his way closer.
By the time he reached the fence he could hear the music. It was some kind of fiddle, but not of a country western flavor, more Celtic and quite beautiful. Liz spun and dipped, dancing like a fairy under the setting moon, and Traveler danced with her. He reared up and actually stepped into a turn on his back legs.
Kyle was sure he’d never seen anything like it. He’d been attracted to Liz at first glance and thought her sexy and pretty. Now she was beautiful, like something out of a fantasy. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. When the music stopped, Traveler lowered his head, and she placed her forehead against his, whispering to him as she stroked the sides of his face.
Kyle couldn’t make out she was saying. What he could see was the love between her and the horse. It was evident and he almost regretted witnessing such a private moment. Almost. The truth was, he’d never regret seeing the dance. It was one of the most remarkable things he’d ever witnessed and despite his intent to keep his distance from Liz, he was more attracted to her than before.
She turned and stopped cold when she saw him. For a few seconds they just stood there, watching each other. Finally, she started toward him with Traveler following. Her gaze locked with his and held.
“I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“No, I was up. Thought I heard something and came out to check.”
“So how long have you been here?”
“Long enough to watch the dance.”
“Oh.” She looked away.
“It was beautiful.”
Her gaze returned to his, surprise clear on her face. Kyle smiled at her. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
She didn’t look at him as she spoke, but he could hear the emotion in her voice. “When I was young I saw a man who had three white Lipizzans. He danced with them and I thought it was the most magical thing I’d ever seen.”
She stopped to pet Traveler and finally looked at Kyle. “When I first bought Traveler, I was out in the pasture with him one day. I had music playing on my phone and I started dancing. I nearly fell over when he started moving and so I kept doing it.”
“So you trained him?”
“Yes and no. I just trained him with hand signals to do things like circle or rear up or bow. He kind of taught himself to dance. He’s really amazing.”
“Which leads me to a question. Why bring him with you? If you have a home why even come here, Liz?”
She looked away, and he thought she was going to close up on him, but after a moment she leaned on the fence, rubbing Traveler who moved in beside her.
“I couldn’t leave him behind and I had to go. I want this job, Kyle.”
“Why? From the look of this horse, your gear and what you drive, you’re not broke.”
“A decent truck and gear doesn’t denote wealth, you know that.”
“No, but you don’t have the look of someone down on her luck.”
He held up one hand as she cut him a sharp look. “Hey, just being honest here. But financial status aside why this job?”
“Because Wes has the horse and I intend to win.”
“So, you have something to prove.”
Again, she cut him a sharp look and he knew he’d hit a nerve. “Don’t we all?”
“I suppose we do, but you’re a long way from home and traveling with an Arabian who, I’m willing to bet set you back a lot of cash.”
“True, on all counts, but let me ask you, does it matter what I have to prove or why I need to prove it?”
“No, I suppose it doesn’t.”
“Then help me. Help us. All of us. Help us win. I know Landing has it in him. I know it.”
“You know him, you mean.”
This time she didn’t just look away, she stepped back. “I think I’ll take Traveler for a run. You did say you wouldn’t be leaving until nine-thirty, right?”
“Right.”
“Okay, then I have plenty of time. See you later.”
With that, she exited the paddock and headed for her truck. By the time
By the time he reached the fence he could hear the music. It was some kind of fiddle, but not of a country western flavor, more Celtic and quite beautiful. Liz spun and dipped, dancing like a fairy under the setting moon, and Traveler danced with her. He reared up and actually stepped into a turn on his back legs.
Kyle was sure he’d never seen anything like it. He’d been attracted to Liz at first glance and thought her sexy and pretty. Now she was beautiful, like something out of a fantasy. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. When the music stopped, Traveler lowered his head, and she placed her forehead against his, whispering to him as she stroked the sides of his face.
Kyle couldn’t make out she was saying. What he could see was the love between her and the horse. It was evident and he almost regretted witnessing such a private moment. Almost. The truth was, he’d never regret seeing the dance. It was one of the most remarkable things he’d ever witnessed and despite his intent to keep his distance from Liz, he was more attracted to her than before.
She turned and stopped cold when she saw him. For a few seconds they just stood there, watching each other. Finally, she started toward him with Traveler following. Her gaze locked with his and held.
“I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“No, I was up. Thought I heard something and came out to check.”
“So how long have you been here?”
“Long enough to watch the dance.”
“Oh.” She looked away.
“It was beautiful.”
Her gaze returned to his, surprise clear on her face. Kyle smiled at her. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
She didn’t look at him as she spoke, but he could hear the emotion in her voice. “When I was young I saw a man who had three white Lipizzans. He danced with them and I thought it was the most magical thing I’d ever seen.”
She stopped to pet Traveler and finally looked at Kyle. “When I first bought Traveler, I was out in the pasture with him one day. I had music playing on my phone and I started dancing. I nearly fell over when he started moving and so I kept doing it.”
“So you trained him?”
“Yes and no. I just trained him with hand signals to do things like circle or rear up or bow. He kind of taught himself to dance. He’s really amazing.”
“Which leads me to a question. Why bring him with you? If you have a home why even come here, Liz?”
She looked away, and he thought she was going to close up on him, but after a moment she leaned on the fence, rubbing Traveler who moved in beside her.
“I couldn’t leave him behind and I had to go. I want this job, Kyle.”
“Why? From the look of this horse, your gear and what you drive, you’re not broke.”
“A decent truck and gear doesn’t denote wealth, you know that.”
“No, but you don’t have the look of someone down on her luck.”
He held up one hand as she cut him a sharp look. “Hey, just being honest here. But financial status aside why this job?”
“Because Wes has the horse and I intend to win.”
“So, you have something to prove.”
Again, she cut him a sharp look and he knew he’d hit a nerve. “Don’t we all?”
“I suppose we do, but you’re a long way from home and traveling with an Arabian who, I’m willing to bet set you back a lot of cash.”
“True, on all counts, but let me ask you, does it matter what I have to prove or why I need to prove it?”
“No, I suppose it doesn’t.”
“Then help me. Help us. All of us. Help us win. I know Landing has it in him. I know it.”
“You know him, you mean.”
This time she didn’t just look away, she stepped back. “I think I’ll take Traveler for a run. You did say you wouldn’t be leaving until nine-thirty, right?”
“Right.”
“Okay, then I have plenty of time. See you later.”
With that, she exited the paddock and headed for her truck. By the time
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