Page 41 of The Cowboy's Magic Touch

“I’ll be right there,” she called back. “Please, come with me, Merlin,” she said softly, bending down and waving him over. “You’ll adore Brody, and I bet you’ll fall in love with Bella.” But to her dismay, he turned and ran off, disappearing into the trees. “Darn it,” she muttered with a frown, but when she saw Brody riding towards her ponying Luna, she broke into a wide smile.

“I figured I might as well bring the horse to you,” he declared. “I got done with everything faster than I thought I would. Are you still up for a trail ride?”

“You bet,” she exclaimed, smiling happily as she hurried over to join him.

Reaching Luna, she placed her foot in the stirrup, pushed off the ground, and swung her leg over the saddle.

“You did that like you’ve never stopped!” Brody exclaimed. “How does it feel?”

“Absolutely fantastic. I don’t mean to keep repeating myself, but I’ve missed this so much. I’ve missed everything.”

“I bet you have.”

“The fog looks really thick. Should we go through it. Do you think it will be clear when we reach the top?”

“We can give it a try. The conditions don’t happen often, but with the rain drenching the ground yesterday and the sun comin’ out this mornin’ there’s a good chance.”

“I’d love to, but only if you’re sure you have the time.”

”I do, but even if I didn’t, I’d find a way to make time,” he declared, then leaning across the narrow gap between the horses, he kissed her.

“Just as well I’m in this saddle,” she murmured when he pulled back.

“Because?”

“My knees are weak.”

“I’ll be makin’ them even weaker pretty soon,” he promised with a wink. “Come on, Bella.”

As they started up the trail Bella ran ahead, but as the mist became thicker, he called her back and told her to stay close.

“This is so creepy but so amazing,” Annie murmured. “It would be so easy to get lost.”

“You bet. That’s why I brought my compass. It almost happened to me once.”

“Really?”

“Yep. Bella got us back.”

“You’re kidding?”

“It was after a storm like the one we had last night but there’d been really high winds. The path was covered in so many downed branches I had a feelin’ a twister might’ve touched down. Anyway, by the time I’d ridden around them I wasn’t sure where the heck I was, and I decided to head back. I told Bella to go home and followed her.”

“Good grief, that sounds—” she began, but was cut off as Luna abruptly stopped with her ears pricked, and Brody’s horse Maverick did the same. Suddenly Bella started barking and both horses began to snort. “Uh…Brody, what should we do?” Annie asked nervously.

“If I was alone I’d keep goin’, but you haven’t ridden in a while so I’m thinkin’ we should turn back.”

“What do you think it is?”

“A wolf…maybe even a cougar…who knows,” Brody replied as his horse began to jig. “There’s a lot of wildlife out here, though I have to say it’s odd. I can’t remember the last time Maverick was antsy like this.”

“I’m getting scared.”

“It’s okay, just slowly turn around, don’t let her run. If she gives you trouble, just—”

“Nose to the knee,” Annie said, finishing his sentence.

“Bella, stop your barkin’, we’re goin’ home.”

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