Page 28 of Take Me Away, Cowboy

“Shit,” he finally got out. “That’s not at all how I meant that to come out.”

“Seems to be a problem you’re dealing with,” she retorted.

“I’d say,” he agreed. He moved closer to her again, his arms outstretched as if in explanation, but she moved a step back, her right pointer finger warning him off. “I wanted to invite you on a trail ride behind the farm, up in the hills. Horses. I have two horses I’d like us to take.”

Why did everything with this woman take ten times the explanation? More so, why did half their interactions leave him flustered and acting like he’d never spoken to a member of the fairer sex before?

“Well, that’s better. Was that so hard to say?”

“Apparently,” he laughed. “But seriously, you wanna go? I’ve got a bottle of wine and some fruit I can throw in the saddle.”

“After your story of bears being on the loose?” she asked. He didn’t miss the tremble she tried to hide in her voice.

“They aren’t on the loose so much as they’re on a walk. And besides, I’ll bring my .45. I’ve been told I’m a crack shot, so you’ll be safe.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, her pointer finger wagging at him now.

“You’ve talked me into it, mister, but no funny business. Just a ride.”

His eyes danced with mischief.

“That’s all I was asking for in the beginning.”

She huffed out an exaggerated sigh and spun on her heels towards her house.

“Where you going?” he called out after her.

She tossed him a smile over her shoulder that about put him flat on his ass.

“To grab a blanket for the picnic,” she yelled back before opening her door and disappearing inside.

He turned on his own boots and took off in a full sprint towards his house. He made a list in his head as he ran.Wine, glasses, a water bottle, apples for the horses, the grapes and strawberries from the farmers’ market, the block of Parmesan from the welcome basket…

He found himself at his door, breathless but full of youthful energy, when he erupted into a cheesy schoolboy grin.Condoms, he added to his mental list.

Just in case.

CHAPTER EIGHT

The Accident

Paige had neverbeen that high, not especially on the south rim, but Owen proved to be a steadfast guide. As knowledgeable as she was about the terrain, he seemed to know more. He also seemed comfortable riding in the saddle, whereas she’d always had a distrust of putting her faith in an animal to keep her safe. They rarely prescribed to the human laws of nature or physics, and though she could ride competently, she never did so with much confidence.

That afternoon, though, Owen led them up a serpentine trail that kept them alongside the cliff face for most of the ride. On her own, Paige never would have taken that trail, but she not only rode without worry behind Owen, she enjoyed the trip as much as she’d ever enjoyed a ride before.

She and Owen talked easily about his time in the service—though he only told her stories from the U.S, none from his time deployed. She shared about her time on the island, and about her parents.

When they weren’t talking to each other, Owen spoke to his horse, Justice.

It seemed odd at first, to hear his large, booming voice quiet and directed at an animal that couldn’t understand him. She watched, though, as the horse would react the same way she would have under Owen’s guidance.

He told Justice she was beautiful and strong, and she responded with a nuzzle against his hand both affectionate and deeply personal. He’d tell her to head up a steep course, to keep her head down, and she did just that with her head ducked to the ground, more compact against the terrain. Paige wanted to tell her horse, Ares, the same thing, to copy Owen’s calm directives, but he responded to his owner’s voice without additional command.

She’d been so focused on the trail in front of her she hadn’t appreciated the ride until they got to a flat, rocky outcropping wide enough that the horses could be side by side. Paige exhaled deeply, her arms trembling from holding the reins tight in her hands, and then lifted her chin as Ares lifted his.

That’s when she lost the rest of her breath in a gasp that made Owen chuckle.

“Not too shabby, is it?”

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