Page 33 of Luke

Drawing in a deep breath, she walked back to the bed.

Kaitlyn gave her another long-suffering sigh.

"You lied to me, Kaitlyn," she said. "To make up for that, you're going to help Tom clean out the stables in the morning. Seven a.m.; don't be late."

Kaitlyn stared back at her, but she didn't say anything.

Lizzie walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her. She let out a breath, wondering if she was doing the right thing or the wrong thing. Being a mother was a lot more complicated and far more difficult than she'd ever imagined, especially when the kid she was trying to mother hated her guts.

* * *

Luke walked into the stables early Thursday morning. Tom gave him a friendly smile as he finished feeding carrots to a beautiful brown horse.

"Morning," Tom said. "Rumor has it you're the new boss."

"Luke Brannigan," he said, extending his hand.

"Tom Gordon. I remember you. Daredevil boy. Wanted to jump over a fence at the end of your first riding lesson."

Tom's words took him a long way back. "How could you possibly remember that?" he asked.

"Faces stick in my head—names not so much. Plus, there was a bunch of you boys running around. You used to come twice a year until your mom died. She was a sweetheart. Your dad was head over heels for her. Never thought he liked the place that much, but she did. Was shocked as could be when he bought it two years ago."

"I was surprised about that, too. I didn't actually learn about it until a few days ago."

"I'm sorry about his passing."

"Thanks," he said shortly.

"What can I do for you today?" Tom asked.

"I was thinking about taking a ride, but I haven't been on a horse in about twenty years."

"It's just like riding a bike."

He smiled. "I certainly hope so."

"We've got a couple of nice, easy-going mares, but somehow I don't think they'll be to your taste, not if you're the way you used to be."

"If you mean reckless and addicted to speed, then you'd be right," Lizzie interrupted with a smile.

"I have never been reckless on a horse," he said, a little unsettled by how happy he was to see her. Even in faded jeans and a T-shirt, little makeup on, and her blonde hair in a ponytail, she was breathtakingly pretty.

"That might be the only place you've been cautious," she retorted. She looked at Tom. "Maybe Daisy?"

Tom nodded. "I was thinking the same. I'll saddle her up. You'll want Vixen, of course."

"Hang on, I get a horse named Daisy and Liz gets one named Vixen? That doesn't seem right," he said.

Liz smiled. "I'm not riding with you, and if you want Vixen, you can have her, but sometimes she gets stubborn and just decides to take a break until you sweet-talk her into moving again. That's why she's called Vixen."

"The last thing I want to do this morning is sweet-talk a horse, so I'll take Daisy, but you are coming with me."

"I have work to do."

"It's seven."

"And breakfast is starting."

---