AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kelsey found the young couple cute. “I won’t complain about that. You guys must have more experience than me.” Last week the only guests she spent much time with were Otis and Silas, but she was glad she played hooky from work today to join this outing. Any time she could spend with Greg and Devin would mean more memories to take home with her. The bad part of that would come when she compared every guy she met with them, as she knew she would.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been on a horse, but it was like riding a bike. Some things you never forget how to do.” Mr. Kilpatrick winked at his wife over Kelsey’s head.
It was obvious how close the two couples were, and as she stepped away from them when they reached the horses, Kelsey wondered if she would ever be that lucky. She doubted it, considering how easily the men in her past relationships had walked away. Sadness pulled her shoulders down as she patted Cleo’s soft neck, wishing she knew why no one cared enough about her to stick around. Except for Jordan and Theresa, whose closeness she cherished.
Kelsey was so immersed in her thoughts and not paying attention to anyone else that Cleo’s sudden high-pitched whinny and agitation caught her unprepared. The usually quiet, docile mare reared up, pawing the air and shaking her head hard enough to yank the reins out of her hand and send her stumbling back to avoid her thrashing hooves. Fear of the unknown prodded her to keep shuffling out of harm’s way, heedless of Greg’s warning shout to stop. Her foot caught on a protrusion and sent her sprawling backward to land on her side right on the edge of the hill. With a startled cry, she tumbled over the side, rolled twice and came to a jarring stop in the brush alongside the hill.
“Kelsey!”
Pushing her hair back with a trembling hand, she looked up the few feet to the ledge to see both Greg and Devin lying on their stomachs with their hands stretched out toward her.
“If you’re not hurt, lift your arms so we can help you up,” Devin ordered, his voice calm compared to Greg’s strident tone when he called out for her to halt.
She sucked in a deep breath and crawled upward. “I’m fine,” she assured them, raising first her right arm and waiting until Greg gripped her forearm before giving Devin her left. With an effortless tug, they hauled her up, pulling her away from the ground so as not to scrape her body against the rugged terrain. If she weren’t so rattled, Kelsey might have found that quick soaring lift fun. Falling against Devin as soon as her feet were on the ground, she leaned against his rigid body, trying to dislodge her heart from her throat as her breathing continued to stutter in and out. Everything had happened so fast that she found the whole episode a bit surreal as she stood there shaking.
Greg placed his hand on her lower back, rubbing in soothing circles as he leaned down and whispered, “Are you sure you’re okay? Nothing hurts?”
She shook her head, wishing he would kiss her, not caring the other guests were gawking. Pulling back with a deep breath, she held up her scratched arms. “Just some cuts. What… what happened with Cleo?”
“I’ll check her while Devin puts something on those.” With an abruptness he’d never exhibited toward her, Greg spun around and strode toward the young mare that now stood quivering and pawing the ground.
“Are you all right?” Vickie rushed forward as Devin wrapped his arm around her waist and led her toward Thor.
“Just shook up, not harmed.” And embarrassed, but Kelsey couldn’t hide that from the concerned looks on the other’s faces. “It’s not the first time I’ve tripped over my own feet while here. Right, Devin?”
He didn’t return her smile, just looked her over with a critical eye before pulling a first-aid kit from his saddlebag. “I’ll dab some antibiotic ointment on those cuts and scrapes and then you’ll ride back down with me. If the rest of you would mount up, we can get going in a few minutes.”
For the first time, she didn’t take umbrage with his commanding tone. At this point, she would even walk down the hill rather than get on Cleo. “Ow,” she muttered as Devin first cleaned the reddened gashes and then blotted them with ointment.
His hand tightened on her wrist as he held her arm up. “It could have been so much worse.”
Kelsey winced as he gently applied cream to a tender cut. “But it wasn’t. I’m likely to be sorer from riding than that tumble.”
“A hot soak in the tub when we get back will go a long way to ease those aches. Any place I missed?”
She wished she could see more of his face, but he kept his hat lowered and head angled away. “No. Thank you.”
“Devin, bring me that cream when you’re done,” Greg called out, one hand running in soothing circles on Cleo’s flank.
“Wait here, then.” Carrying the tube of ointment, he left her to walk over to Greg and Cleo.
The stinging in her arms started to ease as she watched the two men conversing in hushed tones while tending to something Greg spotted on Cleo, and a few minutes later, curiosity propelled her forward. As soon as she saw the trickle of blood on Cleo’s hip, she dashed to her side, her fear forgotten in her concern.
“Poor baby. What happened?”
“Most likely a female horse fly or deer fly. Their bite is extremely painful and will draw blood, but even so, her reaction was extreme.” Greg tended the oozing sore with gentle fingers, Devin moving to the horse’s head to keep her as still as possible.
“So she was hurt, and scared?” Reaching out a tentative hand, Kelsey felt delicate shuddering ripples running under the smooth coat.
“Yes, but like I said, she never should have reacted that way. I’ll examine the bite more closely when the swelling goes down.” Capping the ointment, Greg cupped her jaw and tilted her head up. “You’re okay?”
“Yes, so you can quit asking. Devin wants me to ride down with him, but maybe…”
“No,” they interrupted at the same time. Greg grasped her shoulders and turned her toward Thor. Sliding his hands down to her waist, he lifted her up and Devin swung her in front of him.
“You two handle me like I weigh ten pounds,” she huffed, settling back against him.
“That’s the best part about your size.” Devin tightened his arm around her waist and turned Thor to lead the riders down the hill.
