When they arrived, he pulled into a grassy spot big enough for the long horse trailer and shut the engine off. Coming around his truck, he held her by the waist as sheslid down his body to the ground. The tension between them ebbed higher with each touch.
A small market with several tents stood to one side. They arrived earlier than planned, leaving them time to wander through the makeshift area. Riley smiled as she examined some of the handmade leather saddles. One vendor sold leather bracelets with turquoise. He tried to call Riley to his table, yet she refused. Her gaze focused on a table with cowboy hats, and she gravitated toward it. Picking one up, she examined the stitching, the material, and the sturdiness. Her hands moved along the brim, checking the firmness. Riley flipped it upside down, peering at the liner and sweatband.
“You picked one of my best ones,” the vendor stated as he watched her admiring it. “Don’t you want to try it on?”
“No, thank you,” she said, placing it on the hook.
“Try it on,” Garrett urged her. “You obviously like it.”
“No. It’s not a need, it’s a want,” she insisted as Garrett picked up the hat and placed it on her head.
“Sometimes, it can be fun,” he countered as he adjusted the brim. The hat fit her personality and complemented her.
“How much?” he asked as he turned her toward a small mirror, showing her reflection. Her hand went up as she adjusted it slightly and moved a section of her hair.
“This one goes for three hundred,” the vendor said proudly.
Riley yanked it off and set it on the hook again. “Thank you,” she said, walking away.
“Didn’t you like it?” Garrett asked. “It suited you.”
“Yeah, but I have other things to buy. It reminded me of my mom’s hat. After she died, I wore it all the time. One day, my dad returned home in a drunken rage and burnedall her clothes, hats, boots, and anything that reminded him of her. He said there’s no use keeping her stuff when she’s never coming home,” she murmured, glancing down at her boots. “It sounds silly, but in the darkest times, I craved the feel of her hat to remind me I was her daughter.”
Garrett used his finger to lift her chin, making her gaze into her eyes. “I’m buying you the hat. Don’t argue. Consider it a gift to remind you you’re stronger than you think.”
“No, Garrett,” she protested as she grabbed his arm. “Please. I don’t know why I told you about it. We came to check out the horses.”
“You coming with?” he asked, ignoring her and continuing to the hat vendor’s booth.
“Damn it, Garrett. Don’t buy it,” she ground out.
He took out his wallet and handed the man cash as she reached the edge of the table. Garrett held it as he walked toward her.
“I can’t replace the one your dad burned, but it’s worth every penny to see you smile. Don’t get mad. Search your heart and accept the gift. Maybe it’s your mom’s way of replacing what you lost,” he said, pressing his forehead against hers. “Please take it,” he pleaded, setting it on her head.
Letting out a shaky breath, she touched the hat and adjusted it. “Thank you, Garrett,” she said, her eyes filling with tears.
He swiped them away with his thumb and lightly kissed her. “Help me find my horse. Old Gus has decided he likes the pasture more and more each day. I’ll never get my work done if he gets any slower,” he grumbled.
He walked beside her, taking in the horses. Every now and then, she stopped, checked their mouths, and ran herhand down their legs. Her knowledge of horses impressed him, and he agreed with her judgment.
They walked three-quarters of the way down when her gaze was pinned on one stall. The pretty grey and white horse whinnied as she approached.
“Aren’t you a pretty girl?” she greeted the horse. “May I check your teeth?” she asked, rubbing her hand down the length of the grey’s neck. She checked the legs and hooves. “Put her on your list. She’s solid,” Riley advised him. Garrett took his turn inspecting the horse and agreed with her.
They went outside to the corral, and Garrett’s eye caught sight of a brown quarter horse with black stockings. “What do you think about him?”
Riley smiled as she watched the horse prance around the ring, full of spirit and energy. “I like him. Did you add him to the list to check out?”
With seven horses chosen, they sat on the bench with Riley’s leg propped up in his lap. He fed her bites of a corn dog while she ranked them. “What do you think about the grey one?”
Garrett made a face. “She’s my last choice.”
Riley stopped chewing, and her face fell. “You didn’t like her?”
“I’ve seen better,” he said, goading her and pressing her to eat more.
“What do you mean. She’s a beauty. I don’t think you know your ass from your head,” she grumbled as she added the grey to the bottom of the list.
