Page 78 of Back in the Saddle

CAROLINE:Me?! Why?

ERIN:Because I know you. I know that even though you tell yourself that this is just a bit of fun, you aren’t the kind of person who can keep her feelings in check. You don’t compartmentalise, Car.

CAROLINE:I’ll be fine.

ERIN:If you say so.

The following week passed in a blur. Jake was off sick, so Caroline and Amira tried to help with his work on top of their own. It was a lot of long days and late nights. When Friday finally came, Caroline couldn’t look at Excel spreadsheets and study protocols anymore.

She hadn’t seen Hunter since they’d got back from Lake Lawtonka on Sunday morning. Maybe it was better that way. Whatever casual label they stuck on their relationship, deep down Caroline feared her hands were slipping off it. She needed to readjust her grip on reality, reminding herself that it was just a bit of fun for them both. She was going back to Scotland. And now that she had decided she really wanted to go back to Aberdeenshire, there was nothing that could persuade her otherwise. Especially not if it involved staying in the States.

No, it was better all round if she kept any theoretical feelings from blossoming.

They texted throughout the week, but it was very sporadic; it seemed that there was a lot going on for him just now too. He’d called her yesterday to check that she was still up for going to karaoke with him, Meg, and Mitch.

‘Of course. I’m looking forward to it’, she’d replied.

The audible happiness in his voice stirred something in her. He apologised for not being able to pick her up, but he had a riding lesson scheduled just before and wouldn’t be able to make it. Then, he told her the name of the bar in Purcell where they’d meet.

‘See you there’, was all she’d said as she hung up.

The Crocked Boot was unlike any bar Caroline had been to in Oklahoma City.

She walked in through the wooden saloon-style door that could have used a fresh lick of paint. Immediately, she washit by the warmth and sound of loud chatter over the country music playing in the background. There were so many people inside that she instinctively took a step back, worried she’d get squashed against somebody. The tables were stashed closely together and were all occupied. Everyone seemed to know one another, with people walking from the bar with drinks in hands stopping on their way back to their parties, exchanging smiles and greetings with other patrons. At the back of the room there was a small stage, with a TV screen mounted on the wall directly opposite it. There were no instruments in the vicinity, but there were a few big speakers and a couple of microphones on stands. Caroline assumed this was where the karaoke would start shortly.

‘Hi. Glad you found the place OK.’

Her head snapped to the right and an instant smile spread across her lips when she saw Hunter.

‘It isn’t exactly Oklahoma City,’ she replied.

He grinned with slight disbelief.

‘Fine, I did use Google Maps and had to do a little circle round to find a parking space.’

That made him laugh. ‘I thought I remembered you saying you were terrible with directions. Anyway, I’m glad you’re here now. Come meet Mitch and Meg.’

His fingers found and intertwined with hers, as if it was the most natural gesture.

She didn’t pull her hand away. All her earlier reservations and reminders it was just casual took a backseat.

Hunter led her slowly through the cramped area, smiling and nodding at some people shouting their hellos. When they reached the corner table, both people sitting at it stopped their conversation mid-sentence and looked at them.

He let go of her hand, pulled up a chair for her and slidonto the one next to a shorter man with ruffled blonde hair, who looked maybe a couple of years older than him. ‘This is my younger sister, Megan.’ He nodded towards a teenage girl in a rust-coloured jumpsuit and a long ponytail. ‘And this is Mitch, my best friend.’ Another nod towards the man sat on his left. ‘Meg, Mitch, this is Caroline.’

She was relieved that he didn’t include any definitions of who she was in his introduction.

Putting on the friendliest smile, she extended her hand first to Megan, who shook it eagerly, excitement dancing in her eyes. ‘Hi, so nice to meet you! Officially, I mean.’

‘Likewise. Hunter told me you were in one of my biology labs. I’m sorry I don’t remember you from there, so many students. And teaching is still quite new to me, so I get rather nervous.’

Megan waved her apology off and stared at her in disbelief. ‘Really? You didn’t come across as nervous! Most of my classmates really enjoyed both labs. I hope you’ll be taking on some more this semester?’

Caroline gave her a grateful smile. ‘That’s so nice of you to say, thank you. It’s only two more just now, I’m afraid. My work at the centre is ramping up with the clinical trials, and I’m also going away for a congress in December.’

‘What clinical trials are you working on? And what congress?’ Megan leaned over the table with such enthusiasm that she almost knocked Mitch’s beer over.

Caroline chuckled, but Hunter shook his head. ‘Meg, enough. You don’t need to interrogate Caroline. It’s meant to be a nice, relaxing evening for all of us.’ He looked at his sister in mock annoyance.

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