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“I bumped into the fence,” she explained. Mark made a sound under his breath, but it wasn’t a lie. “You’ll understand in a minute.”
By the arena, she explained the plan to Casey and then ignored his raised eyebrow of disbelief as she slipped between the boards. Keeping her pace steady, she began her soft words of reassurance. The brisk wind whipped them away, making it impossible for the mare to hear, but if nothing else, the murmuring calmed her own nerves. She could feel each beat of her heart and her palms had grown damp.
When she reached the middle of the arena again, the mare’s ears flattened against her head, and she jumped into a gallop. Britt fought the urge to run as a thousand pounds of muscled horseflesh hurled toward her. She had to wait until the final stride to raise the crop camouflaged against her leg.
The mare was four strides away when Britt panicked. If she raised the whip to this animal, she’d never be able to train her. She made a mad dash out of the path of the mare’s charging hooves.
“She’s coming after you!”
Hoof beats pounded behind her as she leapt for the fence and clambered to the top. Dust billowed up around her as she watched the mare pivot on her hind legs and retreat. Back at the gate, she read the question and concern in Mark’s expression. Both men were busy recoiling their ropes.
“I couldn’t do it,” she said, out of breath from the adrenaline rush. “I realized if I hit her, I’d never get near her again.” She stood on the bottom rail and rested her arms on the top, gazing at the mustang. “She’s used to everything and everyone running from her.”
Casey snorted. “You sure as hell wouldn’t catch me standing in her way.”
Britt didn’t take her eyes off the horse. “How fast did she turn after I ran?”
“Fast enough,” he retorted.
“Would I have enough time to face her again? I mean, I’ve never seen a horse intentionally run into a fence.”
“You’re not a fence.”
She ignored Mark’s comment. “I don’t think she’d run me over.”
“You’re putting a lot of faith in a horse that’s tried to run you down twice already. By the time you find out, it’ll be too late,” he argued. “It’s completely out of the question.”
He started for the barn, and she jumped off the fence to follow. “Mark—”
“Find another way, or quit now. Asking you to train this horse didn’t include putting your life in danger.”
Britt grabbed hold of his arm. “Seriously, have you ever seen a horse run into a fence on purpose? Each time, when I reached the fence, she turned away because I was no longer a threat.”
“You were no longer within her reach.”
She must be crazy, defending the mare. Or maybe that knock on the head had done it. But suddenly she couldn’t bring herself to give up the challenge. “I appreciate your concern, but now that I’ve seen it a few times, I honestly don’t think she’ll follow through with the charge. Besides, you and Casey will still be here if I need any help.” One look at his expression, and she hastily added, “Which I won’t.”
He hesitated, his gaze shifting from her to the mare.
“Please, Mark. I can do this.” Suddenly it felt like she was pleading for so much more than the horse.
His gaze met hers once more and she swore he understood. Without a word, he retraced his steps back to the fence. She followed, relieved beyond what was rational.
When she passed Casey, he shook his head with a soft, “You’re nuts.”
Chapter 11
Joel pulled into the ranger station right behind his supervisor, Ryan Wagner. By the time he parked, the shorter man stood at his driver’s side window and motioned for him to roll it down.
“I’m glad I ran into you,” Ryan said. “I had a meeting scheduled with Highlands this morning, but I got a call from the Grand Lake station a few minutes ago. Any chance you can take my place and meet with Mark Jennings to go over their access contract? Then I wouldn’t have to reschedule.”
“Are you sure you even want to renew it?”
The older man nodded. “I trust Highlands. I trust Mark. Not to mention, I heard Britt Lucas is back for another summer. She spends most of her off time camping and knows the park like the back of her hand. She might even be of some help to you.”
Joel began shaking his head before Ryan finished. After the other night, he highly doubted she would do a single thing to assist him. Besides which, he didn’t want her help. “If you’re suggesting a civilian ride with me—”
“I’m not suggesting anything of the sort, but it wouldn’t hurt to brief Highlands on the situation. They can keep an eye out on their overnights.”
