AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I mean, what were the chances he would fire me when he got home? Say it’d become a conflict of interest?
It really was. On both our parts.
But like I’d told Caleb, it was only reckless if you regretted it.
It might have been stupid, but I’d do it all over again.
Bare myself for the sake of getting a moment of his vulnerability.
The memory of his gorgeous cock wasn’t going to hurt all that bad, either, except for the fact I was sure I’d never find anything comparable.
Men like him ruined you like that.
My only regret would be if it harmed what I had with Evelyn.
My heart squeezed in rejection.
Now that? That would be a travesty. But I guessed it was a risk I’d taken, asking to know him more, even though now I was a little terrified of what it might mean.
Either way, I knew as Evelyn and I strolled along the edge of the river, the sound of it rushing over the rocks and the whisper of the wind calling through the trees, that I’d come to the place where I belonged.
Coming to Hutchins Ranch had reminded me of what I really wanted.
Rekindled those dreams.
Time River was my home. Where I wanted to be. Where I was going to build a brand-new life with all the old pieces that I’d loved and left behind.
As Evelyn and I roamed, I hoped she would always be a part of that, in whatever capacity that might be.
As her teacher and mentor.
As her friend.
I glanced up at the delicate features of her face. Her smile was accentuated by the rays of sunlight that speared through the leaves in the trees.
It lit her like the little angel that she was.
My chest tightened, and my spirit hummed.
Devotion expanded, and I had the sudden urge to reach out and touch her cheek.
Promise I would always be there for her.
That I would stand at her side.
That she wasn’t alone.
I knew what that feeling was.
Love.
I loved her, and I worried merely being her teacher might not be enough.
“Did you even think I’d be this good at riding my favorite horse, Ms. Dae?” Evelyn asked.
“Of course, I knew you would be. You screamed natural the second I saw you.”
“Just like you?”
Soft laughter rippled out. “Just like me.”
“You got to ride on your favorite horse when you were five, too?”
“I did. I didn’t have one at my house, but my uncle did, and I thought his house was the best place in the world because I got to see his horses.”
“How many did he have? As many as me at my house?”
“Oh no, not even close. He had three.”
I doubted there was anyone in Time River who’d ever had as many horses as Caleb Greyson did.
Evelyn gasped like it was an atrocity. “And you didn’t even have one?”
“Nope, even though I thought of them as my own.”
“Well, we can ask my uncle if you can have one. Which one do you like the very best? I think he’s got a lot and he won’t even mind.”
My heart throbbed at her sweet innocence. “That’s really nice of you, Evie-Love, but that’s okay. I’m going to save up just like you and buy my own horses.”
Or really, the hope would be other people would bring theirs to me.
“You’re saving just like me? We really are the same, and we must be in all our favorites.”
“I guess we do have a whole lot in common, don’t we?”
“We match, remember?” She lifted her little hand with her rainbow nails as proof.
Affection pulsed. “That we do. So, what do you say we try something new?”
“I like that idea.”
“We’re going to have Mazzy go into a trot. Just an easy one, and you need to make sure you’re holding snuggly onto the reins, but also don’t tense up. You don’t want her to feel like you’re nervous. Remember, she’s listening to you and taking all her cues from you, so you stay calm and in control, and she’s going to, too.”
“I already learned all that the other day when you told me,” she rambled out, “because I am a very good learner and a good rider.”
God, this kid made me happy. “That you are. Okay, just nudge her real gentle with the heel of your boots.”
“Will I hurt her?” Horror filled her voice.
“Nope. You just keep it gentle, like a love pat.”
She only hesitated for a second, looking down at her boots like she was checking to make sure they weren’t weapons, before she sucked in a big breath and barely knocked her heels against Mazzy’s flank.
Mazzy began to trot, super slow, while I jogged along beside them.
“There you go, just like that,” I encouraged.
I stayed right beside them in case there was an issue, even though I was pretty sure Mazzy would protect the child with her life. The horse was completely in tune with her, the two connected in that special way that would last a lifetime.
