When she finally stood to clear her plate, he snatched it away from her. “Igotit.”
“Okay,” she saidslowly.
He regretted his overzealousness. He didn’t want to annoy her. Today was supposed to be about getting to know her. He also wanted to find out if all the times he’d caught her looking at him meant something. It had to, right? People didn’t just stare at each other without reason…right?
After she’d washed and dried her dishes, she turnedtohim.
“I’m ready to go if you are,”shesaid.
“Great,let’sgo.”
He ignored his father’s stern look as he ushered her out of the kitchen. As soon as they walked outside, he relaxed and took her hand. She smiled and laced her fingers through his. Today was going to begreat.
When they reached the barn, he reluctantly released her hand. He walked past several stalls until he found Clover. The gentle Appaloosa whinnied as he approached. The white and brown spotted horse lifted his head over the gate. He nuzzledGreg’shand.
“No carrots yet, boy. But if you’re good, I’ll give you a whole bunch,”Gregsaid.
“You talk to them?” Daisyasked.
“Of course. Clover responds to the tone in my voice. If I yelled at him, he’d get spooked. You don’t want a jumpy horse when you’re going riding,”hesaid.
She stepped forward and ran her fingers down the horse’s nose. “Hi,Clover.”
The horse pushed up against her hand. She snatcheditback.
“It’s okay,” he said. “He’s just trying to get you topethim.”
“Idon’tknow…”
“What?” heasked.
“I’ve never ridden before and I don’t want to do something wrong,”shesaid.
“You won’t. Clover’s the sweetest horse of the bunch. I wouldn’t put you on him if he wasn’t. I’ll go get the saddles,”hesaid.
“Which one are you riding?” sheasked.
“Thunder.” He pointed at the spirited animal in the stall across fromClover’s.
“He’s huge,”shesaid.
“A gentle giant. I’ll be right back,”hesaid.
He jogged over to the tack area and grabbed a western saddle and a bridle. As he strolled back toward Daisy, he watched her stroke Clover’s muzzle. The horse chuffed then sneezed. Daisy yelped and hopped back. He couldn’t help butlaugh.
“I have horse snot on my hands,” she said as she held them away fromherbody.
“There’s a bucket of fresh water in the back. You can use it tocleanup.”
“I don’t mind getting my hands dirty, but I draw the line at bodily fluids,” she said with alaugh.
“I don’t blame you,” he said. “I also don’t like getting doused but it happens more than I’d like toadmit.”
As she wrinkled her nose up, his heart kicked. She was even beautiful when she scrunched upherface.
While she headed back to wash her hands, he carried the saddle into the stall. He slid it over Clover’s back and cinched it around his belly. After sliding the bit into his mouth, he pulled the bridle over his head andsecuredit.
“Good boy.” He patted him on hisflank.
