Page 18 of A Secret Heart
“You really think that’s a wise idea?” When she didn’t reply, his eyes scanned the field and then the property only to land on the woodpile next to the barn where she’d left the axe stuck in a chunk of wood. She’d been working out her frustrations on the wood.
His eyebrow quirked.
Rebekah heaved the saddle, but the cinch toppled off from where she’d temporarily placed it on the saddle horn, so she set it down to reposition it. “I have an obligation to the citizens of Calvin and the surrounding areas to print the stories of interest. Others could be in danger.” She heaved again, this time landing the saddle on the horse without incident. “And to cover the stories properly, I need all the facts.”
Her fingers worked to fasten the cinch, even as she darted her bestI dare you to stop mestare at Ed. He dismounted, moving slowly in her direction as if he intended to do just that.
“You’re latching that wrong.” Ed pointed a finger at her saddle.
Rebekah jutted her chin. “Ed McGraw, I think I know how to put on a?—”
But he was right. Heat flared at her neck as she hurried her trembling fingers to correct her mistake. He’d not get a thank-you out of her for his meddling. He wasn’t even supposed to be here. She managed a peek at Ed, who twisted his lips up like he wasn’t even expecting her thanks. Yanking the cinch up tight, she finished fastening it, then straightened her shoulders.
“Why don’t you go away? Go home.” She waved a hand toward the road. “You’re always complaining about too many chores to do.”
She reached to unhook the stirrup from the saddle horn, letting it hang. But before she had the chance to hoist herself into the saddle, Ed stood at the front of Mabel, holding the bridle.
He let out a long sigh. “I’m going with you.”
“No, you are not.” Rebekah slid her foot into the stirrup, then swung into the saddle.
“Yes, I am.” Ed flew toward his horse, mounting it in one leap like a well-trained horseman in pursuit of a dangerous criminal in one of those dime novels she loved.
But she was no dangerous criminal in need of pursuit. Rebekah swung her mount in the opposite direction only to be blocked by Ed’s quick moves on Lightning. His boot nudged past hers as he moved as one with his horse. She used to think his horse’s name ridiculous. Apparently, she’d never been around when Ed used it for cutting cattle. But she refused to be treated like cattle either.
She made another quick move on Mabel only to hear the shuffling of horse hooves and the breathing of their mounts. Lightning blocked Mabel’s path to the road on the side, leaving Ed sitting so close atop his horse that the shadow of his broad shoulders fell across her.
“I don’t need a nanny. I’m not a child.”
“You’re acting like one.” His knee nudged into hers.
In her frustration, Rebekah let loose a deep, guttural growl.
Ed broke into a grin. Infuriating man.
Then he grew serious again. “I don’t want to be the one to tell your uncle you got yourself killed chasing after a story.”
“I’m not going to get myself killed.” She’d not tell him there’d been a muddy footprint yesterday a little way down from the break in the fence line. Or that she hadn’t slept for worrying about what it meant. “Fine.”
“Fine, what?”
“Fine, you can come with me.”
“Thought you’d never ask.” He reined his horse around to follow her.
It fell into an easy trot behind hers.
“If you follow me around, I’ll look like I’m not capable of doing my job.” How dare he make her appear fragile and helpless? No one would take her seriously as a reporter if she were hiding behind Ed McGraw. She turned back to let loose the most intense stare-down she was capable of. “I’ll never forget this, Ed McGraw.”
“Just add it to the grudge you’ve held against me for the last fifteen years. It’s not like I expect your forgiveness now.” Ed’s mumblings wrapped around her as she turned her attention back to the road.
“It’s not like you ever asked for it. Even after completely humiliating me,” Rebekah snapped. She urged her horse forward.
That moment as a twelve-year-old, when she’d stood in front of the class to read her story aloud, washed over her. She’d never imagined the teacher would ask her to read her story to the class that day.
Rebekah had pushed up from her desk, her hands slick as she’d clutched the papers with her story scrawled in her own hand. The one with the dashing young hero. She could only hope she’d wrapped him in enough embellishment that no one would recognize their classmate, Isaac McGraw.
Her voice faltered as she read aloud, praying no one would notice the similarities. But Ed chuckled.
