Hi everyone!  Here’s the third and final part to chapter 2 of B and B.  By now you should have had a chance to read the whole of the first two chapters – feedback welcome!

—

Ben realised there wouldn’t be any getting out of it now. He internally sighed, thinking he had enough to do each day without trying to fit in another trail ride so that Jake could flirt with Brooke.
“Well that’s sorted then! I’ll look at our roster for the rest of the week, but is there a day that suits you best, Brooke?”
Brooke looked to Jake, amusement crossing her features.
“Do I get a say in the matter?” she asked, teasing.
Jake grinned.
“Of course! I did ask you which day suited you best,” he joked, causing her to laugh.
“Whichever day is easiest for you two. I know it’ll be one extra task for you, so I don’t want to make it at an inconvenient time.”
Ben was thankful for her thoughtfulness. Jake shrugged it off.
“I’ll check the roster when I get in tonight,” Jake said and Ben knew it would be the first thing he did when he got in the door of his cabin.
Ben was thankful for Jake’s interception today with Janine, but he couldn’t help but wonder if Brooke perhaps felt the same way he had with Janine’s interest – like a deer in the headlights. He glanced at Brooke. She was cutting up the meat and potato into little bite-size pieces for Ella. Ben concluded that even if the redheaded woman was single, maybe she had enough on her plate without the interest of a high-strung male like Jake. He also concluded that he was going to stay out of it.
Over coffee and dessert – a lovely apple pie – Margaret and Peter were keen to hear Jake and Ben’s take on how the season was turning out. They’d been getting progressively busier over the past few weeks and were well into the swing of the spring season.
It was October and things weren’t expected to quieten down until late January. Ben knew he’d be well over the season by then, but for now things were more often than not appealing and refreshing.
He was a fan of spring – the changeable weather that wasn’t too hot and afforded some incredible storms to watch – and a day or two’s break from a barrage of clients. He was sure the horses appreciated the spell that inclement weather brought, too. Of course sometimes that same unpredictable weather resulted in a ride with clients starting with warm sunshine and ending with drenched horses and riders.
Ben let Jake do most of the talking, adding a comment or two about how the horses were faring as Margaret asked about client numbers and which ride time was the busiest. Peter got back into reading his paper at the table even though his wife insisted that he didn’t.
Brooke was focused on Ella and Ben found himself envious of the two. He’d happily be in his cabin with the heater on and a good book right now. It was with relief that the evening came to a close and Ben was able to make his escape. He didn’t bother to wait as Jake dragged out their goodbye as they headed down the hallway. Honestly, it wasn’t like Brooke was walking them to the door, so why did Jake need to drag his heels?

Here’s a continuation of chapter 2 of B and B, enjoy!

—

“Now that’s hardly fair, Pete. You know me, I’m just waiting for the right woman,” he said in sincerity, winking at Brooke as she entered the room, holding the hand of a little blonde girl.
Margaret was quick to introduce Brooke Carter to Ben. Ben nodded politely before addressing the young girl.
“And who might you be?”
She stared back at him shyly, ducking her head behind her mother.
“This is Ella. Say hello, Ella,” Brooke directed her daughter.
Ella peeked at him again before shaking her head. Brooke smiled at Ben.
“It seems that manners are difficult when we’re struggling with being shy.”
He shrugged, thinking he could relate. Unfortunately when you were older, you were considered rude if you didn’t respond.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ella,” he said with a smile in the small girl’s direction.
He was rewarded with her peeking up at him and giving him a quick smile before she followed her mum to the highchair. Ben noted that Jake was sitting beside Brooke. He wondered how the red-head felt about his co-worker’s obvious interest.
Ben was thankful he could sit opposite the pair and observe quietly. He was directly opposite Ella and found it was easy to pull funny faces when only she was looking. The small smile was making its way onto her face more frequently.
Maybe kids are easier than adults.
Ben kept an eye on the young girl while Brooke served alongside Margaret. Whoever did the cooking, Ben decided that it smelt wonderful.
They were treated to a roast lamb with an assortment of roasted vegetables. Ben was thankful to find he’d been served a generous portion. Horse work made a man hungry!
Jake’s compliment assured Ben that it was Brooke’s cooking he was being treated to. And it was just that – a treat. He felt pretty sure from this one meal that Margaret would be keen to keep the redhead on after her trial. It would just be a question of whether or not this suited Brooke and her daughter.
Ben found himself questioning where Ella’s father fit into the equation. He quickly silenced the thought. None of my business.
“Don’t you agree, Ben?” Jake asked, drawing his co-worker’s attention back to the table.
Ben looked at Jake blankly.
“Sorry?”
“I was just saying that it’s ridiculous that Brooke hasn’t seen the whole property, yet. We need to take her out on a trail ride when a quiet moment arises.”
Ben almost laughed at Jake’s optimism over a quiet moment in the near future. They were close to approaching their peak time for the trail riding business; a quiet time was going to be hard to come by. Instead he just said, “And who would look after Ella if Brooke has some time to spare for a ride?”
The little girl looked across at him upon hearing her name. He pulled a face, eliciting a small giggle. He grinned back, chewing on a lip when he noticed Brooke watching him intently.
“I could keep an eye on Ella,” Margaret responded, at the same time giving permission for her cook to go on a trail ride with the two.
Ben realised there wouldn’t be any getting out of it now. He internally sighed, thinking he had enough to do each day without trying to fit in another trail ride so that Jake could flirt with Brooke.

The last bit will be provided shortly 🙂

Hi everyone!

A little while ago I provided the first chapter (in 4 excerpts) to my next adult horse novel, B and B.  I wanted to follow this up with the second chapter just to provide a bit of an idea for potential readers!  This book will be available for sale in 2016!

Now for some more of the novel:

2.

Once the last horse had been rugged and turned out for the evening Ben found himself finally smiling.
“What an afternoon!” he said.
Jake nodded in agreement.
“Indeed. Boy did that Janine have a thing for you! Maybe she likes the tall, dark, brooding sort. Personally, I like a bit more fun and conversation,” he teased.
“Ha ha,” Ben replied sarcastically, “but seriously, thanks. I had no idea how to respond to her.”
“You can thank me by coming into the main house for dinner. At least you can talk with some people you know and work with.”
Ben knew that Jake’s comment wasn’t a suggestion. He sighed, but realised that although an evening alone was all he wanted, he had to oblige his mate for saving him from an awkward situation. He paused in confusion as Jake started toward his cabin.
“I thought you said we were going to the main house…” he started.
Jake turned back to him and raised his brows.
“Of course we are, but you don’t expect me to go like this, do you? I’m going to shower and change first! It’s not just Margaret and Peter anymore,” he said, as if that explained everything.
Ben sighed, realising he should have known. Of course Jake would want to look – and smell – good for the new cook. He realised he should also shower. It was the least he could do for Margaret and Peter before entering their house.
—
Half an hour later the two men made their way up the front steps of the long farm house. Whenever Ben was by himself, he would knock before entering but in typical Jake style, the younger man opened the door and cheerfully called out.
“What’s for dinner? We’re starving!”
“Come in and find out!” Margaret called back, causing Ben to smile.
The two men made their way down the hallway and into the dining room where Margaret was setting a last place at the table. Ben knew she’d added an extra spot for him, not having expected him for dinner before Jake announced their arrival. He was thankful she didn’t make a big deal of it and welcomed him in, simply by making room for him at the large dining table.
“Huh, to what do we owe this pleasure?” Peter asked Ben, gazing at him from over the paper he was reading.
Obviously Peter wasn’t as subtle. Ben shrugged.
“Actually, we’re a consolation prize,” Jake started seriously, causing Ben to question where this conversation was headed.
“You see, Ben had this hot date tonight but because he had to tend to the horses, he turned her down. We’re the next best thing,” Jake finished, causing Peter to look between the two of them in interest.
Ben pulled out the chair at the extra place he’d seen Margaret set at the table. He sat down and glanced over at Peter, not surprised that the older male was still looking at him thoughtfully.
“What?” Ben asked, not sure that he really wanted to know.
“You should have gone out. I’m sure the others would have tended to the horses quite capably without you.”
“I’m sure they would have,” Ben replied, not committing to make comment about the young woman.
Peter sighed.
“And that is why you two will spend the rest of your lives here, old and alone!”
Jake looked indignant.
“Now that’s hardly fair, Pete. You know me, I’m just waiting for the right woman,” he said in sincerity, winking at Brooke as she entered the room, holding the hand of a little blonde girl.

More to come later in the week! 🙂

Hi everyone!

I have recently received the edited copy of B and B back and have been reading through the suggested changes / comments from a new set of eyes.

It’s particularly satisfying as an author to read someone else’s opinion and find what they really enjoy about your progressing story!  This is especially so, as the reader isn’t a horse person, but they still found the story really enjoyable.  This is a win in my eyes!

Curious about this new adult horse novel?  Why not check out the excerpts on this site:

• Excerpt 1
• Excerpt 2
• Excerpt 3
• Excerpt 4