Page 35 of Organized Chaos

“Oops?” She straightened and wiped dust from her face. “Phillip Williams, I’m beginning to think you are sabotaging me. Every time I’m around you, things go wrong.”

“Or missing.” He tapped his fingers on the chair, sending up tiny puffs of dust. “You have a habit of losing things.”

“Like my mind.” She pretended to scowl at him while propping her fists on her hips. “You’re responsible for half my trouble this week. Maybe even ninety percent.”

He whistled. “That’s a lot of blame.” A grin teased the corner of his mouth. “You sure you’re not exaggerating to make up for all the paint fumes you’ve inhaled this week?”

“At least I can see the beauty of transforming junk into something useful.” She nodded decisively.

Phillip rounded the chair and covered his mouth with his hands. He widened his eyes to a ridiculous degree and gasped. “I’m at a loss for words.”

Sarah smacked the back of her hand across his shoulder, her full smile breaking free. “Whatever Mr. Podcast.” She pointed at the chair. “This piece could be a showstopper.”

“Like if I called Jeopardy, they’d come out here and do a whole show about vintage chairs?” Phillip dropped into the seat and flopped his arms across the arm rests. “I’ll take Leather and Aprons for 500.”

Sarah shoved at his arm. “Get up. I need to take pictures. I want to see if I can find this same fabric online.”

“Floral designs for 400, Alex.” Phillip stood and moved toward the stairs. “I’ll go saddle a horse. Come on down when you’re done.” He looked at her long and hard. “You’re not going to fall through the roof, or fall out the door, or tumble down the steps if I leave you alone, are you?”

“I’ll have you know that I survived well enough on my own all these years without you.” She snapped several pictures with her phone while turning her back on Phillip.

His laughter trailed up to her, followed by the slow murmur of his voice when he reached the stables below.

She descended the steps slowly and paused when she caught sight of him leading a large gray horse from a stall. He patted the sleek neck. Sarah clutched her phone to her chest and snapped another series of photos of Phillip and the horse.

He looked so comfortable here. Phillip absolutely belonged in this world of horse and leather. She stood back as he groomed the horse and swung a saddle onto the broad back. “You can stop hiding. Tank won’t hurt you.”

“His name is Tank?” Sarah crept closer and held out her hand toward the horse. He nosed her palm, drawing her scent in and letting out a chuff that blew slobber all up her arm. She grimaced at Phillip. “Guess he didn’t like that.”

Phillip tightened the cinch then moved to slide a bridle over the horse’s head. “He’s a big baby.”

“I can see that.” Sarah stroked the velvety soft nose and took her time enjoying the moment.

Phillip gathered up the reins. “You can ride in the round pen.” His grin slipped free. “Small, enclosed space. No way for you to run away. Not that Tank would do it anyway.”

“You underestimate my power.” Sarah stepped up beside Tank and looked up at the saddle sitting even with her head. “How am I supposed to get up there?”

He cupped his hands and lowered them on top of his knee as he crouched. “Like this. Put your foot here, and I’ll boost you up.”

“You better not throw me over the other side.” She gathered up the reins and put her left foot in his open hands.

Phillip braced. “I wouldn’t dream of it. On three.” He nodded at her. “One. Two. Three.”

On three, he lifted her off the ground. She managed to swing her right leg over Tank and settle in the saddle.

A wave of vertigo hit, and she leaned forward. “I don’t remember it being this high up last time I rode.”

Phillip held her calf and tucked her foot into the stirrup. “Don’t think about that part. Focus on what’s ahead of you. Tank loves walking. Sit back and relax.”

“I can do that.” She waited until Phillip stepped back and then clucked at Tank. “Let’s go for a walk.”

Tank plodded around the circular ring, his head bobbing slightly and his steps spry even though they were slow enough that Phillip walked alongside her without breaking a sweat.

Her face hurt from smiling so much but she didn’t stop. A quick look down at Phillip showed a matching grin on his face. “Best day ever,” she said before lifting her head to watch the path ahead.

She almost expected something to go wrong. After all, Phillip wasn’t wrong when he said she tended to have things happen toher when he was around. It happened more often than that, but she wasn’t about to admit to him. Not now when things were going so well and she was out riding again.

She’d almost forgotten how much she loved this. The soft creak of leather and the gentle sound of Tank’s hooves landing on the soft dirt. It was soothing and invigorating in ways she couldn’t quite explain. When they’d made several passes around the ring and her thighs were beginning to scream at her, Sarah sat back. “Whoa, Tank.”

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