“If you say so,” I say casually. “Did you come down here just to tell me that?”
“No, I came to help. I can kill two birds with one stone. I can help you and I get to ride. Win-win.”
“And why is it so important that you help me?”
I know I shouldn’t goad her, but I can’t seem to help it. And I have to pay dearly for it when I see her cheeks turn pink before she turns away from me to stroke Highland Runner’s nose.
Her and that blushing!
She must know she’s blushing and I’m reacting, because I can see her pearly white teeth biting into her bottom lip. I clamp my mouth shut against the urge to pull her against me and suck on it for her.
“Well, it helps me, too. I get to learn the horses a little better. You know, the newer ones. I’ve only ever really ridden Firewalker, so…”
“Ahh,” I say noncommittally. “So you’re using me, is that what you’re saying?”
Her head whips toward me and her expression shows regret, as if she really thinks she might’ve hurt my feelings. It just makes her all the more appealing.
“No! That’s not it at all!”
I laugh. She’s adorably gullible, too. It occurs to me that, if Cami has any flaws, I can’t seem to find them.
“Ohmigod, you’re the devil,” she says, trying to conceal the curve of her lips.
“So I’ve been told,” I say, winking playfully at her. When blood rushes to her cheeks again, I bite back a groan. I’m really going to have to quit teasing her or we’ll both end up regretting it.
She clears her throat, obviously searching for a change of subject. “Which other horses need exercising? I can take one, too.”
A few minutes before, I’d decided to take Titan into the round pen, but hitting the trails with Cami is just too appealing.
“Titan. I was going to take him and Runner both out on the trails today.”
“Okay, then I’ll take Titan.”
“Are you sure you can handle him?”
Her eyes sparkle and she sticks her chin out proudly. “I can handle any horse in this stable.”
“Any horse except Runner, you mean.”
“Any horse including Runner.”
“No offense, but you’re not getting on Runner. He’s still too wild.”
“Daddy says he’ll never be ready.”
“Then why would you think you can ride him?”
“I saw you riding him the other day. He looked fine.”
“He’s used to me, but it’ll probably be another couple months before anyone else can ride him.”
“You think?”
“I know,” I say, trying not to let her get my hackles up. “I can feel it in him. He’s coming around.”
“I guess time will tell who knows horses better then, right?”
“I guess so.”
There’s a short and slightly uncomfortable pause before she speaks again.
“I’ll take Titan today then.”
“Fine,” I say, as if she had any other choice. There’s no way in hell I would have let her anywhere near Runner’s stirrups. “I’ll get him ready for you.”
“I can do it.”
“I’m sure you can, but I’ll do it while you talk to him.”
I don’t want to add that my presence will help soothe Titan before she mounts him. Only a person with an affinity for horses like mine would understand. My father used to talk about my sort of “connection” to them all the time. He’d say I was born to work with horses.
Apparently he was right.
Tying Runner’s reins for the time being, I motion for Cami to follow me. “Come on.”
We walk the length of the stable to the other end, where Titan’s stall is. His big, black head is sticking out over the open top half of his stall door. I stop to rub his nose and blow softly into his face before I go to grab his tack. By the time I come back, Cami is feeding him a sugar cube and whispering to him. I can barely make out the words, but the tone says all I need to hear. Her love of horses is clear in every syllable she utters.
I watch Titan’s ears. Although he’s no danger to Cami, he’s not quite at ease with her either. I stroke his neck and chest as I prepare to bridle him, hoping he’ll settle.
“Good boy, Titan. Let’s get you ready for Cami. We’re going out for a ride. You’ll like that, won’t you, big guy?”
All the while I’m stroking him, my voice is calm and soothing. He nickers quietly at me and I slide the bridle into his mouth. His muscles shiver beneath his shiny coat and I can almost feel him relax afterward.
I lead him out of his stall to where I can put his saddle on. I don’t stop talking to him as Cami moves around him, stroking him and getting him used to her. Luckily, Titan is highly trained and very accustomed to the presence of people, even people unfamiliar to him. But when it comes to Cami, I’m not willing to take a chance. I want him calm before we leave the stable.
When he’s saddled and ready to go, I lead him out to join Runner and then hand the reins to Cami. She’s watching me with an odd expression on her face. I’m not sure what to make of it.
“What?”
She narrows her eyes on me. “You really are good with horses, aren’t you?”
I shrug. “Who told you I was good with horses?”
“My father.”
I can’t keep the shock from my face. The only thing Jack Hines has ever shown me is a mild disdain.
“That surprises you?” she asks.
“Uh, very much.”
“Why?”
I shrug again. “You’d just never know that by talking to him. Or at least I wouldn’t.”
“Maybe not, but that’s what he told me.”
“And why were you talking about me?”
My jeans feel a little tighter when she blushes and licks her lips nervously. “He was just telling me about the new staff, that’s all.”
Why don’t I believe her?
“Is that right?”
She nods.
“Maybe neither of you will be shocked, then, when Runner turns out to be one of the best horses this stable has ever turned out.”
“You’re that sure of him?”
“I’m that sure of him.”
I don’t know her well enough to say for sure, but it looks like she might be a little impressed. And, even though it shouldn’t, that makes me want to smile.