Page 14 of Undone

I could hear the warmth in his voice.

I spoke too soon and we came upon a large branch in the middle of the trail. “Uh, Josh? What do I do?” I was ready to jump off, sure that Sugar would crash into it and send us both tumbling.

“Unless you want her to step over it, use the reins and navigate her around the branch.”

As we got closer, I looked left and right to see which side would be easier to pass. Left it was. With a slight tug on the left rein, Sugar turned slightly left and then another quick tug on the right and we safely passed the fallen branch.

I blew out a breath. “I did it.”

“Yes, you did. Congratulations, cowgirl.” As Josh passed the branch on Indigo, he added, “I’ve been taking notes on any trail clearing I still need to do, but given how well you navigated around the branch, I might just leave it.” I didn’t know what to say to that, so justhmmedin response as we kept going.

The trail was on a pristine part of the property and it was gorgeous. I’d forgotten how beautiful it was out here. After riding through trees, the trail opened to green fields dotted with vibrant cornflowers and a ribbon of a stream down a hill. I tried not to focus on the fact that the trail was narrow and the drop was a little steep. Heights didn’t normally bother me—but everything seemed more treacherous when horses were part of the equation.

“See where it branches off to the right?” Josh asked. “That’s where we’re headed.”

I swallowed hard when I saw the incline. “Up there?”

“It looks worse than it is from down here. I swear to you, it’s a bunny trail.”

I looked down at the reins and realized that I was holding them so tightly that my nails were cutting into my palms. I was so focused on trying to relax that I wasn’t ready when Sugar tripped on a root, causing me to lose my balance.

I screamed and leaned forward to grip onto Sugar’s neck. “Oh no!”

“Hey, hey,” Josh said from behind me. “You’re okay.”

I heard the hoofbeats as Indigo cantered up beside Sugar.

“You’re fine, Zo. It was just a little trip.”

“But I almost fell off!” My heart was pounding, and I didn’t feel confident enough to let go of my death grip on Sugar’s neck.

“You made it, though,” Josh said in a reassuring voice. “You rode through it, just like a cowgirl would. You’re okay.”

I flashed back to the fateful ride with Jude and felt my throat start to close up.

“Are there snakes on the trail?”

Josh’s mouth went into a tight line. “I’m not going to lie to you. There are snakes all over the ranch. But I swear, nothing shakes Sugar. I could hire a marching band to jump out at her, and she wouldn’t bat an eyelash.”

It didn’t matter. I was already kicking my feet free of the stirrups, swinging my leg over Sugar’s back, and sliding down to the ground.

“I can’t do this, Josh, I’m sorry.” I stood next to the horse, clutching the reins and wishing I could throw them on the ground and run away.

“Aw, Zo. Don’t give up on her yet.” Didn’t he realize? I wasn’t giving up on the horse, I was giving up on me.

I walked the reins over to Josh and went back to pacing in circles. The scary feelings were nearly overwhelming me. I couldn’t stop shaking, and I felt as though I wanted to throw up. “I’m not riding her home. Sorry, but I just can’t do it. I stepped out of my comfort zone, but I went too far and now I’m done.”

“Well…we’re a long way from home,” Josh said, leaning forward in his saddle so he’d be closer to me. “It’ll be dark by the time you get back if you try to walk.”

I stuck out my bottom lip and shrugged. “I’ll use my phone as a flashlight. I’ll be fine.”

Josh chuckled. “Yeah, not happening.”

We stared at one another in a standoff.

“I have an idea, but you have to trust me.”

“What is it?” A warm sensation flooded through me. OfcourseI trusted him.

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