Page 33 of Pay Dirt

I nudged his arm back as Amanda came running across the yard. She ran right into her dad as he and Nathan opened the screen door.

“Where’s the fire, Amanda?” his dad asked.

“I lost Mom’s good luck pin that I clip onto the saddle before every competition. If I don’t find it, I’m not going to win.”

“Where did you see it last?” he asked.

“The barn, but it might have fallen off when I took Obi out on one of our morning rides. It could be anywhere.”

A look of despair fell across Amanda’s face as if her entire world was crumbling. Tears welled up in her eyes. I rose. “I’ll help you find it since I haven’t had much luck with anything else.”

Amanda swiped a fallen tear. “You will?”

“Of course, but you need to take me to the barn.”

“Cassie, you don’t have to—”

“Yeah, I do.” I smiled and headed off the porch.

Nathan rested his palm on my arm as I passed. He cupped my cheek and leaned in to kiss me. It was quick and gentle, but I got the message. Nathan had just announced to everyone watching that we were an actual item, and not just pretend. Everyone who mattered would read how real that kiss had been. “Stay out of trouble and holler if you need any help.”

“No need,” Clayton said as he rose off the swing. “I’ll go with them so Gwen doesn’t think I’m just here enjoying the scenery, as she so aptly put it.”

“My sister wouldn’t know a good time if it were to sneak up and bite her in the…well, never mind,” I said, heading down the steps.

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