Page 24

C laire stood inside the stall, waiting. She’d already strapped on Buttercup’s saddle and tightened the girth. Now, her girl was ready to run.

“ Shhh , baby,” she whispered. “We’ll go in a few minutes. Here…” She picked up the brush. Buttercup enjoyed a full-body brush down almost as much as she loved to take Claire riding — or more accurately, to nibble the bounty of fresh greens waiting at the end of the trail.

The riding path snaked along the river, where the melting snow and glacial silt from the Talkeetna Mountains created moist, fertile soil.

And the long sunny days during spring and summer in the Mat-Su Valley encouraged a variety of tender green shoots, wild grasses, and Buttercup’s favorite, red and white clover.

Technically, she wasn’t supposed to be in the barn without supervision — according to Clara Mae’s rules.

Since she came every day before school, though, Rusty had started letting it slide.

The other ranch hands and Clara Mae rarely showed up before she left.

If they did, she pretended she’d just come to visit Buttercup.

Lala acted like an absent parent with Starlight, allowing the hands to take care of her horse, and then showering her with flatteries when she visited — at best, weekly, and only if the weather was nice but not too nice.

No surprise, really. That’s how Lala’s parents treated her, especially her father, whom she saw maybe once or twice a year, if that.

The barn doors squealed open, and soft humming filtered inside, sending the barn swallows into chirps and twitters.

Claire waited, listened, making sure it was Adam before she revealed herself.

“ More than a woman …” he sang.

She smiled but didn’t move. Hearing him hum the song they’d slow danced to the night before made her heart flutter all over again. That was the moment she decided to hold onto — the way he’d danced with her, and then that solo on the back of the old Ford.

From the moment she’d driven off the ranch, and while lying awake half the night, she wondered why he hadn’t kissed her during their dance.

Then he missed the chance she’d all but handed him in the truck.

And finally, when she rolled down the window, she’d all but invited him to kiss her.

She’d nearly turned the Blazer around, ready to demand an answer.

But then she remembered — Adam didn’t rush anything.

He was careful about every decision he made.

“Good morning, Mac the Knight,” Adam said.

Claire covered her mouth. He was just too sweet for words.

Adam , not the horse , she thought with a giggle.

The horse, she knew all too well. While he was sharp as a tack, he was also a cheeky and clever gelding with an attitude.

He carried himself like a stallion. Then again, so did Adam.

Even if some people took him for something less — like her father.

“Morning, Gypsy Joe,” Adam called as his boots crunched over the wood chips. “Tango. Tilly. Red Dog.”

Claire realized Adam was calling out the horses as he passed them, learning their names.

His footsteps paused. “Good morning, Starlight. I got something for you, girl. Tchk - tchk . Tchk - Tchk ,” he clicked.

“Yeah, you’re shy, aren’t you? Lala doesn’t show you the affection you deserve, does she?

” A snort answered him. “I understand. I really do. She must have some good in her, or my brother wouldn’t have gone out with her.

Hang in there, gorgeous. I’ll take you out if she doesn’t show today.

” Starlight snuffled, and the sound of her hooves shuffling forward brought tears to Claire’s eyes. “Atta girl. Here ya go.”

Adam moved on again, humming as he passed the stalls, calling out more names. “I got something for you, too, Buttercup.” He stopped. “What the — I unsaddled you, girl. Am I losing my mind?”

Claire peeked around her horse, careful not to startle Adam. “Hey…”

“Claire! Thank God! I honestly thought I was going insane for a second. What are you doing here so early?”

She laughed. “Sounds like someone got some sleep last night. No backlash with Clara Mae, I hope. I expected her to be waiting with her snake gun, as she calls the .22 strapped to her side.”

“Actually…” Adam absently stroked Buttercup’s snout. “She was waiting with both barrels of that 12-gauge loaded, but Rusty intervened.” He glanced over his shoulder. “We’ll talk later… somewhere else. Wanna go for a ride? We’ve got about an hour before the other hands show up.”

“Yep! Saddled and ready,” Claire said, her cheeks warming with a smile she couldn’t contain.

Adam took the lead from Claire and guided Buttercup out of the stall. “I’ll get you set up first. I know you’re capable and all, but isn’t that what Rusty normally does when he’s here?”

“It is. Rusty lets me come in before school —” Claire jogged up beside him. “Are you going to school here now, in Wasilla?”

Adam’s smile was soft, but it didn’t lift his face like usual. “I’m eighteen, remember?”

“Oh, right.” She checked the door. “So… you won’t… graduate?”

He sighed softly. “Would that upset you?”

She shrugged. “Just doesn’t seem fair.”

“There are worse things.”

Claire lowered her head. Adam was thinking about the unfair cards fate had dealt Thomas. While Adam might miss some rites of passage, there were definitely worse things.

“Hey…” Adam whispered. “It’s okay, Claire. We’ll talk more on the trail. I promise you… I’m gonna be just fine.”

Claire inhaled deeply, then released it, letting herself relax. “I believe you.”

Outside, Adam tied Buttercup to the hitching post and gave her a loving pat before heading back for Prince. He looked Claire over and nodded.

“What? Did I forget something?”

“I was just double-checking that you had your gun.” He paused for a second, then turned and jogged back.

Claire tugged on her bottom lip.

Adam’s pause played through her head, the way he stood there… He’d almost kissed her. It would’ve felt like the natural order of things. But then he took off. She was sure he’d wanted to kiss her, though.

Claire kept watch. She was outside a little early again. There were no predators on Clara Mae’s ranch — at least, she’d never seen one. Too much activity? Too much noise?

Adam walked through the barn doors, then vaulted onto his horse’s bare back, galloping toward her like one of those Spaghetti Westerns where the hero swoops in to scoop up the girl and ride off into the sunset.

Claire giggled. She loved those cheesy parts, especially the hero swooping in. Now she just needed that kiss.

“Whoa!” Adam cooed, and his horse stuttered to a stop. “Good boy. That’s my good boy.” He hopped down, wrapped the lead over the hitching post, and smiled. “Ready?”

“Yep, but I have a question first.” She glanced over her shoulder then stepped toward him, eyeing him from head to toe — his chosen footwear, actually.

“Um, sure? What’s up?” He swallowed hard as she closed the distance between them.

Claire nearly laughed at his sudden nervousness.

She’d never seen him uneasy around anyone but her.

She kind of liked that. Not that she made him uneasy, but that he cared enough about what she thought to get a little unsteady.

At least he wasn’t so edgy that he couldn’t be himself — like dancing on the back of the truck. That , she wouldn’t like.

“Do I make you nervous?”

“Sometimes.” Adam checked their surroundings, then actually winked at her. “But in a good way.”

“Hmm. I kind of like that.” Claire restrained her laugh. The last thing she wanted to do was stifle his step toward feeling comfortable with her.

“I’m glad you approve. Was that your question?”

She gave a slight head shake, then looked at his tennis shoes, waiting as he followed her gaze. “Where are your boots?”

Adam’s head popped up. “Yeah, about that… Like I said, I was kind of rushed. I didn’t have time to pack.” He pointed to his clothes. “I need clothes for me and Peter, too. I’ll head to the store tonight and get some.”

Confused, she cocked her head. “Why don’t you just go back to your house and get them?”

Adam’s lip quivered. “I can’t —”

Claire rushed to fill the silence. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I —”

“It’s okay, Claire.” He rested a hand against her cheek. “I do need to go back. I’m just not ready.” He took hold of Buttercup’s lead. “Come on. It’s getting late. We better get a move on.”

Claire reached for the horn, and pulled herself up. Although she didn’t need help, she certainly didn’t complain when she felt Adam’s hand on her back.

As embarrassed as she was about her blunder, the feeling of his hand against her reminded her of some of the fantasies she’d had, staring at the ceiling until the wee hours.

Boyd had repeatedly pressed her for sex, but she’d never longed for him. Deep down, she’d always known Adam would be her first — and last.

He checked that Buttercup’s straps were tight, then climbed up on his horse. “Wanna lead the way? I haven’t been on the river trail yet.”

“Definitely.”

The riding trail ran parallel to the river, far enough back that the trees and brush created a natural screen, but Claire could hear the rushing water running over the rocks.

The first time she’d been on the trail, the guide explained that Clara Mae made sure the trail kept a respectful distance from the Little Su — not just for the river’s sake…

because manure and glacier water didn’t mix, but also to avoid surprising any bears fishing for salmon along the shallows.

“ Even on horseback ,” the young guide had patted her rifle, “ you don’t want to make a grizzly look up from its breakfast and decide you look yummier . ”

At a small clearing, Claire pulled back lightly on both reins. It was one of three clearings where felled trees allowed a view of the Little Susitna and, behind it, the rugged peaks of the Talkeetna Mountains.