Taylor stared at him. “You care about her.”
The words made Eric’s pulse take off, adrenaline rushing to his head. “She’s Lexi’s friend. Of course I care about her.”
Taylor’s face split into a knowing grin. “No, buddy. I mean youcareabout her. You’ve got it bad, don’t you? Holy shit! I never thought I’d live to see the day.”
NowEric was pissed. “She’s not my type.”
“Since when is gorgeous, intelligent, and fun not your type?”
“If you don’t shut up, I’m going to pull this truck over again and put my fist through that stupid shit-eating grin of yours.”
“Okay, man. Have it your way.” But Taylor was still smiling.
Chapter 7
Vic listenedwhile Nate gave everyone the rundown on the day’s ride. His gaze landed on her, and he frowned. “Did you bring a hat—anything to keep the sun off your face?”
She shook her head. “There’s sunscreen in my moisturizer.
“That’s not going to do you any good up here. Hang on a minute.” He jogged off toward the horse barn.
Everyone else mounted, ranch hands helping to adjust their stirrups.
Eric patted his gelding’s neck. “At this altitude, people get sunburned faster.”
“Altitude again.”
Nate reappeared, a white cowboy hat in hand. “Try this. Megan won’t mind if you borrow it.”
Vic put the hat on, amused to think what her coworkers at Jensen West would think if they could see her now. “How do I look?”
“With those boots?” Eric’s eyes were shadowed by the wide brim of his hat, but she could see his grin. “Like a rodeo queen.”
“Hey, I like these boots. Besides, I wasn’t asking you.”
While Nate held the reins, she mounted her mare — a beautiful palomino named Baby Doe. “Isn’t Baby Doe the woman who froze to death at the Matchless Mine?”
“It sure is—Baby Doe Tabor.” Nate told Vic Baby Doe’s story while he adjusted her stirrups—how she’d married Horace Tabor before he’d legally divorced his first wife, how they’d set Denver on its ear with scandal, how the crash in silver prices had reduced them to poverty. “Baby Doe was penniless for most of her life, far longer than she’d been wealthy, but people remember her for the scandal and glamour.”
“How sad.”
“Riches to rags—sometimes that’s how it goes.” He handed her the reins. “Are you ready?”
Vic took the reins in one hand. “Thanks.”
“Hey, West, are you done with the history lesson?” Austin called.
He and Lexi were bringing up the rear.
Eric, who was right behind her, joined in. “There will eventually be riding on this trail ride, won’t there?”
“All right, all right.” Nate walked over to a ranch hand who was holding the reins of a big palomino stallion. He mounted the animal in a single motion, mastering its restless response with ease. “Come on, Chinook. These city folks are gettin’ grumpy.”
He rode with the grace of someone who’d been raised with horses, the cowboy hat on his head and the rifle holstered behind his right leg making Vic feel like she was on the set of a western movie.
“What’s the rifle for—bears?”
He chuckled. “Generally speaking, wildlife isn’t a problem. People are. We get squatters sometimes, and I’d rather be prepared than sorry. We’ve had a few clever entrepreneurs try to set up illegal grows on our land.”