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When I had arrived here, I hadn’t been sure I’d ever be ready to get on a horse. However, I was getting comfortable around them. They intrigued me. I hadn’t expected them to be so intelligent. My daily talks with Firefoot, Rig, and Jinx were something I looked forward to each morning. Empire had started watching me, and when I was sure that Blaise wasn’t going to show up, I’d go over and talk to him some. He appeared to want me to give him attention, like the others.
“Okay,” I finally said, although the uncertainty in my voice was clear.
Trev nudged my leg with his foot. “I’m still available if you feel safer with me,” he said, then winked.
A small laugh escaped me. Trev was hard not to like. He was fun and charming. People were drawn to him and never felt uncomfortable around him. Nothing like his brother.
Yet Trev didn’t make my skin heat up or my heart race. Apparently, my body reserved that for his elitist, intimidating, and detached older brother. I had no business feeling anything for a Hughes. I wasn’t going to be here long enough for it to matter anyway.
“Which horse do you want me to start on?” I asked Saxon.
“Sunshine,” he said, grinning.
I sighed in relief. Sunshine was a sixteen-year-old quarter horse. She was the only horse I’d led out of the stables and the only one whose stall I would go in when she was in there.
Trev rolled his eyes. “When you’re ready to learn how to really ride, let me know. All you’re gonna do on Sunshine is sit. I doubt she’ll even trot for you.”
“She does just fine, and she’s perfect for beginners,” Saxon told him.
Feeling a tug of excitement about my future lessons, I smiled and leaned back in the seat, relaxing for the first time since Blaise had held me on the dance floor.
“Whatever. That’s not now. Where do you want to go?” Trev asked.
“Moses Mile,” I replied honestly. It had been a long night. I was ready to be alone so I could think about it all.
Trev groaned. “Seriously?”
I nodded.
“Can we at least get drunk first? The bar in here is loaded,” Trev said, leaning over and pulling out a bottle of whiskey.
I shrugged. “You two can drink all you want. I’ll enjoy the ride.”
Seventeen
Going to sleep last night, I’d been excited about the idea of learning how to ride today. However, my anxiety this morning made it difficult for me to eat breakfast. Melanie didn’t notice as she drank her coffee and chatted about how impressive I had been last night. I hadn’t felt very impressive, but if she was happy, then I was glad I hadn’t embarrassed her.
After forcing a few bites of bacon and eggs down, I excused myself from the table and headed out the back door toward the stables. Saxon had told me to meet him at Sunshine’s stall around eight. I still had about thirty minutes, so I made my rounds, visiting with Rig, Jinx, Firefoot, and Empire before turning to head down to the end stall where Sunshine was kept.
Just as I reached her stall, Saxon stepped inside the back entrance. I started to smile at him, but the look on his face made me pause. He looked tense and almost apologetic.
“Hey, bad time?” I asked him, thinking something must have come up and he needed to cancel today’s lesson.
He took a deep breath, then shook his head, but didn’t say anything. “No, uh, it’s just that …” He paused, and his gaze looked past me.
“I’ll be teaching you how to ride,” a familiar, deep drawl said.
My eyes widened as I looked at Saxon, then turned to see Blaise walking toward us. His faded jeans fit him, as if they’d been made just for his long legs, and hung on his hips slightly. The black T-shirt he was wearing looked stretched across his broad shoulders. I swallowed nervously, not sure how this turn of events had happened. I hadn’t agreed to this.
Blaise stopped a couple of feet from me and tipped his cowboy hat back with a finger. Those green eyes were locked on me. He was waiting for me to respond, although I knew by the look on his face that my reaction would mean nothing.
Why was he here?Last night, he couldn’t get away from me fast enough.
Saxon cleared his throat. “Uh, yeah, Blaise came by earlier this morning to check in on Empire. I mentioned your riding lessons today, and he, uh, said he’d teach you.”
Blaise raised his eyebrows just slightly as he watched me. It felt as if he were taunting me to refuse. What would happen if I did? This was Moses Mile. He had no power here. Although Saxon sure made it seem like he did. He hadn’t even asked me if I wanted Blaise to teach me.
Lifting my chin, I glared back at Blaise. “Why?” I asked him simply. It was a fair question. One that needed answering. One he should have to answer.
