Page 54 of Falling for Her

“They’re right there.” Charlie points, and I see the kids on horses. Asa is on a horse, looking back at me with a huge smile on his face.

I move Rocky toward them, and the minute I get close, I hear Asa. “Look, Finley, I’m doing it! I’m riding!”

“I see that,” I say, dismounting and leading Rocky over. “Rocky, this is Asa, and he’s mine,” I warn him, “so we are going to make sure he’s okay.”

“You ride like Lilah,” Lucy says, and it’s clearly a compliment.

“Thank you. Do you like to ride horses?”

“I do,” she confirms. “We’re going on a trail ride. Are you coming?”

“Of course.” I mount up. I want to be with Asa if they’re going to be riding.

She and Wyatt lead the way through the path in the woods. I make sure that I’m beside Asa the whole time, ready to jump off my horse and onto his if he starts to get scared.

When we finally make our way back to the barn, I’m sad the day is over. I dismount, giving Rocky’s neck a pat, then help Asa down.

“How was that?” I ask him, and he smiles big.

“Can we come back?”

I laugh. “You caught the bug.”

“The bug?” he asks me.

“You either ride a horse the first time and you’re just okay about it, or it itches and you can’t wait for the next time you get to ride.”

“It was so much fun,” he declares as Charlie comes out of the barn with a smile on his face.

“How was it?”

“So good I want to come back,” Asa says.

“Well, we’ll see if that stays true. You ride the horse, you get to take care of him after.”

“What?” Asa asks.

“Come this way.” He takes the reins of the horse. “Wyatt will tell you what to do.”

“You going to make him muck the stalls?” I ask, knowing exactly what he’s doing.

“You bet.” I can’t help but laugh. “He throws up, he’ll never come back.” He turns around and walks backward. “By the way, nice ride.”

“I don’t know how to do much, but I know how to ride a horse.” He laughs as he walks inside the barn. “Thanks for not bucking me off.” I rub Rocky’s neck, already wondering when I’ll see him next.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

LINCOLN

It’s just past 3:00 p.m., and I’m at my desk when Randy finally calls me. I sit up as I answer. “Burke.”

“Hey, it’s Randy.” His voice is all grumbly like he just woke up.

“No shit. Where the fuck have you been for the last goddamn week?”

“I can explain,” his voice drops low, “but not over the phone.”

“Where?”