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Chapter Three
“Good girl.” I run myhand down Cocoa’s mane as I finish attaching her saddle.
Cocoa is a quarter horse my father bought me when I was twelve. I named her Cocoa for her warm brown coat and the white patch that extends down her snout. She always reminded me of hot chocolate with a swirl of whipped cream on top.
“You about ready?” I jump slightly when I hear Thad, having not realized he had approached.
Glancing behind me, an instant buzz of excitement runs through my body when I catch sight of him at the mouth of the barn. He’s standing next to a brilliant brown horse with white spots speckled over its entire body.
“Yep. She’s all ready.” I give Cocoa another long stroke before leading her from the barn, trying my best to seem unaffected as I pass Thad and Sheldon.
By the time I mount Cocoa, Thad is already sitting on top of Sheldon, his gaze locked on me as he pulls his horse up to a stop alongside mine.
“So, where to?” He pulls his faded baseball cap low on his forehead before he tugs the hood of his sweatshirt up over top of it.
The evening air is chillier than I had anticipated and I wish I had thought to bring a hat or maybe even a scarf. Without either, I mirror Thad and pull the hood of my sweatshirt up over my head.
“The creek. Have you been out there before?” I ask, urging Cocoa forward.
“A few times,” Thad says, guiding Sheldon with ease.
“Well then, do me a favor.”
“What’s that?” he questions, a small grin playing on his lips.
“Try to keep up.” I give him a wide smile seconds before Cocoa and I take off through the open field behind the barn.
Thad says something but his words are lost to the wind as it rushes past my ears.
We ride for several minutes, Thad and his horse holding steady right behind me. I keep my gaze forward and my focus on the feeling of being back on my horse. It’s been so long, too long. I almost forgot how incredible this feels.
I slow Cocoa’s pace as we reach the edge of the woods, turning right in time to see Thad pull up next to me.
“You do pretty good on him.” I’m impressed by how much control he has over Sheldon.
“I think he does pretty good with me.” He smiles, causing a flurry of flutters deep in my belly.
“Have you been riding long?” I ask, guiding Cocoa forward. Thad and Sheldon continue to move in unison with us.
“Not really. I rode a couple times as a kid but when Henry asked me to start working with Sheldon it had been years since I’d been on a horse. I picked it up pretty quickly. Plus, he takes it pretty easy on me.” He pats the side of Sheldon’s neck.
“I can see that.”
“I would ask you the same, but I’m pretty sure you’ve been riding since you were old enough to walk.” He throws me a sideways glance before turning his gaze forward.
“You’re not wrong there,” I admit. “Though Cocoa is the only horse I really enjoy riding. We have an understanding. I guess you could sayshetakes it easy on me.” I smile, repeating the same thing he said about his horse. “Thanks for coming out with me. My dad has always been weird about letting me wander the property alone. I think he forgets I’m not a little girl anymore.”
“That you certainly are not.” The way he says it makes my skin prickle beneath my clothing and I find myself turning to meet his gaze without meaning to.
An electricity pings between us the minute our eyes lock. A magnetic pull locking us onto the other. I don’t know how long the connection lasts or what actually breaks it for that matter, only that one minute I can’t look away and the next I’m shaking my head and clearing my throat like I’m not really sure what the heck happened.
“Have you liked working on the ranch?” I blurt the first thing I can think of.
“It’s not something I thought I’d enjoy. I’ve never been much for this type of lifestyle. But surprisingly it’s been really good for me. Getting out of the city was exactly what I needed.”
“What city?” I ask, realizing I don’t know where he lived before now. Hell, the only thing I know about him is that he lived here in Swindell for a short time as a kid.
“Salt Lake City.”
