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They rode deep into the property, farther than Caleb thought belonged to Mateo’s family. Soon they were surrounded by trees and other shrubbery. Birds exploded from trees when they drew nearer. The hunting dog barked wildly, earning a reprimand from Mateo.
Caleb chuckled, hiding a smile as he turned his head. They pulled up into a shaded area, and Mateo turned his horse around to face Caleb. He climbed down from his horse and walked beside the dogs, who panted loud enough that Caleb was worried they needed to get them some water.
Then, as if his thoughts had been enough to make water appear, they passed by the opening in a thicket where a pond had been hidden. The dogs darted toward the water, and Calebclimbed down to walk his horse beside Mateo. He glanced at his friend out of the corner of his eye. “Why did you decide to go into training dogs?”
Mateo shrugged. “I guess I was always good with them.”
“That’s not a real answer.”
His friend chuckled, the usual happiness returning. “And why did you start off being a ranch hand? Because you’ve been good at it.”
“No, it’s because I didn’t have any other choice. My parents bought the land, or maybe it was my grandparents. Then we got it, and in order to survive, we worked it.”
“Same thing,” he said with a grin.
They guided their horses closer to the water’s edge and tossed the reins back around the horses’ necks. The only sound that filled the small clearing was that of the animals getting their fill. Caleb didn’t dare bring up love or fate again. He far preferred the more optimistic version of Mateo than the dismal one.
“How about you answer your own question.” Mateo’s statement was enough of a distraction from Caleb’s thoughts that he peered at his friend with confusion.
“What?”
“Why do you want to work with dogs? It’s like we’ve said. Sometimes you’re born into something, and sometimes you’re drawn to it. So why did you call me up out of the blue?”
“It wasn’t out of the blue,” Caleb said, rubbing the back of his neck. “When Hudson got those dogs from you…” He shrugged. “I guess I got a little curious about it. Odin is some kind of dog.”
A smile pulled at Mateo’s lips. “Yeah, he’s one of my best works. That dog is smart as a whip.” He leaned against a nearby tree and cocked his head slightly. “So that’s it? You were curious about what it takes to train a dog to work the land?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe? I sense there’s more to this story.”
Caleb turned away with another shrug. “I don’t know. I guess I wasn’t feeling like I fit in at my place. There’s so many of us. And with Carter taking off, I just figured…”
“You wanted to find your own way.”
He glanced over his shoulder at Mateo. “That’s a good way of putting it.”
Mateo pushed away from the tree and dusted off his shoulder where some bark had come loose. “You’re more than welcome to try it out. I’ll warn you though, it’s not for the weak.” He glanced once more at Caleb like he wanted to ask him something. Then he shook his head.
“What’s that look for?” Caleb demanded.
“I didn’t have a look,” Mateo replied.
“I beg to differ. You wanted to say something, but you weren’t sure about it.”
“Oh yeah?” Mateo’s eyes narrowed slightly. “If you’re so smart, then what do you think I was going to say?” There were notes of teasing in his tone, the lightheartedness returning. “I bet you won’t figure it out.”
Before Caleb could make his best guess, Mateo’s phone rang in his pocket. The sound was loud enough to give Caleb a start. Mateo reached for it and answered with a single syllable. “Yeah.”
The sounds on the other end were muffled by the device. Mateo glanced at Caleb and nodded. “I’ll be right there. Make sure you have warm water and blankets ready.” He hung up the phone and hurried toward the horses. “I have to get back. One of the dogs is in labor. She’s having a hard time, and Roman isn’t ready to do this solo. Can you find your way back on your own?”
Caleb nodded. “Sure. Do you need any help? I’m sure I can keep up.”
“Next time. I need to keep an eye on Roman, and I don’t have the patience to babysit both of you.” He playfully slugged Caleb in the arm. “If I don’t see you back in an hour, I’ll send out thesearch parties.” He swung into the saddle, whistled for the dogs, then took off at a pace Caleb probably wouldn’t have been able to keep up with.
He climbed up onto his own horse and clicked his tongue, turning her toward the trail when another horse he’d never seen before charged straight past the opening in the trees. Riding that horse was a woman screaming for her life, her brown hair billowing behind her. He shot a look in the direction that the woman had come, and far behind her was another rider hollering something he couldn’t understand.
Caleb dug his heels into his horse’s flanks and leaned forward to chase after the runaway horse. He stood in the stirrups, hovering over the saddle enough to make the ride less of a jolt to the senses. It took less time than he’d expected to catch up. She glanced over at him, and recognition filled her terrified gaze. Her glasses were missing, and her green eyes pleaded for him to help her.
