He mounts Magic beside me.
“You’ll see, Layla.”
Chapter 6
By the Creek
Cole
Having Layla riding beside me, out here with the horses, does something to me. Happiness. And that’s a dangerous thought. I normally don’t let myself think about emotions like that.
That catches me off guard, and I don’t like how easily it comes. I like teaching her. I like that she wants to learn, likes being taught, and listens when I explain things. Everything out here is new to her, and somehow that makes it feel new to me too.
It’s… nice.
I wouldn’t ever tell her that. What kind of man just says something like that? Especially to a woman who barely knowshim. But there’s something innocent about her. Not naïve, just open. Curious. Sweet in a way I’m not used to.
Definitely not like Abby.
Layla’s nothing like her. I can tell that already, and I’ve barely known her any time at all. And that scares me more than it should. Different is harder to walk away from. Abby always needed to be ahead of me, louder than me, pushing. Layla just… shows up. Pays attention. Takes what I give and somehow makes it feel like enough.
“How far is the creek?” Layla asks, adjusting in the saddle.
“Not too far,” I answer.
“This is beautiful,” she says softly. “Thank you for showing me all of this today. And for teaching me the right way to handle a horse. Maggie taught me a few things as well.” She glances at me. “I really appreciate your patience. I can be a slow learner when it comes to hands-on stuff and that tends to aggravate some people.”
Nobody ever thanks me for this. They just expect it.
“You’re a fast learner,” I tell her. “You did real good. You should be proud of yourself.”
She bites her lip and smiles, like that means more to her than she expected. I look away before I think of something stupid.
“Are you flirting with me, Cole Marshall?” she asks.
“Nope,” I say. “Just bein’ a gentleman.”
She throws her head back and laughs, loud and unrestrained. “Alright, cowboy.”
The ride goes quiet after that, not awkward, just calm. The kind of quiet that sneaks up on you. I steer us toward a little swimming hole tucked back in the trees. She’s been complaining about the heat since breakfast, asking about a pool. We don’t have one. But we’ve got something better. Natures pool. Not the smell of chlorine burning your nose. I hate that.
“Does this thing go any faster?” she calls out.
I smirk. “Pull the reins, give ’em a slap, kick your knees, and tell him go.”
She repeats everything I say, exactly the way I say it and Shadow takes off.
She lets out a squeal, surprised and delighted, like she didn’t expect it to work. That sound hits somewhere and I want to hear it again. It’s not annoying. It’s… real. Like she’s having the best damn time of her life. Most girls around here roll their eyes at cowboys like me but Layla she seems to want more and more.
I urge Magic forward, catching up easily, riding ahead just enough to watch her. “You better hold on now,” I call back.
“Don’t you worry about me, Scrooge!” she yells.
The woods open up, sunlight breaking through the trees, and then we’re there the creek, cool and clear, cutting through the land like it belongs nowhere else.
We slow the horses, and Layla guides Shadow up beside me.
“Wow,” she breathes. “Does this mean I can get wet?”
