Chuckling to himself, Colt relaxed in the saddle, fully enjoying their playful banter. In fact, the afternoon was turning out to be one for the record books. He and Penny Heart… actually getting along.
Savoring the tranquility of the surrounding forest, he filled his lungs with the crisp, woodsy scent of pine sap and cedar, marveling at how comfortable and at ease Penny looked, her thick braid bouncing against her back with each graceful undulation of her body.
A quiet satisfaction stole over him, solidifying in his heart that horseback riding had been the right choice for their first adventure.
“How’s it going up there, fearless leader?” he asked, hoping she’d confirm his supposition.
“Great! Frost seems to know exactly where he’s going.” Glancing over her shoulder, Penny gifted him with the most joyful smile he’d ever seen. The way streaks of sunlight broke through the branches and danced across her face momentarily stole his breath. It sounded cheesy, even inside his own head, but she looked like a perfect summer day personified.
And he never wanted it to end.
No sooner than the thought had crossed his mind, Frost froze in his tracks, nostrils flaring.
“What is it, boy?” Penny purred, leaning forward to pat his neck.
The horse’s ears shot back as he released a high-pitched whinny.
“What’s wrong?” Colt pulled on the reins, coming to a stop behind her.
“I don’t know. It’s like he—”
A telltale rattle cut her sentence short, and her entire body stiffened.
“C-Colt?” Her wide, panicked eyes never left the rattlesnake squirming in the center of their path.
“Try to stay calm. Everything will be fine.” Keeping his tone low and steady, Colt racked his brain for a solution. Maybe if they ignored it, the critter would leave on its own?
“This isn’t real… this isn’t real….” Penny whispered some sort of mantra, her fear evident in the shakiness of her breath.
Colt tightened his grip. He had to do something—anything. But what? Prepared to hop off Maverick and face the surly serpent mano a mano, he lost the chance when it darted toward Frost.
The terrified horse reared on his hind legs before vaulting over his attacker, tearing down the trail as though the snake were hot on his hooves.
Penny’s piercing scream echoed in the cloud of dust left behind.
A cold dread gripped Colt’s chest as he pressed his heels into Maverick’s side, urging him to follow.
As they galloped through the forest, Colt’s eyes burned as he stared into the wind, determined to keep Penny in his sights. Towering trees closed in around them, whipping his arms and legs with spindly branches, finally relenting when they broke through the other side, revealing a picturesque lake surrounded by sloping, sandy banks.
Colt would have been impressed with the breadth of the body of water if he weren’t worried that Penny seemed to be headed straight for it. “Pull back on the reins!”
Understandably, she appeared more concerned with holding on for dear life than navigating.
“C’mon, Mav. You’ve got this,” he encouraged the steed. If only they could catch up, he might have a shot at stopping Frost before he charged into the lake.
Maverick valiantly gave it his all; the sinewy muscles in his haunches flexed with exertion. But Frost—the snow-white fury—was faster.
His pulse racing, Colt watched helplessly as the crazed horse sprinted toward the water’s edge. But as soon as his hooves made contact, he lurched to a stop, launching Penny out of the saddle like a Hail Mary pass.
At her petrified scream, Colt’s heart leapt into his throat. Did she know how to swim? Not waiting to find out, he yanked on the reins, bringing Maverick to an abrupt halt.
Springing to the ground, Colt dove headfirst into the icy water, summoning his most powerful breaststroke to reach Penny as quickly as possible. Acting on instinct, he looped one arm around her waist and towed her back to shore.
Sputtering and gasping for breath, Penny lay facedown in the sand, her sopping-wet clothes clinging to her shivering body.
“Are you okay?” As Colt watched her shoulders shake, a protective urge to wrap her in his arms washed over him.
This was his fault. He’d hoped to assuage her fears and show her a good time, not traumatize her to death. How could he fix this?
