Several moments passed. And then the horse took a cautious sniff of Brady's hand. She watched as Dan helped Brady feed the animal a carrot, gave him some additional instructions, and then took Julianne's hand in his big one to introduce her toPeanut.
"She's so pretty," Julianne whispered. The horse was white with big brown splotches. Or maybe brown with big whitesplotches.
"She's what's called apinto."
Julianne wrinkled her nose. "Like thebean?"
"Just like that,kid."
The mare snuffled Julianne's T-shirt.
Before she was ready, the cowboy strode towardMegan.
His eyes took her measure, and apparently she wasn't telegraphing her terror adequately, because he took her elbow and walked her over to the huge brown beast that remained without arider.
"Relax," he whispered. "What's the worst that could happen? You fall off. And get backon."
"Lots of things could happen if I fall off," she said. Were her teeth chattering? She eyed the horse standing still at therailing.
"A twisted ankle. Sprained ankle. Broken ankle. Sprained wrist. Broken wrist. Concussion. Spinal cordinjury."
She tore her eyes from the horse and looked at thecowboy.
The corners of his mouth were twitching. She should probably be thankful he wasn't outright laughing. "That's quite alist."
"I wasn't done. I worked in an ER before we movedhere."
Something shifted in his expression. She didn't know whether it was a good or bad reaction. He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes—not likebefore.
"You got that carrot slice? Come and meetAC."
"Girl orboy?"
"He's agelding."
He nudged her forward when her feet didn’t want to move. Stayed at her side as they approached the horse's head. She could almost feel his big, warm body walking just behindher.
Dan took her hand in his, his warmth shocking against her ice-cold extremities. He put the carrot in her palm and raised it toward thehorse.
"What if he bites me?" shewhispered.
"Hewon't."
He was right. The horse lipped up the carrot with the gentlestwhuffleshe'd everexperienced.
Slowly, almost like they were dancing, Dan moved her hand to the horse's cheek. His palm covered her hand, pressing it into the horse'scoat.
Her heart rushed in herears.
It was maybe the most intimate experience she'd ever had. Dan was good atleading.
She couldn't resist turning her head, meeting hiseyes.
He seemed to realize just how close he was standing because he quickly backedoff.
"Ready to mount up? Doc goesfirst."
She wasn't ready at all, but he boosted her into the saddle anyway, taking time to adjust herstirrups.
