“I don’t know.” She pulled him toward the stables again. “I think one of Nellie’s faeries may be messing with me.”
“You’re really not going to tell me?”
“I don’t know what it was.” Reese felt stupid now for even mentioning it. “Let it alone.”
Jem shrugged but didn’t argue.
She was glad he let it go. All the years they’d spent growing up together, he’d been the big brother she hadn’t had. Her mother had worked long hours to support the two of them. Reese’s life would have been a lonely one if Kaitlyn and her family hadn’t been so welcoming. It wasn’t until Jem’s last year of college that Reese had begun to feel awkward around him when she realized that what she felt for him was anything but brotherly.
“What do you think?” he asked, pulling her from her thoughts.
Her face went warm. For a second, she wondered if her thoughts had given her away. Then she noticed the saddled horses up ahead, their grooms beside them, waiting. The painted blue wooden steps by the beautiful palomino had to be for her.
“She’sgor-geous,” Reese gushed. “Did you choose her for me?”
“Did I remember that you always favored my father’s palominos?” Jem gave a self-satisfied smirk that twisted her heart. “Of course.”
“What’s her name?” Reese asked.
“Honey,” the groom said.
“Appropriate. Your gray’s a beauty too,” she said. “He makes me think of some of the Regency books I’ve read where characters weren’t happy unless they had four grays. Funny I never thought about those books in regards to your dad’s horses.” She stopped short, staring at the sidesaddle. “You’re trying to kill me too. I said I was going to ride astride.”
“No, I’m not. To be honest, I didn’t think about it when I sent word that we’d be riding this morning,” he said. “Let me see if I can get them to change the saddle for you.”
“Wait just a sec.” Reese took a deep breath. Some modern women still took on the challenge of riding sidesaddle. “Maybe I’ll give it a try.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.” She fingered the extra fabric in the train of her gown hanging over her arm. “The mounting block might be interesting to maneuver.”
Jem chuckled. “Say the word and I’ll give you a hand up.”
“No, no, no.” Reese dropped the skirt and stepped back. “You’re a lot stronger now than you were at fifteen.”
“I’m glad you noticed. Let’s try the mounting block then.” He held out his hand.
“Riding a horse shouldn’t be so complicated.” She took his hand and let him guide her up the narrow steps. “You guys turn around,” Reese said to the grooms when she reached the top step. She pinned Jem with a hard stare. “Don’t let me look like an idiot, please.”
“Why? What are you planning to do?” He arched a brow and tilted his head suspiciously.
“Something creative—if the horse won’t move.” She turned her back to the saddle and bent to sit on it. The horse shied away, leaving empty air behind her.
She knew she was going to fall. A surge of adrenaline flooded her, and her senses shifted into slow motion.
“Hold the mare in place!” Jem lunged forward and grabbed a wad of her skirt. He pulled her toward him.
One moment Reese was falling back and then she was moving forward again. Her feet tangled in her skirts, and she flew toward him.
“Jem!” she squealed, throwing out her arms to brace herself for a hard hit.
But she didn’t hit him. That funny tingly feeling she had come to associate with faerie magic washed over her, and she really was falling in slo-mo. Jem caught her with ease and pulled her into his arms. They clutched each other, stunned, their hearts beating a rapid staccato where their chests met.
“Oh, Miss Clarisse,” a woman cried from behind them.
They broke apart and turned to find Lady Ellen at a distance, hurrying toward them, her maid and groom a few paces behind.
“What just happened?” Jem whispered.
