Page 51 of Harrison Hyde and the Runaway Bride

“Because… it’s impossible. And irresistible.” Then he kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

A throat cleared, and they startled apart, Harrison turning automatically. Maria’s aunt Chelsea stood there with the two empty coffee carafes. “Sorry,” she said. Then she looked around her kitchen, and said, “Wow. Nice job. Thanks.”

“We still have to wipe up,” Maria said. She took a clean dishrag from the sink and began wiping down the nearby counter.

“Well, it’s appreciated. And Harry, no pressure, but if you do decide you’d like your family close while this all shakes out, they’re welcome. How many are there?”

“Just my dad and sister.”

“Then there’s room. Your call, though.”

“Thanks. It’s a thoughtful invitation. I’m going to call my sister and see what she thinks of the idea.”

“Good. Now get outta my kitchen. You’ve done plenty.”

Maria and Harry walked outside just as a horse came galloping in. Miguel, one of the newer ranch hands, slid off and approached Uncle Garrett, who rose to his feet, looking worried.

“We got a cow down in the north pasture. She needs a vet.”

Maria scanned the tables, but she didn’t see her mother. Her dad was gone, too.

“Jess got a call from the Stockwell place,” Uncle Garrett said. “Horse off her feed.”

Everyone else looked at her, too. She nodded with more confidence than she felt, and said, “I’ll get my stuff. We’ll take ATVs; it’ll be faster than saddlin’ horses.”

“There’s already horses saddled,” Drew called. She was coming out the front of the stable with a pair of chestnut sisters, Thelma and Louise. “Orrin and I were planning to ride out. Take ’em, go on.”

“I’ll saddle up and come with you,” Trevor said. “But don’t wait, I’ll catch up fast. Rusty’s been teasin’ for a ride since I got here.” He nodded toward the green-and-wildflower meadow out past the stable, where several horses grazed. His horse Rusty, red with a shaggy mane, stood at the fence, looking back at him. In apparent response to all the attention on him, Rusty shook his mane and blew.

Maria turned to Harry beside her. “Will you come with me?”

“I wasn’t planning to stay behind.”

Trevor passed them on his way into the house and then came out again with a rifle. “I’m takin’ one of yours, Uncle Garrett,” he called. “Mine’s in the bunkhouse.” He didn’t even pause in his long-legged stride toward the stable.

Maria took Harry’s hand and ran around the side of the house where her van was parked, out of the way. Aunt Chelsea didn’t like cars to stay lined up in front of the porch. Spoiled the whole point of the porch, she said, which was the view.

She opened the van, shouting over her shoulder, “Miguel. What am I treating out there?”

“Wolf, maybe. She’s all cut up, agitated. Jake was fixin’ to dart her when I rode out.”

She grabbed the appropriate items, shoving them into a case that would fit in the saddle bags. Harry took it, and she packed a second, smaller one. Then they headed for the stables, where Drew was already strapping saddle bags onto one of the mares.

“I finally get to see you work,” Harry said while they walked fast.

She blinked and looked his way, and those blue eyes were on her, and sparkling. “No fair. I haven’t seen you work.”

“It would be a good sleep aid,” he said.

They shared a smile, and she marveled at how in sync with him she felt.

Drew opened the flap on the saddle bag as they approached, and Harry fit the bigger med pack in. Maria went to the other side to load the smaller bag and tied the flap down. Then she and Harry mounted simultaneously. Miguel rode out. Maria clicked her tongue and squeezed the mare’s sides between her heels. “Let’s go, Louise.”

And they were off.

They followed Miguel at a gentle lope over a well-worn trail. When the terrain changed, they slowed to a walk.

Behind her, Harry said, “Why did we slow down?” He leaned forward, patting his horse’s neck.

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