Page 36 of True North

“Hungry, my love?” Ma looks up as I pull on a sock.

“Gotta shift the heifers, fix the southern fence, wire’s snapped.”

“Do you need a hand?” Louisa looks up from her teacup, the good ones Ma’s only ever used once in my lifetime.

Looks like Ma’s pulling out all the stops today. I would love to know why. Maybe Louisa could help me shift the heifers, we could talk.

“You any good on a horse?” I ask, cocking an eyebrow at her.

“I can ride well enough. What do you need?”

“Will only take about half an hour. Easier to shift them with two people.”

“Sure, can I finish up here?” She looks to Ma.

She ain’t askin’ me.

“Hon, I will make a start on the new recipe. I think I have that much sorted.” Ma beams at her.

“Okay, great. Meet you outside in a bit?” Louisa asks me.

I give her a nod and swipe an apple from the bowl on the counter and head for the back door and my boots.

With my well-worn boots on, I pluck my hat from the hook by the back door and push it onto my head. The cream work shirt hangs over my body, and I roll up the sleeves before tucking it into my jeans. In the barn, I saddle up Horse and the gelding I broke in last winter.

Louisa appears in the doorway as I move to lead them out. She has Ma’s boots on and my old hat. Where on earth did she find it? Ma must have stashed it away somewhere. “This old girl will be yours,” I say, handing her the reins to Horse.

“Hey, lovely,” she says, rubbing the mare’s face with a hand. “What’s your name?”

“Doesn’t have one.” I swing into the saddle.

“Harry, how could you not name her?” Louisa scowls at me but bounces up into the saddle like she’s been doin’ it every day for the last ten years.

I simply shrug and push the gelding into a walk, out into the field. Horse trots along behind, and they catch up. Louisa reins her back to walk beside me and the gelding.

“So, who are we moving?” she asks, glancing around the fields like she might catch a glimpse of the herd.

“Over the rise, to the north. If we lope, it’ll go faster.”

She gives me an unreadable look but pushes Horse into a lope, leaving me behind. I sit on the gelding, hands on the pommel for a moment, just watching her ride away. Her blonde hair spills behind her like a goddamn golden waterfall, her curves rockin’ with the gait of the mare.

Shaking my head, I push the gelding into a lope and catch up. I make it to them when they slow down for the gate just up ahead, at the foot of the rise. I step the gelding sideways and lean down to unlatch the gate. Louisa walks through first and I follow, closing the gate behind us.

“How’s your ma doing?” she says softly, like that’s not the question she wanted to ask, but the one she was brave enough to.

I stare ahead. “She’s fine. Despite the fact he was her husband, she mourned the man she loved years ago. Her words, not mine.”

“She told you that?” Pretty green eyes meet mine.

“Yep.” It’s all I can say. And I get it, I do. Because I went through a similar process losing the loving father I once had. Not the same relationship by anyone’s standard, but a loss, nonetheless.

“Harry,” she says, reining Horse to a halt. “Are you—” She breaks eye contact, staring at the rise. She sucks in a breath. “Do you need anything?”

“Nope, just to get my work done.” I push the gelding for the gate. This time, I dismount and work the wire gate as Louisa and Horse walk through. She smiles down at me, those dark lashes and pink lips makin’ it hard to breathe.

I mount up and push the gelding into a lope, leaving her behind. As if distance will save my heart from this woman. Horse thunders up beside us seconds later. Louisa is shaking her head at me, but the smile wrapping around her face takes the last of my lousy breath.

“Come on, Harry, smile. It’s a great day. We will make it one!” She gives me a mischievous look and nods ahead. A beat later, she gallops away, popping out of the saddle, her hips, ass, and waist on full display.Goddammit, Louisa.

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