Page 33 of Wrangled

I wasn’t about to be dissuaded that easily. “You don’t have to come with me. You’ve seen I can handle him, right?”

Paul stared at me. “You want to get my ass fired? Guests aren’t allowed to go out on their own.”

I tilted my head to one side. “Another of the boss’s rules?”

He chewed on his lower lip. “More of a… guideline, really.”

Aha.

“Paul,” I said in a coaxing tone. “I just need to be alone for a while, okay?” No observers, just me on a horse for the first time in years, enjoying a little solitude, communing with nature.

There sure was a helluva lot to commune with. Meadows stretched out before me, swelling into hills covered in trees, and farther off in the distance, snow topped the blue peaks.

His brow furrowed. “I’m not sure about this.”

“Look, you’ve seen me on a horse. You said I’d be safe with Lightning, didn’t you? I mean, you can see he’s fine with me, right?”

“And what if you’re out there and you come across a rattlesnake?”

“Then I’ll keep him away from it.” Paul bit his lip once more, and I took it as a sign he was wavering. “Just a little time to myself, please?”

Paul sighed. “I guess I know how that feels.” He gazed at our surroundings, as if trying to come to a decision. “Fine. You’ve got thirty minutes, tops. If you’re not back by then, I’ll come looking.”

I beamed. “Thank you. Wanna suggest a way I could go?”

Paul pointed. “Head that way. There’s a trail that leads down to the creek. Nothing that should prove difficult terrain.” His frown hadn’t disappeared. “I’m still not sure about this.”

“If you get into trouble, I’ll make sure they know it’s my fault, all right? I’ll say I insisted.”

At last he waved his hand. “Go on, get out of here before the others arrive. I’ll deal with the fallout—if there is any.”

I gave Lightning’s flanks a slight nudge with my knees, Paul opened the gate, and we trotted out of the paddock. I bent forward. “Isn’t this better, boy?” I took care not to go too fast. Lightning was in no shape to be galloping anywhere, and besides, I didn’t know the land. There could be any number of unexpected obstacles ahead of us. We trotted through the meadow, his mane flapping.

I’d forgotten how exhilarating it was, even at this slow pace

I’d forgotten the feel of a horse under me, strong and sure-footed, the wind on my face, through my hair, the feeling of being so fuckingalive.

We maintained the steady pace, and it wasn’t long before the meadow disappeared, and I was in tall grass, the sound of running water nearby. Ahead of me was the edge of a forest, and through the green leaves and brown trunks, I spotted a structure.

I wonder what that is?

I headed towards it, and found myself at the edge of the creek. Across from me was a log cabin. It appeared to be in dire need of some TLC.

Does anyone live in it?I didn’t think it likely—it had the look of a place that had been long deserted. Two chairs sat on the porch, beaten and weathered, the varnish long since peeled away. And now that I peered closely, the deck of the porch had seen better days too.

“Someone must have loved you once,” I murmured.

And then I heard it—the sound of a horse approaching, getting louder and louder. I glanced up, and coming toward me was a man riding a palomino. He was a good-looking guy in jeans, a blue-and-white plaid shirt, open at the collar, and a brown hat. His beard was mostly gray, his mustache darker.

I knew instantly who was staring at me with wide hazel eyes.

So this is the boss.

I opened my mouth to greet him but he got in first, his gaze like steel.

“What are you doing on that horse?”

Chapter Eight