Page 79 of Say the Words
I would have bristled at his description if not for the note of affection in his gruff voice.
“Anyway, if you have her out much longer, she’s likely to eat her weight in all that uncut grass. Keep her walking, or she’ll stand around and graze until she’s sick.”
“Can do.”
I put my hands up on the saddle, but paused. Ithadbeen nearly twenty years since I’d last been on a horse. What if it wasn’t like riding a bike, and I sat up there like a nitwit not knowing what to do? Watching a video about grooming a horse was all well and good, but no amount of videos could make up for my lack of experience as a rider.
“I’m not really in a fit state to give you a boost into the saddle.” A current of amusement ruffled Ty’s voice. “Do you want a box?”
“I can do it.”
I grabbed the pommel, put one foot into the stirrup, and swung my other leg over. Seated in the saddle, I let out a quick prayer of thanks I hadn’t failed the first test. The rest should be even easier.
Should be.
Ty’s eyes were sharp on me beneath his Stetson as though he could read my thoughts. “You good?”
“I’ve got it.” I put a touch more confidence in it than I felt.
He handed up the reins. “Hold them loosely, remember, but don’t be afraid to remind her you’re in charge.” He took a step back and nodded, giving me the okay to set off.
I made a clicking sound in the back of my throat as I nudged Miss Kitty with my heels. Obedient girl that she was, she started down the pasture lane. We weren’t moving any faster than I might walk, but my heart thrilled anyway. I probably looked as ecstatic as any of the Girl Scouts had, finally getting my long-awaited ride. I petted Miss Kitty’s neck, thankful Ty had at least one well-behaved horse in his barn full of troublemakers.
“Thirty minutes!”
Ty’s voice rang out behind me, but I knew already thirty minutes would never be enough.
TWENTY-SIX
ty
I pacedthe length of the empty barn, stopping at each turn to stare out the doors, up the lane between the back pastures. Thirty minutes, I’d said, and I knew she’d heard me because she’d argued the point. I should have just said no to the whole idea and waited until I’d healed enough to ride out with her. Who let a green rider out on his acreage all alone?
I checked my watch, my anger egged on by the pain drumming in my chest with each step. She had already been out fifty minutes, and no sign of her. She was probably just lost in thought, but the idea she might actually belostgnawed at me.
My property wasn’t big enough to get truly lost in, but that wouldn’t stop someone as determined to rile me as June. The back acreage rambled, and although I knew every rock and tree as well as I knew my own house, June had never been out there before. At least not as an adult, and anything she might have done as a damn Girl Scout didn’t count.
I stopped in the open barn doors and squinted up the lane, searching for a sign of her. Every time I thought I saw movement coming my way, it turned out to be a trick of the light. And that was another problem. Twilight was falling, and while it wouldn’t be full dark for at least another hour yet, the change wouldn’t help June find her way back any faster.
All kinds of things could happen to her out there in the fading light, falls worst of all. Miss Kitty’s gentle nature made her easy to lead, but she could still put a foot in the wrong spot or get spooked by a snake just as easily as any other horse. I’d never had a horse fall, with me or on me, but I’d never let anyone else ride my horses alone before, either. I wasn’t running a hobby farm, dammit.
What had I been thinking? I’d let her round up the colts, let her bring a whole gaggle of girls onto my ranch, and now, I’d let her ride out all alone. These kinds of foolish decisions weren’t like me. It didn’t make sense. I’d never lacked for backbone before, so why was it so hard to tell June no?
As though I didn’t know the answer.
She’d been gone a full hour now. That decided it. I would saddle up Bonanza and go after her. It would hurt like hell from start to finish, but at least I would know where she was, and wouldn’t be stuck standing around unable to do anything. This useless waiting burned me up as much as the way she’d ignored my advice.
I’d headed to the tack wall to grab a lead rope when June finally appeared at the far end of the lane. Eager to get home, Miss Kitty cantered the last stretch, making June bounce in the saddle. I might have laughed at her obvious discomfort if my blood weren’t so hot.
I stormed over to meet them before they reached the barn. Miss Kitty came to a slow halt just feet from me, June pulling on the reins. She beamed down at me, but even that show of pure joy couldn’t break through my frustration.
“What the hell kept you so long?”
The delight in her eyes faded. “What time is it?”
“You’ve been gone an hour.” I took hold of Miss Kitty’s bridle to stop her wandering steps.
“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it had been that long.”
