Page 104 of Don't Burn Bridges
He stopped beside Shane, and the two men exchanged a few words she couldn't make out from where she was. Shane listened, then glanced toward her, a slow smile spreading across his face before he gave a single nod.
Seth turned his attention to her. “You up for a ride through the woods with me?”
Hope bloomed so suddenly it nearly stole her breath.
It was the first time since he'd stormed out of the house the night he'd discovered who she really was that he'd spoken to her about anything that didn't involve the ranch. Every conversation since then had been brief, polite, and strictly business.
And now he wanted to ride with her?
Not even an alien invasion could've made her say no.
“I'd love to.”
She guided Daisy toward the gate, and Shane pulled it open.
“Take your time,” he said, glancing between the two of them. “Just don't make me send out a search party.”
Seth smiled. “I think we'll manage.”
“I know you will.”
He gave Shylo a small wave as she rode through before pulling the gate shut again. Seth slipped his boot into Maple's stirrup and swung easily into the saddle, settling the reins in one hand.
“Want me to put her on a lead?” he asked.
Shylo patted Daisy's neck. “We’ve been getting along fine, so I think I'm good... as long as you don't go too fast.”
“I won’t.” His expression softened enough to ease the knot in her stomach. “Trust me.”
The irony wasn't lost on her.
She trusted him completely.
If only the reverse were the same. Her secret was out in the open now. There was nothing left to hide.
He turned Maple toward the trail leading into the woods, keeping the mare at an easy walk that Daisy matched without hesitation. Morning sunlight filtered through the cottonwoods before giving way to taller oaks and hickories, their leaves rustling overhead in the warm breeze. The air was noticeably cooler in the shade and carried the earthy scent of damp soil, moss, and summer wildflowers.
For the first several minutes, neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward, though. It was... cautious, as though they were both testing the ice before taking another step.
“So,” Seth said at last, his attention on the trail ahead, “how's Shane's crash course in ranch life going? Keeping you busy?”
She smiled. “It's good. And he's definitely keeping me busy. I swear the man wakes up every morning determined to teach me five new ranch terms so he can watch my brain short-circuit.”
A chuckle escaped him. “That sounds like him.”
“And Tucker’s been teaching me all about caring for the horses and tackle. He said there’s a... oh, what’s it called again? A farrier, I think. Someone who trims their hooves and replaces their horseshoes?”
“Yup. You can cross that word off your vocabulary list.”
She laughed. “One word out of a few hundred. Not bad. Anyway, the farrier is coming on Monday, so I get to watch that and learn how to pick a rock out of a hoof.”
“The hardest part is getting the horse to trust you enough to lift its leg. There’s a technique to it, and some horses like Maple here who can be stubborn about it.”
“Really? But she’s so sweet.”
“That she is. But she’s stubborn too. Just like her owner.”
