mad.”
“I’m not mad,” she said. “Please leave now.”
Hi s expression betrayed his concern. “I’m leaving, but please tell me everything’s okay.”
She took a deep breath. “It’s a lot to take in. You’re telling me that my Aunt Silky shared all my private thoughts that I meant for her, with you, a complete stranger. And then you tell me she was match-making. I’m a little blown away.”
“I shouldn’t have told you,” he said. “I always took it as a compliment that she thought enough of me to want me to fall i n love with her beloved niece.”
She swallowed hard. Fall in love with… She raised her gaze to meet Breck’s, surprised by the unguarded yearning she saw there.
“I’ll go now, Cami, but you have to know that I’d never do anything to hurt you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
When he had gone, she sank onto the loveseat in front of the fire he’d built for her. Who was this man and why did her aunt think they were destined to be together?
#
The next morning, the sun shone brightly, turning snow into brown slush. Cami slogged out to the stable to take an apple to Red and met Frank along the way.
“I can saddle him for you, if you want,” he said.
She looked at him questioningly and back at the big horse. “I thought he was too much horse for me.”
“Nah,” Frank said. “Silky was much smaller than you and she handled him alright.”
“Silky was a much better horsewoman than I.” Cami looked back at Red. He chomped his apple and swished his tail.
“He needs exercise,” Frank said. “I can go with you. We can take a couple of laps around the outbuildings.”
A shiver of fear mixed with excitement ran down her spine. “Well, if you’re sure.” She realized that she and this big horse were attracted to each other. If he were a man she’d call it flirtation.
Frank handed her the bridle and she slipped it over Red’s head. He seemed to be eager . He accepted the bit in his mouth and she fastened the bridle, leading him out into the open area of the stable.
Frank put a red woven blanket on his back and lifted a beautifully carved saddle into place.
“Is…is that Silky’s saddle?”
“Yep, she had it hand made in New Mexico.”
“It’s beautiful.” Cami ran her hand over the hand-tooled design. “This looks like cactus.”
Frank grinned at her as he cinched the saddle. “Cact us and the flowers are there, too. Silky loved to see the cactus flowers blooming in the spring.” He adjusted the stirrups for Cami’s longer legs.
Frank saddled Smokey, a big Appaloosa gelding, the horse he usually rode for work. He helped Cami onto Red’s back.
S he sat for a few minutes, feeling small.
“Ready?” Frank asked.
She nodded, grinning with excitement building inside her. Red was dancing a little. It appeared that he was as excited as she was.
“Hold him,” Frank instructed.
She could feel Red’s excitement. Drawing the reins taut, she kept him from taking his head. Together, she and Frank headed out of the stables. Red tossed his head, letting her know he didn’t like to be reined in; that he wanted to take the lead.
Frank glanced at her, grinning. “Hold on, ” he said, and urged Smokey on.
Red wasn’t willing to let another horse get ahead of him. She felt the thrill of the race as the big horse took the lead. He let her guide him, but he was determined to be first. She laughed as they rode. She saw Frank grinning as he fell in just behind her. They rode for almost a half hour before they pulled up in a draw beside a stream. The horses drank from the narrow rivulet. She leaned down to pat Red’s neck.
“You sure look good on that horse, Cami,” Frank said.
“It was a wonderful ride,” she said. “I’ve never been on such a big, strong horse.”
“He likes you, too.”
Cami and Frank chatted while the horses rested and then started back.
When they got close to the house, she saw Breck’s truck in the circle drive. He wasn’t
“I’m not mad,” she said. “Please leave now.”
Hi s expression betrayed his concern. “I’m leaving, but please tell me everything’s okay.”
She took a deep breath. “It’s a lot to take in. You’re telling me that my Aunt Silky shared all my private thoughts that I meant for her, with you, a complete stranger. And then you tell me she was match-making. I’m a little blown away.”
“I shouldn’t have told you,” he said. “I always took it as a compliment that she thought enough of me to want me to fall i n love with her beloved niece.”
She swallowed hard. Fall in love with… She raised her gaze to meet Breck’s, surprised by the unguarded yearning she saw there.
“I’ll go now, Cami, but you have to know that I’d never do anything to hurt you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
When he had gone, she sank onto the loveseat in front of the fire he’d built for her. Who was this man and why did her aunt think they were destined to be together?
#
The next morning, the sun shone brightly, turning snow into brown slush. Cami slogged out to the stable to take an apple to Red and met Frank along the way.
“I can saddle him for you, if you want,” he said.
She looked at him questioningly and back at the big horse. “I thought he was too much horse for me.”
“Nah,” Frank said. “Silky was much smaller than you and she handled him alright.”
“Silky was a much better horsewoman than I.” Cami looked back at Red. He chomped his apple and swished his tail.
“He needs exercise,” Frank said. “I can go with you. We can take a couple of laps around the outbuildings.”
A shiver of fear mixed with excitement ran down her spine. “Well, if you’re sure.” She realized that she and this big horse were attracted to each other. If he were a man she’d call it flirtation.
Frank handed her the bridle and she slipped it over Red’s head. He seemed to be eager . He accepted the bit in his mouth and she fastened the bridle, leading him out into the open area of the stable.
Frank put a red woven blanket on his back and lifted a beautifully carved saddle into place.
“Is…is that Silky’s saddle?”
“Yep, she had it hand made in New Mexico.”
“It’s beautiful.” Cami ran her hand over the hand-tooled design. “This looks like cactus.”
Frank grinned at her as he cinched the saddle. “Cact us and the flowers are there, too. Silky loved to see the cactus flowers blooming in the spring.” He adjusted the stirrups for Cami’s longer legs.
Frank saddled Smokey, a big Appaloosa gelding, the horse he usually rode for work. He helped Cami onto Red’s back.
S he sat for a few minutes, feeling small.
“Ready?” Frank asked.
She nodded, grinning with excitement building inside her. Red was dancing a little. It appeared that he was as excited as she was.
“Hold him,” Frank instructed.
She could feel Red’s excitement. Drawing the reins taut, she kept him from taking his head. Together, she and Frank headed out of the stables. Red tossed his head, letting her know he didn’t like to be reined in; that he wanted to take the lead.
Frank glanced at her, grinning. “Hold on, ” he said, and urged Smokey on.
Red wasn’t willing to let another horse get ahead of him. She felt the thrill of the race as the big horse took the lead. He let her guide him, but he was determined to be first. She laughed as they rode. She saw Frank grinning as he fell in just behind her. They rode for almost a half hour before they pulled up in a draw beside a stream. The horses drank from the narrow rivulet. She leaned down to pat Red’s neck.
“You sure look good on that horse, Cami,” Frank said.
“It was a wonderful ride,” she said. “I’ve never been on such a big, strong horse.”
“He likes you, too.”
Cami and Frank chatted while the horses rested and then started back.
When they got close to the house, she saw Breck’s truck in the circle drive. He wasn’t
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