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Eryn blinked. Dad, stammering?

“How about the rest of you?” Nadine looked between them.

“Yes, please,” Maxwell and Paisley said at the same time.

Eryn shook her head and murmured, “No, thanks.” Too much was going on around her for her to absorb. More food in her unsettled gut wouldn’t help.

Chapter

Ten

Watch closely. Soon you’ll be tacking up on your own.” Maxwell winked at her.

“Okay.” Eryn bit her lip. Was he brushing her off? She shouldn’t have read so much into his attentiveness so far. Truth was, she wasn’t sure she’d want to ride horseback without him nearby. Or did the other women sometimes go as a group? Would she make the sort of friends here who’d invite her along?

Besides Paisley, that is. Paisley had talked to a bunch more people before Weston had finally dragged her out of the dining hall last night. It had happened again at lunchtime. What must it be like to be so outgoing and confident? Eryn wasn’t likely to ever find out.

Maxwell slipped the bit into Mirage’s mouth and worked the leather over her ears. The mare shook her blond mane, but not as though she were annoyed by the straps.

Was the man crooning to the horse?

Eryn tilted her head to hear better. It sure sounded like the soft humming came from Maxwell. Huh.

He reached for a soft pad and placed it on Mirage’s back then swung a worn-looking saddle over, explaining the placement and adjustment of the bands as he did so.

How was she supposed to remember all these steps? Especially when Maxwell smiled at her like that?

Playing dumb wasn’t in her wheelhouse, though. She’d learn how to do this herself unless the opportunity simply never came up again. That was most likely. She’d be busy in the kitchen while others went out on the trails.

“Okay, remember how to mount up? Left foot here — we’re going to need to get you a pair of boots in Jewel Lake next trip down.”

He stood so close as he held Mirage in place. “Boots? I hardly think I’ll be riding often enough to need them.”

“I should talk to Tate about making new boots part of the official staff clothing issue when newcomers join us.” Maxwell winked at her as though sharing a joke. “This is Montana, after all.”

She tucked her sneaker-clad foot into the stirrup and grabbed onto the saddle horn. As she hesitated, taking a moment to visualize the motion sequence he’d shown her last time, his hands rested lightly on her waist.

“Ready? Up you go.”

She bounced lightly and swung into the saddle. It felt effortless with Maxwell’s assistance.

He looked up at her. “Good job! You did that like a pro, not like someone who’s only ridden once before.”

“Thanks for helping.” She smiled shyly at him as she gathered the reins as he’d shown her in Kansas.

“No problem.” Maxwell still stood beside Mirage’s head, focused on Eryn.

She tore her gaze away. “Which horse are you riding?”

He blinked and stepped back. “Nutmeg.”

“I got her tacked for you, dude.” Weston’s voice came from the alley. “You guys ready to go? Paisley’s itching for a run. She has Enchantment and Ranger out in the corral already.”

“Ready.” Eryn lightly pressed her knees against Mirage’s ribs as Maxwell had explained last time. The mare walked out behind Weston. Behind her, she could hear the creak of Maxwell’s saddle as he mounted up, then the clomp-clomp as his horse came behind her.

Weston opened the gate and Paisley led them through before he closed it and mounted his huge horse with the kind of ease Eryn could never hope for.

This felt more like a real trail ride than at Walker Ridge. There, it had been a reunion activity in which many of her former classmates had participated. Here it was more like… a date. But that was silly. Maxwell was just helping her settle in. Besides, the outing had been Paisley’s idea, not his.