Page 17 of Chasing Love: The Owens
I looked down at my pajama-clad self. “You’re supposed to be on your way to St. Louis.”
“U2 isn’t all that.”
“B,” I sighed.
“You’re more important. And you’re not spending your birthday alone.”
“What did Emmett say?” I hadn’t moved. Some part of me still wanted to march him right back to Plain Daisy Ranch and shove him into Emmett’s truck.
“You don’t want to know what he said.” He reached for my hand.
I let him come inside so I could shut off the lights and TV. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
I quickly changed, closed up the house, and got into his truck, assuming he’d take me to that overlook in Hickory where everyone went to park and… talk.
But when he turned onto the dirt road to the ranch and parked outside the horse stables, I was shocked.
“B?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”
I didn’t grow up around horses like he did. Levi found his way to horses, but they always intimidated me.
“Can’t we just drive?”
“Not where I’m taking you.” He killed the ignition and waited, giving me the choice. That was one of the things I loved most about Bennett. He never pressured me into anything. “If you’d rather…”
“No. Let’s go.” I opened the car door, nerves fluttering, but my curiosity was stronger. And I trusted him.
He chuckled, his hand finding mine as we walked toward the stables.
My steps slowed, still unsure when I saw the horses, and he tightened his grip on my hand. We passed stall after stall until he stopped at Junebug. Poppy’s horse.
“I thought you rode Cedar.” I circled toward Cedar’s stall, where his brown head peeked out as though he recognized that Bennett was here.
“I do. But Junebug’s smaller. I figured you’d be more comfortable on her.”
Bennett adored Cedar. He prided himself on that horse. Part of me knew he wanted me on Cedar for my first ride with him.
“Let’s take Cedar.” I walked over to the stall.
“You sure? He’s taller and stronger. Not that Junebug isn’t great…”
I stepped closer until his hands gently caught my hips. “Which one would you prefer?”
“I just want you to enjoy it.”
“But?”
A sheepish smile tugged at his lips. “Cedar.”
“Get him ready then.”
When I said I’d never ridden a horse before, I meant it. Not even the kind that go in slow circles at county fairs.
Bennett climbed on first, then reached down to help me. “Trust me.”
