Page 38 of The Cowboy's Second Chance Bride

“What’s the next question?” This from Sabrina.

Thank fuck.

“Well, I know Sabrina’s been on some dates recently, and I’m not sure about Cal. But this date is more like an excursion. Are you really comfortable being out here together, and can you picture doing this with someone you recently dated?”

I looked at Sabrina. She adjusted her hat. “To be honest, no. I can’t see myself doing this with any of the guys I dated previously. Maybe it’s because Cal and I used to go riding for fun when we dated, so this feels familiar, normal.”

“I think that’s why the app suggested it,” I said.

Cricket gave us a thumbs-up. “One point for the app.” She continued with the questions and asked me for tips about wildlife safety. Then she stared at her phone a second. She looked at Sabrina. “About that blog I mentioned. The one hinting at your dad’s tax issues.”

Sabrina turned to me. “It hasn’t been picked up by any papers yet,” she said as though trying to reassure me. I’d warned her about this happening.

Cricket put out a hand to stop Sabrina. “I just got an alert. It’s getting traction. I think we should have a response. I can put out a statement. Before we rode out, Paul and I agreed that we don’t want to make a big deal about it, but we don’t want to ignore it either.”

Sabrina groaned as she dismounted and gave her horse a quick rub along the neck. “My dad never had any issues with taxes. Being diligent with taxes was nonnegotiable for him. It won’t stick.”

I dismounted as well. “It’s part of the smear campaign. It doesn’t have to be true to stick.” I told you so. I opened my mouth to tell her that but stopped because she had one finger pointed at me.

“Don’t say it.”

“I don’t have to. But I can see on your face how upset you are. Meaning the article has done its job.”

Instantly, she wiped her feelings away and hid behind her poker face. “I know you all said he would go after my dad, and I thought I was prepared, but I’m not going to lie. It hurts having him attacked.”

I opened my mouth to apologize, but she began wagging her finger at me.

“Don’t say it!” she cried.

“I wasn’t going to tell you I told you so.” I stepped toward her, wanting to wrap her in my arms and hold her until the awful feeling she was experiencing dissipated.

“You were going to say you were sorry, but you don’t have to apologize for someone else’s actions. I don’t want to hear an apology. I want to fight back.” She clenched her fists and held them up to her mouth as if they were keeping all the feeling words from escaping.

I wanted to find my father and pound his face in. Well, that was something I’d wanted to do every day, but watching Sabrina get pulled under this deadly current was hard as hell, a special kind of torture, just as I’d known it would be.

“Reenie.” I stood in front of her, rubbing a hand down her upper arm as I searched for words of comfort.

“Reenie?” Cricket asked.

Cori gasped. “Her dad used to call her that. I had totally forgotten until I heard it just now.”

I watched Sabrina cycle through her feelings.

“Ahhh,” said Cricket with a chuckle. “We’re gonna head out. We’ll see you tomorrow. Hurry, Cori, get on the ATV.”

Sabrina looked around me to them and shook her head. “You both are so obvious!” she called.

“Obviously wonderful friends!” Cori called back. Then she yawned and waved. “See ya.” They crept away. When they hit the valley, the sound of the ATV gunning it echoed across the land.

“What was that about?” I asked.

Her fists were still clenched. I eased my hands over hers and slowly worked to pry her fingers apart.

“They’re being stupid. Ignore them.”

“Reenie, it’s going to get uglier.” My fingers were entwined with hers, her arms between us. “We can stop this anytime.”

As I squeezed gently, an electric warmth shot up my arms and spread through my body. I felt our energy surge through me, and it was like a caveman-style drug making me feel horny and protective at the same time. My eyes did a quick dart to her lips, which were red from the wind and lingering lipstick.

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