greeted her with a smile. "Heading out for a ride?"

"Yes," Brenna replied, returning his smile.

"It'll be pretty cold out there," Nate warned.

"Hey Nate," Beau said as he emerged from the stall with his own horse.

"Beau." Nate nodded in acknowledgement.

"This is Brenna Lawrence—" Beau began to introduce them, but Brenna cut in.

"We've actually met. Yesterday when I arrived. Nate told me you weren't here yet and we introduced ourselves."

"Okay."

"Do you need any help getting ready, Beau?" Nate offered.

"No thanks, I've got it covered. We won't be gone long."

"Alright. Have fun out there, you two. I'll be around if you need anything."

"I've got the walkie-talkie just in case." Beau nodded at Nate.

"Take care," Nate said with a nod before making his way out of the barn through the other end.

Brenna watched him go until Beau cleared his throat, the sound echoing in the quiet barn. She couldn't help but laugh at his expression.

"What?" she asked innocently.

"What, she says."

"He's very handsome," Brenna commented. "Not as handsome as you, of course."

Beau chuckled and shook his head. "Good save."

She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, standing on her toes to kiss him lightly on the lips. "I'm only interested in you," she murmured against his mouth. "But I can still appreciate a good-looking man when I see one."

"Fair enough." Beau conceded with a shrug. "And Nate is a good man."

"How long has he worked here?" Brenna asked curiously.

"About fifteen years now."

"He must enjoy working for you then," Brenna remarked.

"I like to think so. But more importantly, I trust him completely."

"That's always important to have in an employee," Brenna agreed. "But what do you need a manager for?"

"I raise and sell Appaloosas."

"That's right. I forgot about that."

Beau nodded before turning back to finish tacking up the horse. "Come here and get on, then I'll adjust the stirrups for you."

Brenna put her foot in the stirrup and mounted the horse with ease. She smiled down at Beau, feeling comfortable and secure on the animal's back.

"You made that look so effortless," he commented.

"Not as effortless as you, I'd bet."

"I've had plenty of practice." Beau winked at her before adjusting her stirrups.

After they were both ready to go, Beau led the way out of the barn and Brenna followed closely behind. She couldn't help but admire his horse, a magnificent American Quarter horse with a shiny black coat and strong, muscular build.

"He's beautiful," she remarked.

"I think so too. Bought him the minute I saw him," Beau replied.

"What's his name?"

"Blackjack."

"It suits him perfectly. You don't ride an Appaloosa?"

"Yes, I have one of my own, but Blackjack loves riding in the snow."

As they rode through the fields, the wind picked up and Brenna pulled her coat tighter around her. Beau seemed unaffected by the weather, his rugged features looking right at home in the elements.

She gazed around at their surroundings. The snow-covered pine trees along the fence line, created a picturesque winter scene. Suddenly, she thought she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She stopped her horse, her eyes scanning the area intently. Was it a wolf? They didn't hibernate, so that could be what she saw. She really hoped not.

"Brenna?" Beau called out to her from up ahead, breaking her concentration.

"I thought I saw something. A wolf, maybe," she explained as he rode back toward her.

"We should head back then. I don't want to run into a hungry pack," Beau said with concern.

"Would they attack us?" Brenna shivered at the thought.

"If they're hungry enough. They'd probably go after the horses first."

"First? Okay, can we head back?"

"Yes, ma'am. I think it's getting colder too."

"Well, we can warm each other up when we get back." Brenna grinned.

"Now, that sounds like a good way to spend the afternoon. Let's go." He turned his horse around and she did the same, then they rode back to the barn.