Page 20 of Sweet Devotion

“Yeah.” She put down her glass. “Since you’ve been so good, I thought it might be fun to take the horses out on a real ride.”

Oh, Colleen would have paid big bucks to have a photograph of the look of sheer panic that flashed in Aiden’s eyes. Don’t get her wrong, he did his best to hide it. His stance was solid and his smile didn’t waver, but his eyes… those gave the panic away.

“Horseback riding.”

It was hard to tell from his tone if that was a statement, a question, or if he was merely stalling for time to come up with a good excuse why his hip would probably revolt if he rode another minute. As much as she wanted to keep a straight face, she just couldn’t stop from spitting a deep throated laugh.

“Am I missing something?” Aiden looked from her to Ms. Alice and back.

“I stopped at the barn before coming into the house. Wanted to check on Boots. Saw Clint brushing her down. He might have mentioned that soon he was going to teach you how to care for your own horse.”

“Traitor,” he muttered under his breath.

“I’m sorry. I just couldn’t resist teasing you. Though, my plan for the day does involve horses, just not riding them.”

“I’m all ears.”

“Ms. Alice tells me that there’s a four-wheeler available for our use. Did you know there’s a herd of wild horses that roam near the property?”

He shook his head.

“I heard in town that a few new foals have been spotted. Thought it might be nice to have a picnic lunch down by the creek bed where they’ve been spotted.”

“Oh,” his shoulders relaxed, “that sounds nice.”

“I’ve already put the blanket and memory foam stadium seats in the four wheeler so that it’s more comfortable sitting on the ground.”

“Stadium seats?” That was definitely a question.

“Basically they’re just memory foam cushions we use on the bleachers Friday nights.”

“Got it.” His head bobbed up and down.

“I hope you like crispy fried chicken.” Alice continued to fold the laundry without looking up.

“Love it.”

Even without lifting her head, Colleen could see the smile on Alice’s face. “Then you’d better get moving before the gang comes in for lunch and steals your food.”

That was all the encouragement Colleen needed. She grabbed her lemonade from the table, took one last swallow, and nodded toward the back door. “Come on. If Carson gets hold of the fried chicken, all you’ll get is bones and excuses.”

Aiden’s grin came easier now than it had a week ago, a change she enjoyed more than she probably should. “Sounds like a man with brothers.”

“Exactly.” Slipping out the back door ahead of him, she headed for the shed where the four wheeler was kept, the picnic basket secured in the cargo bed beside the folded blanket and the two memory foam seats. Colleen checked the straps on the basket, then looked back at Aiden. He was moving well. A little careful, a little guarded, but better. Noticeably better.

“You driving?” he asked.

“That was the plan.”

He nodded. “Good. I’ve seen enough of your roads to know I’m not qualified.”

Laughing, she climbed on and waited until he settled in beside her. The engine started with a rumble, and they headed across the ranch, cutting a path through the back acreage where the ground dipped and rose in soft undulations. Colleen kept the pace easy, steering around the rougher patches when she could. The last thing she wanted was for him to be too jarred to enjoy the afternoon.

For the first little while they rode in silence. Not an awkward one. The kind that came when both people were looking at the same stretch of country and didn’t feel the need to fill every second. Cattle moved lazily in the distance, and somewhere beyond the far fence line a hawk circled slow and steady against the wide blue sky.

When she slowed near the dry canyon bed, Aiden leaned slightly to see past her shoulder. “This where they’ve been spotted?”

Nodding, she parked and cut the engine. For a second, the only sounds were the cooling tick of the motor and the wind brushing through dry grass. Then somewhere ahead came the soft nickering of horses.