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“Let’s get moving or we won’t make it back in time,” Grayson said.
Beth collected her reins and looked at him, her green eyes bright. “Can I…uh…get a leg up?”
Oh boy. “Sure.”
Beth was going to be the end of him.
He stepped up beside her, and she bent her left leg up. He cupped her knee in one hand, his other hand on her ankle, and tried to ignore the heat that lit his body at their touch.
Beth gave a bounce off her right leg, and he lifted her up by the bent left while she swung her right leg over and settled into place.
Yeah. This was the hard part. A guy could get used to having Beth around.
But that meant someone to worry about.
Nope. He preferred to keep everyone at a safe distance.
He walked back to Maverick and rubbed his velvety muzzle.
“Thanks for waiting, guys. Is everyone ready?” He swung up onto his horse and took his place at the front of the line. Beth gave him a nod, and he turned around and took them farther down the trail.
Ten minutes later, they reached the creek. It wasn’t as high as he’d feared it might be.
He’d ridden through water on the ranch. That part didn’t bother him. Mostly. It was the idea of taking the kids through.
The trail widened at the creek, and he rode out to the side. The other riders all rode up and joined in a group.
He checked his watch. “Well, we could head back now.” He nodded toward the creek. “Or we can ride a bit farther past the creek.”
“We can ride across the creek?” Sarah asked.
“Yes!” Ruby’s eyes rounded.
“I’m okay either way,” Mason said.
Aiden shrugged.
“I want to go.”
Beth held up her hand. “We can take a vote. If there’s anyone who doesn’t want to go, though, we’ll all be respectful and honor that wish, is that clear?”
Could he raise his own hand to decline?
A murmuring of affirmation responded.
“And that means no teasing—now or later.” She gave the briefest pause when her glance bounced past Jackson and Chloe.
Okay, time to cowboy up. “Who wants to go?” he asked.
Every single hand rose.
Well, okay.
Beth wrinkled her nose and gave him a tentative smile.
“Single file again,” he said.
He led Maverick through, the splash of hooves against rock sending droplets flying, cooling his warm skin.
