8. Summer #2
I go over a few more mares with him and catch him staring several times. There’s always been a competitive streak between us, but this time there’s something different underneath that gaze. He can’t compete at something he doesn’t know well. Pride is probably eating him alive right now.
We reach Rosie’s stall near the end of the barn.
Jaxon follows me in, and I’m suddenly aware of two people plus a large mare in the same space.
I crouch down to check Rosie’s lower legs, and when I stand back up, Jaxon is so close that I nearly step on his foot.
I try to sidestep and stumble backward instead.
He reaches to catch me, his arm tightening around me before I hit the ground.
For a few seconds, we’re closer than either of us planned.
My breath lodges in my throat as I look up into those storm-cloud eyes.
His body presses warm against me as I breathe in the smell of his soap—same clean scent since high school.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I say weakly, taking a step back. His arm falls away. “Sorry about that. I didn’t realize you were right there.”
“The geometry gets interesting around these animals,” he says, trying to lighten the mood.
I turn toward the mare because looking at her is easier than staring at Jaxon. I don’t want him to see the way he’s making heat climb my neck.
I clear my throat slightly. “Rosie’s been having a few health problems. She needs a little more time than the others.” I make a note on the chart, avoiding his stare. “Which is why I need you to take over and learn some things as soon as you can.”
“What do you think I’m doing right now?”
Of course that’s why he’s staring. He is paying attention to the work, not to me.
“Okay, then we agree.” I latch Rosie’s stall behind us, still smelling his sandalwood soap and the press of his arm around my body.
“You’ve got a decent system,” he says.
“High praise coming from you.”
He smirks. “I can give compliments sometimes.”
I lift an eyebrow. “I won’t get used to it, then. Besides, it would ruin the whole brooding-cowboy thing.”
His lips quirk. “Is that what you think this is?”
I shrug. “Works for you.”
He tilts his head, amused. “Can’t tell if that’s a compliment or an insult.”
“Depends on the day.”
“And today?”
My teeth run over my bottom lip. “It’s growing on me.” I hang the clipboard back on the hook. “Ask me again after you’ve mucked a few more stalls.”
But I know he won’t. He’s too proud to bring it up. And I’m too stubborn to admit I’d say yes.
I’m elbow-deep in zinnias when I glance up and see Jaxon running across the gravel drive between barns. The sun is blazing across my back, making my shirt stick to the layer of sweat coating my skin.
I leave the flowers in my wheelbarrow and head after him. “What’s going on? Where’s Earl?”
“Left for the day.” His gaze is fixed on the western pasture and there’s a deep crease between his brows.
“Jaxon, what are you looking for?”
He turns toward me. “Rebel got out. And before you say it—I closed the gate.”
“Did you get the second one…the safety latch?”
His lips clamp together.
I lift my hat and drag a sleeve over my forehead. “How long has she been out?”
“Don’t know.” He pauses. “I’ve been searching, but no luck yet. I don’t even know if she’d come to me if I found her.”
“Let me saddle up.” I tear off my garden gloves and head to the barn to get Sally ready for a ride.
I catch up to him at the gate where he’s on his mom’s horse, Scout. He looks surprisingly natural considering he hasn’t ridden in a while. For an athlete like him, it probably is like riding a bike.
“Which way do you think she went?” he asks.
I point to the back pasture. “Her favorite spot.” I nudge Sally forward. “Follow me.”
We ride in silence for a while, the heat scorching overhead. My cowboy hat provides a little shade, but Jaxon didn’t wear anything to shade his face—a mistake he won’t make tomorrow.
“There,” I say, coming around the bend.
Rebel is standing at the far fence where I guessed I’d find her, next to the old oak tree. Jaxon pulls Scout to a stop and jumps off, lead rope in hand. “You want to do the honors?”
He hands me the rope, and I approach her carefully, fumbling in my pocket for a peppermint. “Hey, girl,” I whisper, reaching up to stroke her neck before I clip the lead rope to her halter.
She doesn’t fight me on it, and I let out a breath. “You want to take her or should I?” I ask Jaxon.
“Be my guest.” He doesn’t even say thank you. Just swings back onto Scout and starts toward the barn, oblivious to what almost happened.
I want to lecture him about securing farm gates and the importance of double-checking everything. Instead, I bite my tongue and spend the entire ride glaring at the back of his head, hardly paying attention to anything but him.
I don’t even notice when something moves in the brush along the fence row, but that’s all it takes to spook Rebel.
She shoots sideways, the lead rope yanking through my fingers and setting off my horse.
I’m usually good at staying on Sally, but this happens too fast for me to react.
One second she’s under me and the next she’s gone and I’m falling.
I hit the ground, the air leaving my lungs as pain shoots across my elbow.
I roll to my back, muttering under my breath.
I’ve had worse falls, but I’m going to be wearing this bruise for a week.
Worst of all, Jaxon Chance just watched me get thrown from my horse like a beginner rider and it’s all because I wasn’t paying attention.
“Summer?” Jaxon jumps off Scout, tying her off at the fence. He crouches over me, his face blocking the sun, the mask he usually wears suddenly gone. “You hurt?”
I groan. “No.”
Sally takes off toward the barn, but I’m not worried about her, since she knows her way home. I wince in pain as I try to rise.
“Summer.” His hand finds my shoulder, firmer this time. “Stay there.” Then he catches Rebel’s lead rope before she can bolt again.