Page 36 of Mistaken

“There’s a labyrinth?” Sarah asked then, her eyes shining with interest.

“There is,” he replied. “And we can explore it later when the ground is not so muddy. I had no idea you were interested in such things.”

Now her shoulders lifted. In these dusty surroundings — for he had not thought to clean this place up before they ventured in here — she looked bright and beautiful and somehow out of place, in that deep turquoise dress that bared her arms, her hair shiny and free.

What would it feel like to have those glossy strands flow through his fingers like the finest silk?

As best he could, he banished the intrusive thought from his mind. Sarah would certainly not allow him to touch her thus, and he knew he should not even be thinking of her in such a way. It was becoming increasingly more difficult to regard her as a prisoner, but he did not know exactly how he should view her.

An honored guest, he supposed.

“Well,” she said, looking cheerful, “it’s not like I made a habit of exploring labyrinths or anything. I suppose it’s just fun that they have one here.”

“Then we will definitely go to look at it later,” he told her. “Perhaps after our ride, depending on the hour of our return.”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

They left the matter there and continued their exploration of the museum. Soon enough, it was time to stop so they could have their noonday meal, and they headed back up to the house.

As they went, he couldn’t help wondering why it was that he seemed so easy with her, when he had never before been comfortable around another living soul.

The day had warmed up enough that they ate on the table Abdul had summoned on the patio. He seemed fairly mellow, so Sarah couldn’t help making the request that had been floating around in her mind for some time.

“Do you think you could conjure me some proper riding clothes?” she asked, and he tilted his head at her.

“Is there something wrong with what you wore yesterday?”

Sarah brushed her hand against her silk dress, then shook her head. “Not exactlywrong,” she replied. “But I can’t help thinking that some jeans and a T-shirt would probably be better in the saddle than something this fancy.”

He was quiet for a moment, and she wondered if she’d offended him. What she’d said was only the truth, but if he’d been trying to show her that staying here wasn’t so bad by lavishing beautiful clothes on her, then she could see why he might take her request the wrong way.

But then he said, “I suppose you are right. You will find some new clothing for riding in your room — and a sturdier set of shoes.”

That would definitely help. At least he’d provided pretty little ballet-style flats and thong sandals rather than far more impractical heels or platforms, but Sarah knew the shoes he’d given her would still fall apart quickly enough if she kept riding and walking on rough ground in them.

“Thanks.” She reached for her glass of iced tea and took a sip, adding, “Do you think it’s going to storm again today?”

He lifted his head toward the sky. To be honest, it had been something of a silly question, since right now there wasn’t a single cloud dotting that entire sapphire expanse, but Sarah knew just as well as anyone else who’d lived in New Mexico for a while — let alone their entire lives — that things could change on a dime around here, especially during the summer when monsoon season started cranking up.

Apparently, Abdul thought the same thing, because when he glanced back down, he said, “I doubt it, but the air is moving quickly, and that means conditions can shift at a moment’s notice. Still, we should be safe to ride, and most likely to explore the labyrinth afterward.”

Exactly what she’d wanted to hear.

“Then I’ll get changed after lunch,” she said.

If his expression shifted, she would never know.

“Of course,” he replied.

Abdul had expected to be somewhat disappointed when Sarah appeared in the new clothing he’d summoned for her, and yet he had to admit there was something to be said for the way the slim jeans clung to her legs and the scoop-necked T-shirt showed off her curves. Not to the point where she would probably comment on the fit of the garments — he was certainly no expert on such things, but he had noted in those days before the world ended that many women wore clothing that seemed painfully tight — but enough that he thought she looked as beautiful as ever, if in an entirely different way from how she appeared in her silken finery.

True, the low hiking boots he’d also provided would never be commended for their beauty, but he could tell Sarah had a much easier time of it as she swung herself up into the saddle that afternoon. Perhaps it had been better before, when she’d needed his assistance and he’d been able to hold her hand, if only for a brief moment, although it was probably for the best that they had no reason to touch one another.

She had disordered his thoughts enough already.

He had called the horses to the house and saddled them while she was changing, so they were able to leave without much delay. This time, he guided them due north, away from the house and toward a canyon he thought she would like. No waterfalls or secret springs, but a creek did run through the spot, and all was shaded by cottonwoods and sycamores, with multicolored rock faces soaring hundreds of feet above.

“How many places like this are around here?” Sarah asked as she climbed down from her horse. Her movements still weren’t entirely graceful, although he could tell she was getting more comfortable about managing such things on her own.

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