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“It would be a mistake. There was too much commotion. She hasn’t been acclimated to so much noise.”
“What do you know about horses?”
“What doyou? Besides riding one, that is. You can’t even saddle her properly.”
Every nerve in my body tightens as his know-it-all tone grates over them. “Well, I knowherbetter than you do.” I seethe when he laughs and, over my shoulder, I see he’s much closer than he was before. Facing him, I say, “I’ve saddled her many times.”
“Then you’re lucky to still be alive. Didn’t anyone teach you about these animals?”
I’m about to tell him there’s been no need because it’s always been done for me, but I bite my tongue. I’d rather not admit that.
He laughs again and comes closer still, so close that he towers over me. So close that I feel his heat envelop me.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
His gaze locks onto mine momentarily before it drops to my lips. Then his attention shifts to the saddle and he reaches around me as he begins to work on the buckle.
I move out of the way, scraping a shaking hand across my forehead to wipe the sweat from it, inexplicably heated. It takes him only a few minutes to completely undo and redo what I’ve done.
When he’s finished, he gently rubs Luna’s flank. “If you insist on going, then I’ll come with you. Give me a minute and I’ll grab a shirt. My room is right up there, in the loft.”
“That’s not necessary.” I take her reins and guide her out.
“Suit yourself. It’s your neck.”
Walking more hurriedly than when I first came in, I open the main door and step out into the night.
We move beyond the gate until the sound of the band and chatter fades to practically nothing. Then I mount her, and with a gentle tightening of my heels against her belly, I command her into a gallop.
I ride her hard and fast toward the hills to the west, far from propriety and expectations. And away from strange men with smoldering gazes who smell of nothing but trouble.
* * *
“Tranquila,”Quiet, I whisper to Luna, patting her crest. “You have to keep calm.”
It’s been almost an hour now since we left Villanueva. As much as I’d like to continue, I’m tired. And I know Luna is too.
Though I hate to admit it, Santos was right. Even with the ride, Luna has been nervous and unsettled. That makes her more difficult to control than usual.
“We should head back,” I tell her.
Behind us, a twig breaks and I spin us around. The moon is high, casting its bright glow over the grounds, but even that isn’t enough to penetrate the thorn bushes. Still, there’s something there. I can sense it watching us.
Luna must sense it too, because she neighs, tossing her head from side to side as she high steps.
“Whoa, easy.” I tug the reins, attempting to settle her, and I succeed. That is, until the creature inside the bush releases a high-pitched howl that scares me to my core.
My mare doesn’t wait for my command to retreat. She bolts, going into a fast gallop instantly. I pull on her reins and press my heels, but she refuses to obey.
“Luna!” I scream. “¡Alto! ¡Para, pinche mula!”Stop! Stop, you fucking mule!
We come barreling down the high slope, and all I can do is pray we don’t hit something as I hold on for dear life.
“Stop!” I yell, tugging on the leather thong with all my might.
She abruptly decides to heed me, stopping so suddenly that I’m flung over her head. My right foot makes contact with the hard ground first, taking the brunt of the impact. I cry out from the sharp pain that shoots up my leg as I roll over and cradle it.
It takes me a few minutes to catch my breath, where I just have to screw my eyes shut and concentrate on slowing my pulse. When I open them again, Luna is standing beside me. She nuzzles my hair as if checking to see if I’m still alive.
