Page 53 of Beat around the Bush
I didn’t want to let go of her.
But I did.
She moved her skis, gaining a little bit of speed on the tiny hill I’d gotten her over to. “I’m doing it!” she screamed back to me.
I smiled, watching her red hair blow slightly in the cool breeze. “Keep going, Oak!” I yelled back.
She made it to the bottom of the tiny hill, throwing her arms up in the air as she kept sliding forward. “I did it, Len!”
“Now stop yourself like I showed you,” I shouted to her.
But instead of successfully stopping herself, she half turned, then tumbled over, falling on her side and rolling.
Shit.
I ran down the hill, my boots kicking up snow behind me. I made it to her, her form shaking with what had to be her crying.
“Oak, are you okay?” I asked, crouching down in front of her. “Are you hurt?”
She moved her hair out of her face, looking up at me with the biggest smile on her face. She waslaughing.
I plucked her beanie from the snow and held it dangling between my knees.
“That was so much fun,” she said through her giggles.
I smiled, loving the carefree Oakley that was coming out of her shell.
“You fell,” I pointed out.
“I think that was the best part,” she admitted.
I raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“I was going so fast,” she said.
I didn’t point out that she was moving at practically a snail’s pace. I knew what it felt like to fly on skis, and if she felt even remotely close to that going down that bunny hill, I wouldn’t rain on her parade.
“You were. You did great, Oak.” I reached forward, brushing the snow out of her hair, then pulled the beanie down over her head, adjusting it so the hem sat right above her eyebrows.
“I don’t think I’m ready for a horse to pull me, though,” she admitted.
My smile widened. “Really? I mean, you’re basically a pro now.”
She rolled her eyes, placing her hands in the snow to push herself up. “Don’t flatter me. I know I still suck.”
“Here, let me get the skis off you before you stand up.” I pulled her foot out a bit, then worked at the restraints keeping her left foot in. Once that one was unclasped, I got to work on the other.
“Thanks,” she said softly as she watched my gloved fingers work.
“Of course,” I replied, pulling the skis out of the way. I held a hand out to her to help her up and she grabbed it. Standing up, I pulled her with me.
“Wanna watch some of the horses do their runs before we head inside?” I asked her.
She nodded. “Are you riding at all?”
“Maybe. I haven’t decided yet.” But if she wanted me to, I would. Knowing she’d be watching me fly around that track had me wanting to do a few laps.
I let go of her hand, despite my desire to keep holding it, and we walked side by side up the tiny hill toward the track. I propped the skis in the snow before we found Bailey, Lettie, and Brandy standing by the track as Reed rode by at a gallop on one of the horses, a skier flying behind him.
