The Fall of Lord Drayson (Tanglewood Book 1) by Rachael Anderson Page B

distress.”
    “Are you quite certain?” he said, challenging her with his eyes. “Because I believe you only just asked me to save you from having to lead a horse across a meadow to that outbuilding.”
     
     
     

Lucy’s fingers clutched the lead rope, as though a tight grip would somehow keep the horse from nearing her. She soon learned that she had nothing to fear. Athena did not intend to chase Lucy down and trample her underfoot because Athena, as it turned out, did not intend to do anything. The horse merely sniffed the ground and occasionally flipped her tail.
    Lucy tentatively pulled on the rope. When the horse did not budge, she pulled harder. Still, no movement.
    “What is wrong with her?” Lucy asked the earl, annoyed at how easily he had swung onto Zeus’s bare back and was now guiding the horse around.
    “You simply need to show Athena who is in charge,” he said. “I think you would find it an easier thing to do if you mounted the animal. I can toss a saddle on her, if you’d like.”
    “No, I would not like.” Lucy frowned at the horse, wondering how one went about showing an animal who was in charge and who wasn’t. She cleared her throat. “Athena, we are going to steal—I mean borrow —a wagon from that building across the meadow, and I’m afraid I need your help.”
    Athena raised her head for a moment only to drop it back down and continue sniffing.
    “Apparently this horse does not wish to break into the building any more than you do, Collins.”
    He chuckled. “Perhaps I was a bit hasty in suggesting a vegetable garden.”
    “Perhaps you were,” Lucy agreed. “But it is too late to retract the suggestion now. It has already taken root in my mind and will not budge. We will plow that spot of ground, we will plant seeds, and we will watch vegetables grow.” Although the idea of a garden did excite Lucy, her desire to proceed with the plan wasn’t necessarily fueled by her desire to see vegetables grow. Rather, the garden gave her conscience something to think about that did not weigh her down with guilt.
    “We could begin smaller, you know,” Lord Drayson said. “We can remove the weeds in the existing area and plant only a few things. If all goes well, then perhaps next year . . .” His words trailed off quickly, for they both knew that next year would be very different from this year.
    “No,” said Lucy firmly. “If we are going to do this, we are going to do it right. We will get these stubborn animals to the shed, hitch them to the wagon, and collect that plow.”
    “You left out the part about picking the lock,” he said.
    “If you continue to be impertinent,” said Lucy, “I shall send you to collect the plow without a wagon or horses and make you drag the thing back on your own.”
    “It might be the faster option,” he said, his lips twitching at her continued struggle to coerce Athena into moving.
    “Oh, do be quiet,” said Lucy crossly.
    Lord Drayson laughed, and Lucy glared at him. The man could irritate her as no else had ever been able to do. He seemed to take great delight in teasing her, and why she continued to allow him to bait her, she couldn’t say.
    “Stay there.” He directed Zeus over to her and chuckled when Lucy dropped the rope and skittered away.
    “He is not going to eat you.” The earl used that commanding voice he often used which irritated her almost as much as his teasing.
    “I know,” Lucy spoke without conviction. She watched the horse’s rather large mouth, thinking it could easily take a chunk out of her shoulder if he chose to give it a try. The closer the horse came, the more Lucy’s body trembled. Goodness, what was wrong with her?
    Collins pulled Zeus’s head to the left, turning the animal until the earl’s leg brushed against Lucy. Her body still trembled, but not because of fear.
    Lord Drayson leaned down and held out his hand. “Ride with me,” he said, his voice gentle. “I give you my word that nothing bad