“Sure.” She nodded. “It’s not as heavy as I expected.”
“Now, watch how I do this.” He draped the saddle pad over Sassy’s back, grabbed the saddle horn in his left hand, the back of the saddle with his right, and swung it up onto the saddle pad. “Let me come over there and stand behind you, just in case.”
She waited until he was in place.
“Go ahead and twist at the waist, then swing it up on her back.” He lifted his arms to his sides, ready to catch her, the saddle, or both.
Luna blew out a steadying breath, sucked one in and swung the saddle up as high as she could. Unfortunately, the stirrup got hung up under it.
“Oh, no.” She didn’t want to let go of the saddle for fear it would land on the dusty ground. “What do I do now?”
“Here, let me help.” He moved around to Sassy’s right side and tugged the stirrup loose so that it fell to her side. “There, all fixed.”
“Man, I messed that up.” She propped her hands on her hips and shook her head.
“Are you kidding? You did great!” He came over, pulled her close, and laced his fingers together at her lower back. “Patience’s back is pretty high, so it’s naturally going to be tougher for you to reach than it is for me. Next time, I’ll have you use the step stool.”
Sassy, apparently feeling left out, nudged Boone in the back with her nose.
“All right, all right. Sheesh, someone’s ready for a ride.” He walked Luna through strapping on the saddle and double-checking to make sure it wouldn’t slide off. “You remember how to get in the saddle, right?”
“Yep.” She grabbed the saddle horn with her left hand, wedged her left foot into the stirrup, and hopped up to swing her leg over the other side.
“Look at you.” He smiled up at her with the reins in one hand, and his other rested on her thigh. “You’re becoming a real-life cowgirl.”
“I don’t know about that, but at least I can get in the saddle by myself.” Saddle leather creaked when she leaned sideways, gave him a kiss, and accepted the reins from him.
Once Sassy’s saddle was secured, he climbed up with the smooth ease of a man who’d been doing it his whole life.
They left the corral and took a nice, leisurely stroll on the same path they took last time. Due to their late start, they optednot to go as far as the willow tree. She noticed it farther up the trail and remembered what he’d said about making love beneath the drooping branches. She let out a sigh filled with longing and turned back to enjoy the view.
The sun was about halfway below the horizon, casting shadows across the valley.
“It’s so beautiful here.” She turned to find him watching her, and from the look in his eyes—it was like he was memorizing every detail.
“You’rebeautiful.” He leaned toward her, she met him halfway, and they kissed. Right there, sitting on horseback, lit by a gorgeous sunset.
Luna couldn’t believe how much her life had changed since meeting Boone. And all for the better.
What a lucky girl I am.
They stayed there for another thirty minutes or so, holding hands, listening to the rattle and clink of the tack whenever one of the horses shook their head. When only an orange sliver remained along the horizon, the crickets and frogs in the nearby stream began to sing their night songs. A slight breeze floated up the hillside and swirled around them, causing her to shiver.
“Here, put this on.” He untied the strap on one of his saddle bags and tugged out a flannel shirt.
“Thanks.” Luna slipped her arms into the sleeves and pulled the shirt together at the front.
She rolled up the cuffs, lifted the collar to her nose, closed her eyes, and filled her lungs with Boone’s masculine scent—woodsy pine with a hint of musk.
“Just a heads-up—you may never get this shirt back.” She was only half kidding.
“Fine with me.” He shrugged. “I love the idea of you wearing my shirt”—he gave her a heated look that made her tingle all over—“and preferably, nothing else.” He clicked his tongue and turned Sassy back toward the house. “Come on. Let’s head back before it gets any colder.”
And with that, he started clip-clopping down the hill, with her squirming in her saddle as she trailed behind, pondering the idea of traipsing around his house in nothing but a pair of fuzzy socks and his shirt.
Luna kinda loved that idea, too.
CHAPTER TWENTY
