Page 7 of Austin's Answer
We made quick work of saddling the horses and were soon riding away from the barn. Even from a distance, I sensed the tension melting from Emily. Her face relaxed, a small smile forming on her lips. I bit back the words I wanted to say, unwilling to see her expression shutter again.
We reached the far side of the pasture before she broke the silence between us. “How long have you been back from the rodeo?”
I fought to keep calm, ignoring the urge to shout in triumph that she was speaking to me about more than the sick horses. “A few years. I don’t regret going, but it wasn’t home.”
“What did you do there?”
“Bullfighter.” I steered Lightning closer, relieved when she didn’t move away.
“Not a bull rider?” She shot a sideways glance at me. “I figured you’d be on the back of a bull.”
“My tiger makes them too uneasy to ride them. But that same unease helped me get them under control.” I grinned and winked at her. “They didn’t want to pick a fight with me.”
“Makes sense. I remember the first time you met my horse. She almost threw me trying to get away.”
“Yeah, I thought your dad was going to forbid you from hanging out with me after that.” I shook my head. “Instead, he had me come over and train your horse to be comfortable with me.”
“Oh, he tried to stop me.” A smile played at the corner of her mouth. “I put my foot down and pitched a small fit before pointing out the hypocrisy of allowing Vince to be friends with Mason while not allowing me to see you. He couldn’t argue with that.”
I chuckled. That certainly sounded like something she would do. Emily was not one to back down from a fight. She waded right in and took control.
We fell back into a comfortable silence for a few minutes before I asked her about vet school. Her answers were short at first, but soon we were swapping stories from our years apart. It was almost like old times, but we both avoided talking about us.
Now, when I looked back, I kicked myself. It was obvious in hindsight that she was my mate. Our connection had been instant from the start. But I always assumed my mate would be a shifter. It wasn’t until Declan found Chloe that I considered I might be searching for a human.
I wondered how different things would have been if I’d stuck around for her birthday. Instead of joining the rodeo, would I have followed her to school? I doubt I would have been able to handle the separation while she was away becoming a vet.
My brow furrowed as I considered the consequences of that. I wouldn’t have been home when we lost Dad and then Mom. I wouldn’t have been here to help my brothers save the ranch. Or, knowing Emily, she might have left school so I could be here. She was selfless enough to do that. And then I’d have that guilt hanging over me. She was meant to be a vet. Always had been.
I wouldn’t blame fate for my actions all those years ago. My words had been hurtful. I’d known they would be when I saidthem. My teenage self had thought they were the only option, but in hindsight I realized I’d taken the coward’s way out.
Still, it was possible the timing wasn’t right back then. Hopefully, it was right now.
Emily
It was easy to fall back into old habits. I’d always been comfortable around Austin, from the first time I met him. I was thirteen the first time I tagged along with Vince when he visited Mason. They had ditched me, leaving me alone near the barn.
I kicked the dirt. There was no way for me to get home until Vince was ready to go. I shouldn’t have come, but I was curious about the shifters next door. Now I was stuck.
A horse whinnied next to me, and I looked up, squinting against the sun. The horse was tall. Taller even than my dad’s horse. A teenage boy, around my age, leaned over the front of the saddle, his green eyes pinned on me. “You lost?”
“No.” My mouth twisted, almost forming a pout, but I stopped it. Vince said only babies pouted. “Vince and Mason took off without me.”
“You Vince’s sister?” His eyes lit when I nodded. “Great! Want to get back at them with me?”
I tilted my head and asked, “How?”
He slid off his horse, holding the reins with one hand while holding the other out for me. “Come along and find out.”
I considered his outstretched hand. Maybe this was a trick on me. I switched my gaze back to his face. “Why do you want to get back at them?”
“No particular reason, but I figure they’ll do something in the future to earn it.” His eyes twinkled playfully as he grinned. “And it means I get to spend time with you.”
Dad always taught me to listen to my gut, and it said I could trust this boy. I slid my hand in his. “I’m Emily.”
“Austin.” He nodded to his horse before leading me toward the barn. “This is Lightning.”
Three hours later, Vince and Mason ended up covered in feathers, and Austin and I became practically inseparable. We rode together regularly, talking about our dreams and our innermost thoughts.
