Page 45 of Love In Harbor Falls

“Yeah.”

“Then take that as a win. You two will have a great time tomorrow.”

* * *

Adalyn

I awoke at six a.m. like I did every day. It was my favorite time of the morning to sit out on the deck with my coffee and stare at the blue ocean water while the waves crashed against the shore.

Sitting on the white Adirondack chair, I sipped the piping hot coffee from my mug as a light wind swept across me. I thought about Colin and how we were going horseback riding together today. A nervousness settled inside me. Not because I didn’t want to spend the day with him, I did. But because I was still scared to let a man get too close. I was still working on myself and learning to live life on my own—something I’d never done before. I went from living with my mother to getting married and living with Darren. The daily struggle was real, but I knew I had to trust myself to make the right decisions. Was accepting Colin’s proposal to spend the day together the right decision? That was the question I was up all night pondering. He was charming, easy to talk to, and oh-so handsome. There was a gentleness in his soul and a kindness about him I saw and felt the first time we met. Any sane woman wouldn’t even hesitate to go out with him. He was the perfect catch. I had just wished the timing was better and I wasn’t such a hot mess.

I was already waiting outside, watering the flowers, when Colin pulled into the driveway.

“Hey.” He smiled as he climbed out of his truck.

“Hey. Good morning.”

“Are you ready to ride some horses?”

“I sure am. Let me turn the water off, and then we can go.”

The drive to the ranch was a little over forty-five minutes from town. It was located down a winding dirt road behind beautiful mature pine trees. I stared at the horses grazing in the pasture as we pulled up. As we climbed out of the car, an older gentleman stepped out from one of the barns and greeted us.

“It’s good to see you, Colin.” The man grinned as he gave him a light hug.

“It’s good to you too, Johnny. This is Adalyn. Adalyn, meet my friend, Johnny.”

“It’s nice to meet you, young lady.” He tipped his cowboy hat.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Johnny.”

“I have two horses saddled up for you both if you’re ready to ride.”

“We are.” Colin smiled.

We climbed on our horses, and Colin glanced at me before we began to set off on the trails.

“I’m sorry. I totally forgot to ask you. Have you ridden before?”

“Yes. I’ve ridden many times in my life.” I smiled.

“Whew.” He let out a chuckle. “Even if you didn’t, I would have helped you.” A small smile framed his lips.

We headed down the trails, and I took in the serenity of my surroundings. It had been a long time since I’d ridden and forgotten the magic and beauty of it. Darren hated horses, so he would never take me—not even for a carriage ride in Central Park.

“It’s so beautiful and peaceful here.” I smiled as I glanced at Colin, who was riding beside me.

“Yeah. I’ve been coming here for years. I even thought about buying my own horse once.”

“Really? Why didn’t you?”

“Life got in the way, I suppose. Olivia didn’t like horses.”

“Neither did Darren. He hates them so much that he wouldn’t even take me on a carriage ride through Central Park.”

“That’s terrible. Even if I didn’t like horses, I still would have taken you.” He smiled.

My belly began to flutter as the beating of my heart slightly picked up its pace like it did every time he made comments like that.

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