Page 15 of Cowboy's Christmas Girlfriend

“Your family—”

“I know...”

“I think I love them,” she said, and burst out laughing in earnest. Will stared a moment, and then he joined in. He laughed till his sides hurt, till his vision swam with stars. He laughed till his knees went weak, then he clung to Suzanna and laughed some more.

6

“You really think I’m ready?” Suzanna had never felt smaller, trying to picture herself scrambling onto Jenny’s back. The big mare peered down at her, still and serene.

“The way you saddled her just now, I’d swear you’d been doing it all your life. Go on, get up there. You’ve earned your ride.” Will came up behind her and set his hands on her shoulders. “If you’re scared she’ll throw you—”

“It’s not that.” Suzanna’s eyes prickled. She brushed at them, surprised. Will’s praise had caught her flatfooted. But beyond that, there was Jenny, saddle perched on her back, four feet off the ground. Suzanna closed her eyes and saw herself lunge for it, leg flung out dog-on-hydrant style. She saw herself miss, sliding halfway off Jenny’s back, flailing till Jenny spooked and bucked and reared, while Suzanna hung from one stirrup, hair dragging in the straw.

“Suzanna?” His voice was soft, questioning.

She blinked hard and swallowed. “I’m just worried I won’t make it. Even with the mounting block, that’s still pretty high.”

“I’ll give you a boost,” said Will. “You jump on up, and I’ve got you from there.” Still, she hesitated, holding her breath until Will patted her arm. “You trust me, right?”

She did. She’d put her trust in him completely since coming to the ranch. “You, absolutely. But trusting my two left feet is another matter entirely.”

Will’s chuckle raised butterflies deep in her stomach. “I won’t let you fall,” he said. “Now, here goes, on three. One...two...”

Suzanna hoisted herself up. Will caught her by the hips and heaved her aloft. She swung her leg over the saddle, and just like that, she was on horseback. She threw her head back and laughed. Will smiled along with her, and patted her knee.

“How does that feel?”

“Like...like I belong up here. Like my whole life I’ve been—whoa!” She yelped and pitched forward as Jenny tossed her head.

“Easy. You’re okay.” Will took Jenny’s reins and held her steady. “Here, give me your phone. Let me catch your first ride.”

Suzanna straightened up, sheepish. “You sure? I’m pretty shaky. And I can’t send my publisher a video where I’m not even holding the reins. They’ll realize I don’t have a clue what I’m doing.”

“This one’s just for you, to show you how far you’ve come.” Will clucked his tongue and Jenny got moving, clopping out the gate at a sedate pace. Suzanna sat stiff at first, knees clutched to Jenny’s flanks. Then she was squinting into the sun—into a glorious, bright winter’s day on the ranch—and her fear drained away. She leaned back in the saddle and her hips found their rhythm. Her racing heart slowed to match Jenny’s hoofbeats, and she knew she was safe.

“You look great,” said Will, bringing Jenny to a halt and handing the reins to Suzanna. They’d gone over this, and she knew how to hold them—but still, it felt scary to be in control. “Okay, signal with your heels like we talked about, and just gently—yeah, guide her round the yard. Yeah, just like that. What’d I tell you? You’re a natural.”

Suzanna’s heart soared. She turned her face to the mountains, and it almost felt real, ranch girl Suzanna setting off about her day. Riding out past the pond, past the houses and trees, where the foothills were purple and the air was crisp and new.

“Get ’er up to a trot,” said Will.

Suzanna dug her heels in, but Jenny only whickered. “Uh, she doesn’t seem to—”

“You need to do one of these.” Will clicked his tongue. “Push your hips down, relax, and give her a cluck.”

Suzanna did as he said. Jenny picked up her pace, easing into a trot. Suzanna moved with her, fighting breathless laughter as she bounced in the saddle. So this was how it felt—and she loved every bit of it, Jenny’s soft whuffing, the breeze in her face. The jounce of her bottom bumping down on the saddle. She tilted her head back and breathed deep of the stable yard, hay and horse sweat, the sharp tang of ice.

“This part, you can send,” said Will. “Your editor’s going to love it.” Suzanna hardly heard him. She’d half-forgotten he was filming, forgotten he was there at all.

The sun was high in the sky by the time they were done, Jenny unsaddled and brushed, the horses all fed and groomed. Suzanna’s thighs ached, but she felt light as air. She’d achieved something today—not just the ride, but she’d mucked out the stalls, tended to every horse. She’d fed Apple her medicine without incurring her ire. And she’d done it all without straying into the kick zone.

“Your phone’s buzzing,” said Will.

Suzanna dug it out, frowning. “It’s my editor. She’s...” A slow smile lit up her face. She held up her phone so Will could see. “She’s in love with the photos I’ve been sending. Especially that last one, where you can’t see the fence. Where it’s just me and the mountains, and...thank you so much.” She flung her arms around Will, pressed her cheek to his chest. “This is all you. You and Sarah, the twins, I couldn’t have done it without you on my side.”

“Sure you could.” Will stooped to kiss the pompom on top of her hat. “You gotta give yourself more credit.” His own phone gave a chirp, and he thumbed it to silence. Suzanna glanced at it.

“What was that?”

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