Page 28 of Second Chance Saloon

Mitch’s laugh bounced off the wooden walls of the barn, escaping through its small cracks into the October afternoon. His hand steadied, fingers brushing Diamond’s mane confidently. “I thought you said it so I wouldn’t be scared.”

She considered him with her arms crossed over her chest. Diamond was the sturdiest horse they had but he was also the gentlest. Knowing Mitch didn’t have much experience with even being around horses, Jackie had decided Diamond was the best choice for his riding lessons.

“If you’re done befriending him, mount up. We’ve been here over an hour.”

The smile slipped off Mitch’s face. “Can’t it wait?”

Jackie pushed herself off the beam and stalked up to him. She stopped by his side, their elbows knocking as she reached out to rub behind Diamond’s ear. “I showed you how to do it. I saddled Diamond up for you, though next time I want you to try doing that yourself. You’re comfortable with him; he’s with you. What is there to wait for?”

“Nothing.” He sighed. “I’m just nervous.”

His hand rested on Diamond’s neck.

Jackie covered it with hers. “I’ll be right here with you.” She gave his fingers a gentle squeeze, hoping it’d convey the reassurance her words were clearly falling short of delivering. “You can’t learn to ride if you aren’t on a horse.”

“You don’t give up, do you?”

“Not when I feel passionate about something, no.”

Jackie bit down on her lip, trying to keep her mind sharp and not give in to the desire to pull him to her and kiss him senseless.

It had been three weeks since their first kiss at Betty’s Hens. And oh, the kisses that followed … She’d lost track of them. It’d been like being on cloud nine. Even her anxiety about chemistry—that she’d decided already she would hate more than she did in high school—vanished whenever they saw each other. She wasn’t sure how it had happened, but being with Mitch was easy. It felt natural, like she’d met someone who was always supposed to be in her life.

Her eyes flicked to meet his. In the late afternoon light of a dimming sun, his irises looked darker, reminding her of grass after several days of much needed rain during a drought.

Jackie smiled, as she remembered his slowly growing confidence and the flirting that came with it. She didn’t know if he meant to say some of the things he did or if sometimes he blurted them without thinking, but it didn’t matter. She was ready to get carried away with him, all the way.

Mitch turned her hand over, lazily drawing circles on her palm with his thumb. “And what are you passionate about? Me or the idea of getting me on a horse?”

Diamond snickered and Jackie withdrew her hand. Mitch was so unlike any guy she’d dated before that sometimes she wasn’t sure how she should act around him.

“Both. Now come on, up you go,” she said.

Breath whooshed out of his chest. “Here goes nothing.” His facial expression was a lot more determined than his tone suggested. He tipped his head back, whispering something into Diamond’s ear.

Jackie fixed her hat, needing to find something to do to overcome the urge to tease him.

Moments later, Mitch’s posture straightened. He grabbed the reins, then the pommel, put his booted foot into the stirrup, pushed himself up with little visible effort and swung his other leg over.

It took him a good second to realize he was sitting on Diamond. Jackie saw the exact moment his face lit up; relief mixed with excitement colored his cheeks. Pure happiness reflected in his eyes and when he looked at Jackie, the weight of it momentarily stole the air from her lungs.

“Look at that!” she exclaimed, unable to suppress a grin. “You either lied to me or you’re a natural.”

“Diamond’s keeping his end of the bargain. I told him I’ll find him the nicest carrot I can if he doesn’t throw me off.”

“Ah. Bribery. Nice one, Diamond.”

Mitch shuffled in the saddle. “I’d ask you to climb up here with me, but I don’t think it’d work.”

Jackie imagined sitting in the same saddle, her chest pressed against his muscular back, her cheek resting on his cotton shirt, watching his forearms flexing as he led Diamond in a canter through the fields. She knew exactly where they would go; there was a small lake at the back of the eastern field. They could take a blanket, and maybe even have a picnic …

It was a nice thought, but there was no way she’d be able to lead Diamond from behind Mitch—or even reach over his broad shoulders. And she didn’t think it’d be safe or fair to let Diamond carry them both with an inexperienced rider holding the reins.

“Not until you start riding well. Then, who knows. Maybe.” She shrugged. “For now, pass me the reins and I’ll lead you outside into the paddock. You can get a feel for how Diamond moves.”

Mitch groaned. “All of the ranch hands are having dinner outside.”

“So?”