She’d finally relaxed enough to let go of the saddle horn, and Ben instructed her to hang on and lean forward.
“If you want to stop, pull on the reins, and Honey will slow down or stop, depending on how hard you pull.”
He nudged Apollo’s flanks again, and the horses took flight. At least that’s what it felt to Amy. She hung on, wanted to pull back on the reins, but not wanting to be a quitter. Following Ben’s instructions, she leaned forward, but couldn’t seem to relax.
Certain she was going to fall, she tugged on Honey’s reins. The horse slowed, no longer trying to match Apollo’s pace but still galloping. Feeling more comfortable with the slower pace, Amy tried to relax and enjoy the ride. She could see why Melanie loved riding—the wind on her face was intoxicating.
The ranch house was in sight when Riley’s hat slipped back on Amy’s head. She couldn’t bring herself to let go of the saddle horn to adjust it, and within seconds, it flew off. She called out to Ben, but he was too far away. If she stopped to pick it up, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to get back on her horse by herself.
Ben stayed mounted after reaching the stables, waiting for her to get there. Honey came to a stop at the fence beside Apollo.
“Where’s your hat?”
“It blew off, back about a hundred yards.”
“I’ll get it.” Ben turned Apollo and took off at a thundering pace to retrieve her hat. Her eyes followed him. He never once held onto the saddle horn like he’d instructed her to do. Jake was right. Ben was skilled with horses.
Honey waited patiently for Amy to get off, but she didn’t dare attempt it by herself. Thankfully, Jake walked out of the stables and came to help her down.
Amy put her weight in one stirrup and swung her other leg over the back of the saddle, dropping to the ground like Ben taught her. She would’ve done fine except for the pins and needles in her feet and the weakening of her leg muscles.
“Ouch.”
Jake’s hands encircled her waist. “It takes some getting used to.” His chuckle near her ear made her mouth go dry.
She tensed, expecting her heart to race and her breath to catch at his nearness like it had at Ben’s. When it didn’t happen, she relaxed. He smelled more like horses today than his tantalizing soap.Thank goodness.
Why had she reacted so differently to Ben’s touch?
* * *
Ben arrived backwith the hat just as Jake released Amy’s waist. Jake remained close to Amy even though she looked fine. He understood why Jake would take an interest in her, what he didn’t understand was why it bothered him.
“Did you two have a nice ride?” Jake gave Ben a probing look.
Ben met his gaze. “We did.”
“Yes!” Amy said.
“Good.” Jake took Honey’s reins and led her to the hitching post outside the tack room.
Ben followed with Apollo. As he helped unsaddle and brush down the horses, a sense of rightness, of belonging surrounded him. When Melanie died and Cassey disappeared, he’d lost more than a wife and daughter. He’d lost a piece of himself, of his very identity because he’d stopped doing the things that had been a part of his life even before Melanie.
Why?
Because you shouldn’t enjoy life. Not without them.
He’d enjoyed himself today, though. His gaze drifted to Amy who sat on a bench removing her boots. Was it wrong to have some of his grief lifted by sharing it with someone? Would he ever be free of that burden?
No, because that would mean he’d forgotten Melanie, forgotten his daughter. He couldn’t allow that to happen.
He rubbed the horse brush down Apollo’s flank. Was there any way to remember themandbe happy?
His phone chimed when he sat on the wooden bench to remove his boots. He pulled it out and read the message from Paige.
Sorry I’m not there with you on this difficult day. Be nice to Amy, she’s only the messenger. I know it hurts but keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Ben slipped his phone back into his pocket and lifted a foot to remove the boot, but Jake stopped him.
