Chapter Eleven #3
A more vigilant cowgirl would have anticipated a cowboy like him. Not that she was spooked. She was simply on guard now. Kelley crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t even have a horse.”
“But I do,” Asher said and whistled. Minutes later, Maple Moonlight trotted over and bumped his nose against the back of Asher’s hand. “Frannie and I think Maple here would be a perfect parade partner for you.”
What if I wanted a different sort of partner? Kelley shook her head. “I can’t ride him.”
“Fine,” Asher said, much too agreeably.
Kelley narrowed her gaze at Asher and asked, “Why don’t I believe you are going to call it a night and let me go home?”
“Because I’m not.” He laughed and caught her arm before she made it to the gate. He tugged her toward Maple. “We will start slow. Tonight, you just sit in the saddle.”
“Not to point out the obvious.” And there was a lot to point out.
Like how gently protective his hold was on Kelley’s arm.
And how kind Maple’s large brown eyes looked.
And how much the idea of riding did not scare her as much as she thought it would.
She blamed that on her cowboy’s good nature.
Kelley’s mouth quirked up, and she continued, “But there is no saddle.”
“It’s metaphorical,” he said, a tease in his words. “Besides, you don’t need one to sit on Maple’s back.”
Kelley held out her arm, keeping her fingers curled in like an open fist just like Asher had shown her in the stables and waited for Maple’s greeting.
The horse didn’t hesitate and bumped his nose against Kelley’s hand.
Kelley grinned and introduced herself to Maple.
“I’ve never ridden bareback. I’m quite certain Maple does not want me to start now. ”
“And you won’t be,” Asher said, gesturing toward the corner. “Although, Wintermint could carry us both if you might be interested in riding double sometime.”
A ride with her cowboy. That appealed more than she wanted to admit. But that would not happen if she did not get back on this horse. No pun intended. She rubbed her forehead. “How long do I need to sit on Maple?”
“However long you want to. It’s just to give you a feel for Maple and give him a feel for you. We can call it a refresher,” he said. His eyebrow hitched up. “I won’t move him unless you ask me to.”
“I won’t,” she said.
“Care to bet on that?” he asked, a challenge in his half grin.
Her cowboy had enough confidence for them both. She said, “If I agree to do this, then we can call it a night, right?”
“Whenever you want,” he said, his gaze gleaming. “Now, are you done thinking about this and ready to get back in the saddle?”
She was stalling and apparently, Asher knew it. Her divorce had taught her not only the folly of following her heart, but also the folly of not thinking things through thoroughly enough. Finally, she sighed and said, “No offense, Maple, but I’m nervous.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” Asher took her hand in his and pulled her toward him.
Kelley leaned against him and corralled those nerves.
“I’ll be right here,” Asher said. “If it’s too much, we’ll stop.”
Right then, in that pasture with her cowboy and a horse, Kelley realized this was a fear she did not have to face alone. Something settled inside her. She didn’t want to disappoint her sisters or Asher or even herself. But more than that, she was ready to finally ride.
With the assistance of Asher and the fence and Maple’s endless patience, Kelley found herself seated on the horse’s back.
And just as her cowboy predicted, standing still was not enough for Kelley.
It was not too long before Asher led Kelley and Maple on a slow stroll around the perimeter of the pasture.
They paused only when Kelley spotted a blackberry patch on the other side of the fence and asked Asher to pick some for the endearing thoroughbred as a thank-you.
And with each pass around the pasture, her passion for riding started coming back.
The first stars twinkled in the dusk-filled sky when Kelley finally called a halt. Her feet were planted back on the ground, yet her joy still swept through her. She spun around and all but threw herself into Asher’s arms.
Her cowboy caught her easily and gathered her closer to him.
“Thank you for that.” Kelley beamed up at him and held on tighter. “Just thank you.”
He smiled and said, “Welcome back, cowgirl.”
She never thought of herself as a cowgirl. Always believed she needed more grit and poise, and most especially, strength. But the way Asher looked at her, it was as if she was all that already and more. A sigh built from her boots.
A cowgirl for a cowboy. But only in that one moment. But it would be enough. It had to be.
Things were more clear than ever. Kelley liked Asher beyond what was wise. She had to ride a trail for herself, not get caught up with a cowboy distraction.
Nothing for it, but to put her heart back on that highest shelf. Out of reach and out of sight where it belonged. No more sharing with Asher. No more almost falling for a cowboy.