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She let out a breath. “I remember.”
She could do this.
Grayson set a saddle on Maverick and fastened the cinch, then picked up two bridles from the hook. “Where are your boots?”
She took the bridle he offered. “Dad rehomed those with Chase.” Add a shopping trip to Duluth to her to-do list. She’d be able to convince Vivie to go.
Beth checked the tightness of her cinch between Rex’s front legs and put the bridle on. She could feel Grayson’s eyes watching while he finished tacking up Maverick.
Was she actually, really, totally going to do this?
“Follow me.” Just like that, Grayson snagged Maverick’s lead and waved for her to follow.
Rex followed her like a puppy dog out to the arena. Grayson stood next to a mounting block.
“Nervous?”
Beth’s fingers blanched against the leather reins, but she nodded. “It’s only been—what? Uh…fourteen years?” Oh boy.
Don’t cry. Cowgirls don’t cry.
This had sounded like a much better idea when she’d been tired and caught up in the whirlwind of Tally’s injury, the aftermath. Her anger at Lyle. Cards with Grayson.
Now? She couldn’t muster the courage to get on. Somewhere in the tangle of nerves, her voice formed the words. “I’m afraid.”
His eyes held hers, gentle and filled with certainty. “I won’t let you get hurt. Rex here”—he rubbed the horse’s face—“he’s my favorite. He’ll take good care of you.”
And how could a girl not buy into that?
She climbed the dusty steps, and he handed her the reins. She set her foot into the stirrup.
Froze.
Except for her shaking left hand, holding the reins on the horse’s neck.
Nope.
Grayson stepped closer and placed his hand over hers. “You can do this, Beth.” Her eyes met his, and the warmth of his body heated her. He smelled richly masculine—a heady mixture of aftershave, soap, and summer.
Why was he still so stupid-handsome?
His hand gave hers a squeeze, then he rested it against Rex’s neck. “Up and over. I’m right here.”
“Right.” She shook her head. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“You can do this. Today, though. Before the sun goes down and Mav and Rex want dinner.”
“Funny.” She drew in a breath, released it, then hoisted her other leg over the top of Rex’s back. Settled.
Oh boy. She was on a horse again. A living, breathing, perhaps not-God-fearing horse.
“Hey—you’ve gotta breathe. You can’t pass out twice in one week.” And there he went again, giving her a crooked smile that transformed him into the boy she used to know.
“Right.” She attempted the breathing technique Vivien had taught her, drawing air slowly into her lungs, holding, and releasing. This time, the rhythmic thunder in her ears slowed with each breath.
“Let me adjust your stirrups one more notch.” She moved her legs forward while he shortened the stirrups on each side. “There, try that.”
She slipped her feet back into the stirrups. “Yeah.” Her hiking boots were a little clunky in the stirrups.
