Page 19 of Reviving Her Highland Spirit

“Stardust!” she cried, and the horse looked her way, whickering in greeting.

Callum was leading her. He glanced up and smiled when he saw Maggie. “I hope ye have brought apples. She’s expecting a treat.”

Maggie chuckled. “As if I’d come tae see Stardust and not bring apples.”

She smoothed the horse’s glossy neck, feeding her apple slices. Her old riding clothes felt more comfortable today. Perhaps she was simply out of practice wearing them.

“Ye don’t seem too shocked by my riding breeches today,” Maggie added with a smile.

Callum suppressed a smile. “Well, they’re shocking but practical. Good for riding, I’d say.”

“Oh, they are,” Maggie frowned, noticing a bloody bandage wrapped around Callum’s wrist. “What happened tae ye arm?”

“What? Oh, this? Nothing much. I caught my wrist on some thorns yesterday. It’s nothing. Now, as ye can see, I’ve got Stardust all saddled up and ready tae go.”

Maggie’s smile faded a little, faced with the reality that she was going to have to ride a horse again. The panic started to rise like bile, and her blood thrummed through her veins.

“Stay calm, Lady Maggie,” Callum said quietly. It was almost as if he could read her mind.

He couldn’t, of course. It was probably fairly obvious what Maggie was thinking, from the way the color drained from her face.

“I’m not panicking,” Maggie lied.

“I thought we could try something different today. Feel free tae say no, of course. This is all up tae ye.”

Maggie smiled weakly. “Well, now I’m intrigued.”

The corner of Callum’s mouth quirked up in a smile. “I’m glad tae hear that. I thought ye might feel more comfortable riding with someone else. That way, someone else can be in control, and ye can just concentrate on feeling comfortable on the back of a horse again. What do ye say?”

“Riding with someone else? Won’t that take two horses?” Maggie asked. Even as she spoke, she realized what Callum meant, and the color rushed into her face again.

Thank goodness it was still the dusky gray of the morning, that odd sort of morning twilight that fell before the sun came up in earnest. The vivid colors of the sunrise only seemed to make the shadows darker and longer. Maggie’s skin was pale, and she flushed deeply and easily. He’d notice her blush at once.

Callum meant that she should ride with him.

Callum cleared his throat. “I thought ye could sit in front o’ the saddle. Not so comfortable, and it means I will need tae put my arms around ye tae reach the saddle. But if ye sit on the back, I might not be able tae save ye if ye fall. It’s all I could come up with. If ye would rather try tae get into the saddle yourself or try something else, of course, we will do that. It’s up tae you, Lady Maggie.”

Maggie drew in a deep breath. What were her options here? Have another embarrassing fall? Another burst of panic and anxiety? Would he need to catch her again?

Riding with someone else did seem a better option than being solely in control of the horse herself. Besides, Callum made Maggie feel safe and comfortable. She couldn’t explain how or why, but he did.

Of course, Maggie had never considered herself the best judge of character.

“Alright,” Maggie found herself saying. “We can try it.”

Callum glanced quickly away, leaning down to tighten a buckle on the saddle that didn’t need tightening. Was it Maggie’s imagination, or was he nervous at the prospect of sharing a saddle with her, too?

No, of course not. She was just projecting her own fears onto him. After all, Callum had suggested the idea.

“Right,” he said briskly, “There’s no time like the present. I’ll get up first.”

He slipped the toe of his boot into the stirrups and in one smooth, lithe movement, he lifted himself up and over, landing in the saddle squarely and perfectly, as if he’d been born to ride horses. Stardust, the precious thing that she was, never batted an eyelid or moved an inch.

Callum smiled down at her. “Your turn now.”

Maggie swallowed. “I’m not sure…”

“Ye can do it, Lady Maggie. Come on, take my hand. I’ll help ye up. Just take my hand and trust me.”