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At least we know it wasn’t the food. I don’t want someone else threatening to sue us.”
    “That didn’t come to anything.”
    They’d had a guest who’d almost taken them to court a few months ago. Some crap about bedbugs. Pest control had found no evidence of any problem, but word spread based on internet comments. Calum had jumped on every post he saw and eventually squashed the rumor, though there was no way of knowing if they’d have had that level of cancellations without the issue. It damn well annoyed him his father had refunded the bedbug guy’s money. The lying bastard had probably made up the whole thing.
    His father glared at him. “We had four cancel that should have been here this week.”
    “Coincidence,” Calum said, though he wasn’t sure it was.
    He knew his father was worried. Even when they weren’t running at capacity, the wranglers and other help still had to be paid and horses had to be fed. They weren’t the only dude ranch in Wyoming. They couldn’t afford to make mistakes.
    “Go and help Pete replace that boarding on the barn,” his father said.
    “I’m going to take the English guy out. He wants to ride.”
    His father scowled. “Think that’s a good idea?”
    Calum stiffened. “Don’t you trust me?”
    They stared at each other and Calum thought if the wrong thing was said, he’d walk off this ranch and never speak to his father again. But then he’d thought that a lot of times and he’d never left. Calum backed down from confrontation just like he always did.
    “Sorry,” he muttered.
    His father nodded. “I’ll tell Gunner to saddle Zander.”
    Calum carried on to his room, his heart hammering. Just him and Jasper? At least he’d know by the end of the ride if the guy was only going to figure in his dreams. But if Zander wasn’t in the right mood, they’d be lucky to make it to the bottom of the first pasture by lunchtime. He snatched up boots and gloves, turned to leave and then went back to grab a couple of foil packets from his bottom drawer. Fuck what his father thought. Calum was listening to his dick. It was more fun.
    When he got back to Jasper’s room, the suitcase had gone.
    “These should fit.” Calum handed him the boots. “We look about the same size.”
    “I don’t want spurs. I don’t need them.”
    Calum sucked in his cheeks. “The horses are used to them.”
    “But I’m not. I don’t want to risk injuring a horse if I…”
    If you panic. Shit. “Here, I’ll take them off.”
    Calum removed the metal and passed the boots back.
    Jasper slipped them on and stood to press his heels down into the boots. “Thank you.”
    “You should wear these too.” Calum handed him the gloves. “You don’t want to end up with hands like mine.”
    “Nothing wrong with yours,” Jasper murmured.
    Calum’s breath caught. “Come on, then. Let’s see if Zander likes you. Leave the helmet, you won’t be going above walking pace.”
    Jasper was silent all the way to the corral. Calum couldn’t help but notice he trudged the worn path like he was walking to his execution. The sunglasses were back in place. Hard to tell what he was thinking. Calum wondered what had happened. Had to be some sort of accident. Hence the helmet. Shit, I should have let him wear it.
    The docile brown horse they used for beginners was tethered to the rail of the corral. No one else was around.
    “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” Calum said.
    Jasper remained tight-lipped.
    “You could try again later.”
    Calum could almost see the battle going on in Jasper’s head. He wanted and didn’t want at the same time.
    “Why don’t you just say howdy to him?” Calum climbed over into the enclosure.
    He was a little surprised when Jasper followed.
    “Good boy, Zander.” Calum patted the horse at the base of its neck.
    Jasper tipped his sunglasses onto his head and held out his hand, palm flat and let the horse sniff. “You look older than me,” he said