Page 23 of October’s Cowboy Beau

“I’m fine.”

“That wasn’t the question.”

She looked at me sideways. “A little.”

“There’s a blanket behind the seat.”

“You seem to have a solution for everything.”

I looked ahead at the horses. “Not everything.”

She didn’t reply, and I didn’t explain. We made the wide turn at the end of Main and headed out the county road back toward the grounds. Once we had open pavement in front of us, I held out the lines.

“You want to try?”

Her head turned fast. “Hank and Gus?”

“That’s usually who pulls the wagon.”

“Really? I was hoping you had two smaller horses hidden somewhere.”

“They know the route.” I shrugged. “And I’m sitting right here.”

She looked at the lines, then at the two broad backs in front of us. “How bad could I mess this up?”

“You won’t know until you try,” I teased.

She rolled her eyes as she slid closer. Her first grip was too tight, and I put my hands over hers to loosen it. She went still.

“Relax your fingers,” I said.

“I am relaxed.”

“You’re trying to strangle leather.”

“I’m responsible for two tons of horse.”

“They’re responsible for themselves. You’re just asking them where to go.”

She eased her grip. “And if I ask the wrong way?”

“Then I’ve got you.”

She turned her head. For a second, neither of us paid much attention to the road.

“Okay,” she said, her voice softer than it had been all night.

I left my hands over hers while I showed her how to give the team a little more line. Her shoulder rested against my chest. There wasn’t a reason to keep my hands there once she had the grip, but I kept them there a few more seconds anyway.

When I let go, Hank and Gus barely noticed, which was the whole point.

“I’m doing it,” she said after a while.

“You’re doing great.”

She drove almost half a mile before she handed the lines back. Some of the tension had gone out of her shoulders, and she looked pretty pleased with herself. I liked seeing that side of her, but I wouldn’t admit it out loud.

The last of the daylight slipped behind the mountains. Caroline pulled the blanket higher over her lap.