Stranger danger

Catalina's POV

"Where's Gilberto?" I asked a random maid who was carrying a vase.

"He's with the horses, Boss." I gave a slight nod, dismissing her and she continued walking up the stairs.

On getting to the stables, I found Gilberto struggling with a horse. The horse seemed agitated and was trying to free itself from his hold. It neighed a lot and sent Gilberto flying across the room. Some men came to Gilberto's aid but my attention was drawn to the horse. It was cautiously calming down, patting his hoofs on the ground.

It was beautiful with his black fur neatly combed on his back. His dark eyes watched me from a distance, scanning me as he was still cautious. It hoofed, turning away from me.

"This will be my horse, saddle him for me." I didn't wait for a response and stepped outside. I heard footsteps behind me before a voice followed, it was Gilberto.

"Boss, that horse is dangerous. I've been riding it for a year and look what it did to me. It's stubborn. I won't advise a woman such as yourself to ride it."

If I was having second thoughts, I wasn't now. Anger masked the negative thoughts. "What do you mean a woman like me?" I walked closer to him, trying to be intimidating. Being shorter than him, I knew it didn't work but he backed down and apologized.

"I'm sorry, Boss." His eyes dropped to the ground as he spoke. "Elonzo, get the horse out here!" He barked, his loud voice hitting my sensitive ears which caused me to wince.

The black animal was already saddled. I looked into its eyes as mine reflected fear. Tempted to back down as the savage animal walked even closer to me like it wanted to throw me to the ground, I walked around it, I held the reins with shaky hands. A glance at Gilberto's smirk and I mustered up the courage. Quickly, I sat on the horse, causing it to neigh loudly, it tried throwing me off but several hits in its ass with my riding crop and it obeyed me.

The ranchers around clapped in admiration, throwing praises at me except for Gilberto whose face was up in flames. His forehead reddened hard in anger but I didn't care.

I rode in circles for a couple of minutes before ordering Gilberto to follow me into town. He reluctantly got a new horse. She was grey and calmer than Emilio, the horse I was riding. We rode speedily into town, civilians tripped over their feet trying to clear a path for us so they don't get stepped on. Disapproving comments and hissing was heard but I didn't care.

Gilberto bumped into a store, destroying the goods. "My fruits, my shop!" the owner wailed in agony before facing me with fiery eyes.

"Don't you watch where you are riding? Look what you've done. You'll pay for this!" The middle-aged woman races for me, her hand flaring in the air, ready to claw out my eyes as hers were hot with fury.

"Watch your mouth! I destroyed your shop, you don't talk to the Boss." Gilberto stopped the woman from lashing at me but I could defend myself. Before she could reply to him, I cut in.

"I'm his boss, whatever complaints you have, you can direct them at me." I stepped in front of Gilberto's horse which took a couple of steps back in shock.

The woman ranted on about how I needed to pay for her destroyed goods. Speaking all the harsh words in her book. Not being able to take it anymore, I was ready to tell her. I walked closer to her, ignoring the confused look on Gilberto's face.

"She'll pay for them."

Everyone turned in confusion to the source of the voice. It was the stranger from last night. He looked different now, like a total cowboy. He rode firmly on his ride while I back still struggling with the reins. I am an astute learner but still found it difficult. The cheeky grin on his face only angered me.

Dropping from his horse with ease, he walked over to me. A hand lay in the air for me to take. I blinked at it, confused till he pointed out Emilio's hind leg. The poor thing was wabbling on just three legs, trying not to put pressure on the last one.

Walking over to his side, I tried touching it when the stranger grabbed my hand. "Don't!" Emilio neighed when he noticed how close I was to his injury.

"What's wrong with him?" I asked the stranger.

Squatting, he observed. "He's hurt. He seemed to have bumped into something sharp. A log of wood maybe. I can't say, he won't let me get close." Emilio kept neighing, trying to push everyone back.

"But I didn't bump into anything. I watched where I was going." I glanced at Gilberto, getting the answers I needed.

"What about my money?" The woman who I had completely forgotten announced. "I'll not be able to make sales today because of you and your foreman." She eyed Gilberto at the last part who ended up frowning and let out a ragged breath.

"Gilberto, see to it that you pay her back. Get the amount for everything that has been ruined and send it to me. I'm sorry." I spoke genuinely.

"How will we get him home?" My attention was back on the cowboy stranger.

"Leave it to me."

A few minutes later we were on our way back to my ranch. He held the reins of both horses on either hand while I walked by the side, not knowing what to say. A sigh left me as I looked at the journey up ahead. No buildings were in sight as we were surrounded by bushes.

"Relax, I know a shortcut. We'll get him home in no time and then I can take a look."

Throwing him a questioning look, "Are you a vet?"

"No, but I know my fair share amount about horses." I rolled my eyes at the discovery. I wasn't jealous, just felt like he was full of himself, helping me with the locals and now my horse. He was showing off.

Trying to start up a conversation, I asked, "you said you were from the Moreno ranch right? What do you do there? The place is practically abandoned. Felipe takes care of the place so what do you do?"

"Don't tell me you are getting uncomfortable. Otherwise, why would you start up a conversation?" He smirked as he threw me a glance. "I thought you didn't like me. I got that impression when we first met."

"My feet are tired and I'll like to get my mind off them. Why else would I speak to you?" I said with an eye roll.

Answering my question while looking up ahead, he said, "the ranch will be back on its feet soon. It's being worked on as we speak. It will be filled with life and that's why we need you to fix the fence." He finally looked at me, not before adding, "we don't want them running around both ranches now, do we?"

We walked in silence after that, the sound of the earth crunching behind our feet being the only sound heard. The evening wind blew past us, and leaves from nearby trees fell to the ground, obeying the course of nature. It continued like till he spoke again. "You don't talk much."

"I do." I defended myself, my eyes roaming over his body, "just not around strangers."

"I beg to differ, you had a louder mouth back at your ranch the other day," a knowing look followed his statement.

"I know and I'm sorry about that. You caught me at a really bad time and I vented my anger out on you," I apologized sincerely, too ashamed to look at him.

"I'm not a man who keeps grudges so it's fine." He had that stupid smirk on his face again so I turned away from him.

"We are here." I raised my gaze from the ground and we were already on my ranch, heading for my stables. He seemed like he knew his way around so I had to ask. "Have you been here before?" He looked shocked at my question and turned away from me, his attention back on the horse. "Guess you aren't as dense as you look."

"I've been here severally, I use to play here, in the stables with a young girl. She was all bubbly and full of life. Nothing like what she is now." I detected sadness in his tone. He was disappointed in her.

"People do change, I just wasn't expecting this type of change." The look he gave me was so intense that I was forced to look away.

I knew he was talking about me and the idea of him acting like he knew me didn't sit well with me. It made me angry and a little upset that some strange man was all up in business.

"You don't know what she has been through, the hardship she faced when her parents died or when her-" My repressed anger was surfacing and I almost spilled my secrets, the wounds that made me move. Everything I had bottled up when I left the city was rushing back. All the emotions I buried from what he did to me. I was missing my parents more than ever and here he was talking to me about change. "So don't act as you do. Some of us have lived outside, away from these walls, and let me tell you, it's not dandy!" The last part came out strained. A lump appeared in my throat and it refused to leave no matter how hard I swallowed. It was getting harder to keep up the act.

The truth was, I wasn't fine and I wasn't sure I'd ever been. He left me to pick up the pieces that he left. He ruined me for good. I thought he cared about me but it was all up in my head. He never called to see how I was doing. I could never be my old self again.

I felt like smacking the stranger in the face. Having a way with words, I knew instantly he was bad news and I needed to stay far away from him, as far as possible. He hardly said anything and my emotions went on a rollercoaster. I needed to get away from him.

I tried walking towards the exit, needing to get as far away as possible when a strong hand pulled me back.

"Let go of me." I attempted to free myself from his hold but he was much stronger compared to me. The veins in his arm popped as he held me down. My hands stayed pinned behind me and with him a hairbreadth way, I was getting nervous. His gaze held me trapped, I couldn't look away even though I wanted to.

My breath hitched when he came closer. I could feel the hot air he exhaled all over my face. He got even closer, stealing a kiss from me. It happened so fast, I couldn't stop him. He entangled my lips with his reddish, plump, and warm ones. Sparks ran through me, going straight to my head.

I tilted my head a little, giving in to the desire. I felt warm all over and started returning his kisses. The waves of pleasure that shot through me were so intense that I gasped, giving him a chance to slip his tongue into my mouth. He massaged mine with him and I let out a throaty moan. He groaned loudly in response, letting my hands go and taking hold of my hair. It was finally sinking in. I was kissing a stranger. With the little strength in me, I pushed him back, wiping my lips while at it.