Page 42 of Tattered and Torn

I go over the safety rules with the group, and then Nora and I help them all mount their horses.

“I’ve got this,” I tell Nora when she approaches Gabrielle. “I’ll help her.” I step up beside Gabrielle. “Ready? Just like you did the other day.”

She nods. “It’s now or never, right?” She grabs the reins and the horn in her left hand and the back of the saddle in her right. She slips her left foot into the stirrup, and I help her up. She swings her right leg over the saddle and settles into her seat.

“Good job,” I tell her.

She takes the reins in both hands.

“Easy on the reins, remember? Odin knows what to do. Just let him do it, okay. Sit back and relax.”

She nods. “Got it.”

“And Gabrielle, if you need anything, or you have any concerns, just call for me, all right?”

She looks down at me. “I’ll be okay.”

On impulse, I pat her thigh, then rest my hand on her leg for a moment. I’m still fighting the urge to move her up in the line so that she’s right behind me. “You’ll do great. Okay, ladies,” I say to the group. Let’s go.”

I slip the supply backpack on and mount Zeus. “Hold down the fort, Nora.”

Nora salutes. “Have fun, boss.”

I take the lead. The three guests fall in line after me, with Gabrielle in the rear. I glance back at her one more time before we leave, just to make sure she’s settled and comfortable.

“We should be back around three,” I tell Nora. “If we’re not back by five, and you haven’t heard from me, come look for us.”

“Got it,” Nora nods. “Break a leg.”

“Please don’t say that,” I tell her. It has always sounded like a bad omen to me.

* * *

Everyone’s pretty quiet on the ride up to Pine Lake. That’s fine with me, even preferable. The less talking, the better. Everyone’s keeping pace and following the rules.

I keep looking back to check on Gabrielle. I’m not worried about her—she’s on Odin. I’d put my hundred-year-old grandma on Odin without a second thought. He’s solid and reliable. If a rattler crossed paths in front of him, he’d step on it and Gabrielle would never even know what happened.

Still, I keep looking back to check on her. Every time I do, Brittany waves at me, and Krista winks. These women are barking up the wrong tree.

It’s not that I don’t like women. I do. A lot. I just keep to myself now. No one needs to sit across a breakfast table and stare at this face.

I’m not sayin’ I’ve been a monk for the past decade. I haven’t. I’ve had sex plenty of times. But it’s always been quick and impersonal, and always in the dark. I can’t stand the idea that some woman is starin’ at my face.

“Hey, Burke!” Brittany yells loud enough to wake the dead. She certainly alerted every black bear and cougar within a ten-mile radius.

“Whoa.” I pull up lightly on the reins and Zeus stops on a dime. I turn in the saddle and glance back at the tall blonde. “Yes?”

She smiles sheepishly and cocks her head. “I need to use the ladies’ room.”

Her two friends snicker at that.

I notice Gabrielle rolling her eyes, which nearly makes me laugh out loud, but I manage to hold it in. “Okay.” I nod toward the trees to the south side of the trail. “Have at it.”

She gives me an exaggerated pout. “Can you help me down?”

“Sure.” I suppress a sigh because I know this is bullshit. Nora told me they have plenty of experience riding, and she confirmed they did really well on their lessons yesterday. They know how to mount and dismount a horse. Nevertheless, for the sake of expediency, I dismount and walk back to Brittany.

She holds her arms out to me, and I have no choice but to take hold of her waist and gently lower her to the ground. She grasps my shoulders and leans into me so that she practically slides down my body until her feet hit the ground.

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