Page 143 of Once Upon a Holidate
She eased him into a walk, then directed him to the fence.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she said as she brought the horse to a stop. “I guess it’s going to have to happen eventually.”
Cade’s gut tightened. “What are we talking about?” heasked, keeping his voice light. He doubted his luck was good enough for her to be thinking sex.
“You want to ride him. I can tell.” Her expression was doubtful. “We’ve had trouble with him before, just so you know. But he’s your horse and I guess this is as good a time as any.”
So not sex, he thought as he jumped to the ground and approached the horse. But a close second.
He stroked Rida’s neck, then shoulder. Beth slid to the ground and moved to Rida’s head.
“I need you to be a good boy,” she murmured. “Cade’s your new owner. You’re going to have to get along with him eventually.”
Cade adjusted the stirrups to the right length, put his left foot in one and swung onto the saddle. He found his seat immediately and kept a light but firm hold on the reins.
Even standing still, Rida was powerful. He could feel the controlled energy, the potential. Running flat out with him would be—
One second he was comfortably seated, the next he was flying through the air. The ground rushed up to meet him and he landed flat on his back with a thud. Rida casually trotted to the far side of the ring while Beth hurried to Cade’s side.
“Don’t move,” she said as she dropped to her knees. Concern darkened her blue eyes. “You’ve had the wind knocked out of you. It’s going to seem like you can’t breathe, but you’re fine. Just take it slow. Let your body relax for a second, then inhale. Shallow at first but deeper with each breath.”
While the words were designed to be comforting, this was not his first rodeo. He waited until he’d caught his breath to say, “I’ve been thrown a time or two.”
He shifted on the ground to make sure all the moving parts were still working, then sat up and looked at the horse.
“I didn’t see that coming.”
She sighed. “I had a feeling.”
“You didn’t want to warn me?”
“I told you we’d had trouble with him before. What do you think that meant? That he’d been pouty?”
Cade felt himself start to smile. “You have some attitude on you.”
“Well, yeah. I’m not the one who was just thrown by a horse. How are you feeling?”
“Nothing’s broken and you only have one head, so I’d say I’m fine.”
She scrambled to her feet and held out her hand, as if to help him to his feet. Seriously? Of course it was an excuse to touch her, even for a second, so he took it and stood.
She released him, but stayed close. “Still okay?”
“Never better.” He glanced at Rida. “Although he and I are going to be having a conversation, man-to-man.”
“Good luck with that.”
She whistled. Rida’s ears perked up, then he turned and walked directly toward her.
“Show-off,” Cade grumbled.
“I know. I can’t help it.” She reached for the reins. “He’s really sorry.”
“No, he’s not. Does he let anyone ride him but you?”
“My father’s been on him and he wasn’t thrown.”
“Good. I just need to know I stand a chance.”
