“I love ye, lass,” he said in a soft, croaking whisper.
“I love you more.”
Chapter 17
Jessa slowly backed up as Grant walked the enormous reddish brown horse with the white, hairy feet toward her.“Are there not any smaller ones?”
He rumbled with a low chuckle, then motioned for her to come closer.“Jock here is a fine lad with infinite patience.His temper is so even that all the bairns love him.He is perfect for yer first time on a horse.”
Emily walked up and gave her a playful nudge.“If I can do it, you can do it, and you promised to join me on the trip back to Seven Cairns so we can have that last little bit of extra time together before I return to the future.That’s why I told Mairwen to let us travel the mortal way, rather than the Weaver way.”
“But that is not a normal-sized horse.”When Grant had agreed they would escort Mairwen and Emily back to Seven Cairns the old fashioned mortal way, she had envisioned an animal like the ones she’d seen on television.This one looked bigger than those Clydesdales from the beer commercial.“He is the size of an elephant.”
“It would be wise for ye to learn to ride, lass,” Mairwen said as she joined them, her own mount docile as a lamb, following along behind her.“Besides, ye love animals.Horses can sense such things and will take good care of ye.”
“Ye dinna wish to hurt old Jock’s feelings, now do ye?”Grant patted the horse, then motioned her closer still.“Come.Introduce yerself to him.We’re losing daylight and need to ride while the weather is fair.”
He had a point about not riding in the rain, but it also made her wonder if horses hydroplaned on wet grass like her car had on wet pavement.But then again, she supposed that was a tire tread thing.Jock’s feet looked pretty big and sturdy.
She eased closer to the monstrous beast and hesitantly held out her knuckles so the horse could take a sniff.The stiff whiskers on his velvety nose tickled across the back of her hand and made her giggle.
“Pleasure to meet you, Jock.”She scratched his muzzle and then on up to the white blaze on his forehead.“I’ve never even sat on a horse.Be patient with me.Okay?”
He made a deep grumbling sound, not an angry one, but more like the fussing of a harmless old man, then nudged her with his head as if urging her to mount up.
“I thought you said he was patient?”she asked Grant.
Before she realized what was happening, he swept her up onto the horse’s back and steadied her in the saddle.“He is like me,” he said with a wink.“Patient up to a point.”
She made the mistake of looking down.“Holy crap.If I fall off, I’ll break my neck.”
“Then dinna fall off.”Grant launched himself up behind her, curled an arm around her waist, and settled her back against him.“I decided yer first time riding alone should nay be the trip to Seven Cairns.Parts of the land would challenge ye.”
“As long as those parts don’t challenge you, I’m good with that.”She hugged the arm he held around her, feeling a great deal better about this adventure already.The distinct sound of snickering made her turn and point at Emily.“Not a word.You know I’ve never been athletic.You were made to ride with those long legs of yours.I’m like an ant trying to straddle a cow.”
Grant’s poorly suppressed amusement vibrated against her back, making her elbow him.“You better remember whose side you’re on.”
He nuzzled a kiss to the curve of her neck, triggering a series of delicious ripples through her.
“That is not fair.You know I can’t be stern when you do that.”
“I know, love.Why do ye think I do it?”
Before she could comment, the horse took off, settling into a steady trot.
“Pull yer claws back in, lass.I’ll not let ye fall.”
Without realizing it, she had clutched Grant’s arm so tightly that her fingernails dug into him.She rubbed at the bloody little half moons along his arm.“Sorry!I’ll try to relax.”
“Feel the sway of the beast and listen to the creak of the leather.”Grant kissed her neck again and hugged her tighter.“Once ye set into the rhythm of the ride, ye will be fine.Just ye wait and see.”
She withheld judgment on that until they were deeper into the journey.
Jessa noticed the formation they easily fell into as their group exited the gate.She and Grant, with Mairwen riding alongside them, were at the back while Emily took the lead, and Henry and Lachie rode on either side of her.The men tossed conversation back and forth to each other, and Emily joined their banter.The sight both pleased and saddened Jessa.Even with the promise of occasionally visiting with Emily at Seven Cairns, it wouldn’t be the same as being able to talk or text her best friend any time she wanted.But watching them, she noticed something.Henry and Lachie were competing for Emily’s attention.
“They like her,” she said, probably louder than she should have.
“Aye, they do.”He shifted against her, huffing a deep sigh.
