I quickly glanced over the equations then smiled at her. “Looks like you’ve got the hang of it.”
She gave me a quick hug. “Thanks for your help.”
I squeezed her back. “Anytime.” She ducked under my arm and headed out the back door.
Both Gran and Malachi stared at me when I turned back around. Gran with a peculiar twinkle in her eyes, and Malachi with a look I sometimes bore when I stared at a spreadsheet for hours but couldn’t figure out where the discrepancy lay.
Malachi shook his head and retreated, mumbling something about first his dog then Gran and now Miriam. Whatever that meant.
I helped Gran bring the dishes into the dining room, my coworkers scrambling for seats around the table. After grace and not a little surprise at watching people who survived off coffee and meals delivered by their assistants wolf down thick slices of grilled brioche bread and bowls of oatmeal, we headed outdoors.
Ten-year-old YouTubers, don’t fail me now.
I had no illusions that I’d be a great horsewoman, but I’d settle for not landing in a heap of broken bones on the ground.
A whinny from the corral pulled me from my thoughts, and I looked up. All the horses stood in a line at the fence, saddles on their backs and bits in their mouths. My lungs released a breath. Obstacles one and two already tackled for me.
I walked to Domino and ran a hand over his velvet-soft nose. “Only one of us can freak out at a time, and I’m reserving that position right now, so no losing your head, okay?”
Bill chuckled beside me. “As the rider, you’re the one in control.”
Pretty sure Domino had a good twelve hundred pounds on me, and if he wanted to do something, nothing I could do would stop him. I patted his long neck, pushing up on my toes to whisper into his ear. “Don’t listen to him. I’m fine with you taking the lead if you promise not to hurt me.”
Domino shook his large head. Yes, I’d seen the fly buzzing around his ears. No, I didn’t mind believing the delusion that Domino and I had an understanding and his head shake was in response to me and not a bothersome insect.
Leather creaked as each of the three Thomas siblings mounted their horses in one fluid motion. Tonya and Bill followed next. Even surfer boss Jayden managed to hoist himself into the saddle. Only Sam, Henry, Donald, and I remained on the ground. I gathered Domino’s reins in my hand and turned him toward the center of the corral. That was where the mounting blocks on the Internet videos I’d watched had been located.
Nothing but sand, a few rocks, and patches of grass.
Now what?
Sam hopped in my peripheral vision, and I turned toward him. He had one foot in the stirrup, but instead of standing still, his horse had decided right then was the perfect time to meander around.
“Where are the brakes on this thing?” Sam called out as he continued to bounce along with one foot held hostage about waist high.
Laughter burned my ears as Nate maneuvered his horse to stand as a roadblock and bent down to retrieve Sam’s loose reins. He gave Sam a few pointers on how to mount, but even so, Sam strained to lift himself into the saddle.
Next committee meeting, we needed to discuss a gym membership as part of our employee package.
I quickly scanned the area. There had to be an easier way than repeating Sam’s graceless assent. My gaze homed in on the fence. The boards were spaced apart like ladder rungs. “Donald. Henry,” I called, tilting my head toward the fence.
Unlike Henry’s horse, who required a little more encouragement to move, Domino followed along behind, and I parallel parked him beside the wooden slats. Once I’d climbed the two lowest beams, I was able to swing my leg across Domino’s black rump and settle my own into the saddle.
I really hoped I could last more than eight seconds before being tossed on my backside.
6
Malachi
“It helps if you open your eyes, Miss Jocelyn,” I said, my words softer than I’d intended. Not that I’d calculated on being harsh, but the calloused edges of my speech had a way of rounding and smoothing when I spoke to this particular lady. I’d never been a Don Juan when it came to women. Not exactly a stammering Porky Pig either, but searching for words when conversing with females was like finding that proverbial needle in a haystack. If only my confidence didn’t go scurrying to the foothills, leaving a hesitation in its wake.
When I’d glanced back and seen the crazy city gal riding along with one less sense than God had given her, I’d told Nate to ride back and make sure she was okay. Except I’d forgotten that no one told Nate nothin’. He’d just grinned at me and pressed his heels more fully into Sunny’s flank, taking the lead.
“Domino and I have an understanding, Mr. Thomas.” Miss Jocelyn didn’t so much as turn her head at the sound of my voice. “He’ll get me back to the ranch in one piece at the end of the day, and in return I’ll sneak him all the carrots and apples I can find in the kitchen.”
Add another living creature at the Double B under her spell. “You can just call me Malachi, ma’am.”
She peeked at me out of the corner of her eye. “And I’m Jocelyn. Not that I don’t find your manners charming, but tacking on the miss before my name or a ma’am after makes me feel old.”
