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They’d had a full meal at the bed and breakfast, packed their belongings, then waited for Char and her daughters to pick them up. The drive home had been delightful, Matthew playing with his nieces and Char speaking of her date before they’d arrived home—rather, at Foxwood.

Matthew and Winnie had parted ways after, taking showers, sprucing up, and spending a few minutes recouping before meeting again in the afternoon.

Winnie would be lying if she’d said she hadn’t been anxiously waiting to see him again. She was eager to discover what final surprise he had for her, but honestly, it didn’t matter, so long as she could stare into his eyes and imagine herself touching his curls for longer.

When they did finally meet up in the main entryway of Foxwood—Matthew in his tan breeches, a navy-blue collared shirt, and black boots—every other thought fled her mind.

She knew what those clothes were for. “Matthew…” she began.

He must have already expected her response, raising his hands with a comforting smile. “It’s okay. You don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for. I just thought, after seeing your face light up as you watched those horses on the movie last night, that if you are ready to ride, this might be the perfect opportunity to do so.”

A rush of conflicting emotions blasted throughout her soul. She couldn’t even begin to express how sweet his offer was, nor how it made her heart warm. But she’d sworn off riding horses more than ten years ago for a reason. She couldn’t face the heartache of saying goodbye again to something she loved so deeply.

“Just come to the stables at least,” Matthew said gently.

Winnie couldn’t say anything, unable to dampen the hope in his eyes. In silence, she followed him through the woods until they emerged from the thick trees, the stables coming into view with two horses standing outside of them, all tacked up and ready to go.

Winnie stared at the geldings, then back at Matthew, who looked very much like he was regretting the idea to bring her out there.

The look in his eyes, his offer, his kindness, and his vulnerability softened her heart—opened her heart. So much so that a desire slipped by her defenses without her notice, expanding across her entire being before she could even recognize what was happening. That desire grew louder and faster and stronger. It pressed against her senses and prevented her from breathing.

It was a desire she’d suppressed for too long. A desire she never thought she’d feel again, yet a desire she’d longed to feel for ten years.

It was the desire to ride.

“I’m sorry,” Matthew continued, clearly misinterpreting her silence. “I shouldn’t have presumed, especially after what you told me before. We can forget this ever happened. Let’s go…climb a tree or something.”

He began to lead her away from the horses, but without thinking, Winnie reached forward, her hand resting on his forearm to stop him.

“Wait.”

He turned to look back at her, his eyes wary. “Really, Winnie. I shouldn’t have…”

His words trailed off when she shook her head. “No. This is the kindest, most generous thing anyone has ever done for me.”

Relief shone in his eyes, and despite Winnie’s continued reticence, she smiled.

“Are you sure you wish to?” he asked.

She looked back to the black and chestnut horses. “I’m sure.”

And yet, as she spoke the words, her voice wavered. Perhaps her spirit was sure. But what about her mind? Her courage?

They moved forward, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

“You remember Prince,” Matthew said motioning to the chestnut gelding beside Nightshade, “Char’s horse?”

Winnie nodded, moving to the front of the horse and allowing him to smell her hand. Her fingers shook from the adrenaline that pulsated through her body. Prince responded with forward facing ears and a look of interest.

The sniff of the horse this time didn’t send her spiraling, nor did she have recurring flashbacks of her father’s actions. Instead, she was filled with different memories. Far less painful memories. Memories of tacking up Goldilocks. The palomino nibbling at the back of her hair she’d always worn down.

Matthew excused himself for a minute, disappearing within the stables, and Winnie took the time to allow Prince to get used to her—and for her to get used to him—rubbing his neck and forelock as he continued to sniff her.

Matthew returned a minute later. “These are for you. They’re Char’s. Should fit as perfectly as those wellies did.” He extended toward her a pair of smart, black riding boots that matched his own.

“I’m gonna need to start paying your sister for all the clothes I’m borrowing from her,” she joked.

She accepted the boots, placing them on one-by-one as more memories returned from her younger years. Donning black boots just like these, pulling on clean breeches, show coats, stock ties, and pins. She’d always looked clean and tidy at her performances, but today, her jeans and raincoat would have to do.