Page 34 of Shiver

She nodded, though she wasn’t. She wasn’t anywhere near all right.

Riley reached behind her to open Babe’s stall. She watched his large deft hands slip the bridle over the horse’s head and he led him out of the stall. “I see you’ve met Babe.”He hefted a large leather saddle onto Babe’s back, lifted the flaps, and tightened the straps.

He appeared so strong and sure of himself, so in control. “He’s a gentle horse.” He turned and met her eye. “He’ll take good care of you.”

“What do you mean, take good care of me?”

“We’re going for a little ride.”

“Oh, no,” she said, backing away from the beast. “I don’t think so.”

“We’re going after Storm. Unless you’d rather stay here with my brother. I’d rather not leave you by yourself.”

Devra looked out the barn’s opening but didn’t see a sign of Mac. “And you think I’d be safe with him?”

A strange speculative sheen lit his eyes. “My brother isn’t dangerous.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

“Stand on this.” He gestured toward a polished stump, “then throw your leg up and over his back.”

She knew this wasn’t a good idea, but she wasn’t about to stay there with Mac. She stepped up onto the stump as he instructed, except at the last minute Babe shifted just as she extended her leg over his saddle. “Oh,” she cried and grabbed the saddle’s horn.

With a firm grip on her shoulder and another on her rear, Riley gave her a push, righting her up on Babe’s back. As she settled herself in the saddle, she could still feel the burning impression of Riley’s grasp on her jeans. “Lord,” she whispered. What kind of fool was she?

Riley took Babe’s reins and led him around a tree. Devra clung to the horse’s back, her legs holding a death grip on Babe’s ribs, as she became accustomed to his height. “I don’t know about this,” she stammered. “I’ve never been on a horse before. Perhaps this isn’t such a good idea.” Perhaps Mac wasn’t as dangerous as he appeared.

“You’ll be fine,” Riley assured her. He handed her the reins, then demonstrated how to get the horse to turn, first left, then right, then how to stop. “Think you can handle it?”

“Sure,” she answered, though she wasn’t at all sure.

“Good. I’ll be right back.”

She watched him hurry back to the barn then glanced around for any sign of Mac. That tingling sensation tickled the back of her neck once more. Someone was out there watching her. She could feel it. She searched the bushes around her, but no one was in sight.

Not Riley.

Not Mac.

Not the man who broke into Riley’s house last night. She remembered her dream vividly, could still feel the imprint of his finger on her cheek. Why couldn’t she remember what he’d said to her? Thank God Riley had been there. Thank God, he’d woken when he did.

Riley rode out of the barn with nothing between his jeans and the horse. “You ready?”

Her eyes widened as she took in the easy sway of man and horse. She swallowed the lump of awareness in her throat and nodded. He pointed toward a clump of trees in front of his house. Babe lurched forward as he followed Riley’s horse. As they moved, Devra could easily see the prints. First, a man’s large-sized boot heading toward the barn, then horses hooves coming back out. Could he still be here?

Silently, they continued deep into the countryside. They passed under enormous crepe myrtles, their rich purple blossoms shining like amethysts in a sea of verdant green. The sweet fragrant smell teased her senses. It felt almost peaceful, like a glittery page from a children’s storybook where nothing bad ever happened and people always lived happily ever after. But like so many fairy tales, nothing was ever what it seemed.

A soft, moist breeze encircled her in its embrace and lulled her into thinking the danger had passed, that everything would be all right. Then Riley stopped.

“What is it?”

“I lost his trail.” Riley climbed off his horse and inspected the ground around them, which had turned pebbled like a creek bed.

“See anything?”

“No,” he said after another minute had passed.

“Do you really think he’s still here?”

---