“I’d forgotten about that. It was during sword practice. I wasn’t very good at the time, but thought I was.” He shook his head. “No. It no longer hurts.”
She looked back at his hand.
“I guess we all have our imperfections,” Gabe admitted with a somber tone. “Even Michael.”
Eve looked at Gabriel again and wondered at his words. Michael was not imperfect. She wondered what he meant by that. What did he know?
“Your thumb. Any others?” His voice was quiet, patient.
She eased his forefinger down at the first knuckle.
Gabriel studied the hand in silence for a moment. “We can work with this. Wrap the reins around your two fingers. Like this.” He opened his right hand and laced the rein around his two middle fingers.
Eve took the reins from his hand and paused. She didn’t want him to see her hand. She looked at him to find him gazing out over the pond, away from her. Warmth and tenderness blossomed inside her. She hurriedly followed his instructions and tucked her hand back into her sleeve.
“I will sit here, behind you, as you maneuver the horse like I did.”
Eve clutched the reins and the horse backed.
“Relax,” Gabriel advised. “Don’t pull back on the reins. You don’t want to hurt her.”
She sighed, trying to let her nervousness dissolve. But she was very aware of Gabriel behind her. His strength, the way his thighs pressed against hers. She could even hear his gentle breathing.
“Relax,” he whispered against her ear.
Oh, Lord, she wished she could. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
He kicked the horse and it started forward.
Eve panicked for a moment and tugged the reins to the right. The horse moved in that direction.
“She’ll follow where you lead. If you want her to go into the pond, pull the reins that way.”
“No!” She tugged in the other direction.
“I don’t think she’ll like the forest with all the branches scratching her. She’ll go for a while, but eventually she’ll get stuck.”
Anxious, Eve turned the horse. It walked in a tight circle.
Gabriel put his hands on her shoulders.
Eve felt tingles through her entire body.
“Just relax. Go straight. You’ve got the entire clearing to maneuver her in. I won’t let anything happen.”
His hands were gentle, and his confidence was infectious. He wouldn’t let anything happen. Eve settled her elbows against her waist. The horse walked in a straight line.
“You see?” he whispered. “Nothing to be frightened of.” His hands slid to her arms. “Keep your hands at hip level. Good.”
A flood of warmth filled Eve that had nothing to do with guiding the horse. She was very aware of his strong hands on her arms at her elbows.
You like him!
The words startled Eve and she jerked. The horse reared slightly.
Gabriel reached around her to grab the pommel. “Easy,” he whispered as the horse tossed her head.
Eve shuddered in fear. “I can’t do this.”
