Page 101 of Legacy of Danger
What in the world possessed her to say,Oh sure, I can ride a horse?
Mariah had been on a horse, what, once in her life? Years ago, she and her brother had gone to a dude ranch with a group of friends, and her Old Paint tried to bite her during the entire miserable experience.
What possessed her? The need to be accepted. To bea part of.
Tiny flakes straggled down onto the several inches of snow already on the open fields as she and Vaughn rode toward the forest. The sky hung gray and thick. Heavy. Like it was waiting to unleash far more than a few flakes.
Earlier, they had checked out the progress of the main barn that was being rebuilt after the fire several weeks ago. She was happy to tour anything as long as it bought her freedom from the whirlwind of questions inside the house.
That familiarity they all shared? The Taggarts had grown up rough and tumble, running all over the ranch, raised by loving parents. Mariah and Kevin's childhood was the complete opposite. No play. No learning. Nothing comfortable.
Quit being morose. That's the past. Concentrate on the present.
How about the future?
Damn it.
She shifted her uncomfortable backside on the hard leather saddle. Could she fit into this family? More to the point, did she have any business considering that question? If this relationship with Vaughn continued, then, yes, she wanted to fit in.
For the first time in her life, she truly pictured herself as part of a full family with people whose lives wove together, who supported each other, loved each other, and even argued with each other.
As they reached the wooded National Forest land that bordered the ranch property, Vaughn pulled his horse to a stop with little more than a flick of his wrist. He shifted in the saddle. Damn him in his tight jeans and Stetson. How great would it be if he tipped that hat back and kissed her, right here in the wild outdoors?
Unable to stop the response, she licked her lips.
He reached over and snagged her reins. "Can I talk with you?"
No. "Sure."
Their thighs brushed against each other, but he appeared to ignore the contact as he peered into the trees. The main ranch compound was a mere dot below them in the low, flat area of the property.
"About what happened last night."
Crap. No preamble? The muscles in her stomach tightened. "The fight or the hotel stay?"
He rubbed his chin and didn't make eye contact. "Hotel."
Her heart stopped, then started again, threatening to pound its way out of her chest. "All right."
"So. I'm wondering if that was a mistake." His mouth compressed into a hard line.
The slice of his quiet words went deep, scoring her soul. All those images of fitting in, of belonging, of having a family burst like little stupid bubbles. "You went to a lot of trouble, bringing me out here, to share that conclusion. Seems like a simple text message would have been a lot less effort." Just like that, she began to pull inward. Like she did in that room when she was a teenager. Like she had done when her ex had told her to beless. Like she had done at the Brand house.
Shutting down.
Could she handle rejection from Vaughn? She was about to find out.
Avoidance of pain was probably not the best reason to pursue a relationship with someone. She could do this.
"I want to explain." His low voice whipped away on the wind.
Damn. This was going to hurt like hell.
