Page 73 of Minus

“When I lift you, swing your right leg over. Make sense?”

“In theory.”

“Okay, on three. One, two, three.” He lifted me, and I threw my right leg over… exactly like I did when getting on a motorcycle. Hank didn’t move, which made this whole thing a hell of a lot easier. “Good job, baby.”

Jase helped me adjust my stirrups, then settled my feet where they should be, patting my leg as he smiled up at me from the ground. “How do you feel?”

“A bit like I’m on a really big Harley.”

“Not a whole lotta difference,” he said. “I think you’ll like it just as much.”

“We’ll see,” I said.

“I’m going to watch you walk around a bit before I get on Boston. He and I are gonna hang in the middle and I’m going to have you go around us. Okay?”

I nodded, and my lesson commenced.

“You’re a natural,” he announced after about twenty minutes or so.

“This is actually kind of fun.”

“Told ya.”

I nodded. “You did. And it’s so nice that you’re not rubbing that in my face right now. You aresucha good man, Jase.”

“Thanks for noticin’.”

I rolled my eyes. “What now?”

He mounted Boston like he was stepping onto an escalator, gathering his reins in his right hand. “Follow me. We’ll go slow.”

“We better go slow, ’cause if I fall off, I will kill you.”

He grinned and led Boston to the arena gate, leaning down to open it, then walking out. My horse followed without me having to guide him, which helped me relax a little. It was almost as though Hank was assuring me that he had me and I was safe.

The ranch backed up to protected forest trails and I was in awe as we rode through the foliage. It was several degrees cooler under the shelter of the trees, and I was super glad I’d worn a jacket. Jase pointed out some of his favorite side trails that he promised to take me on when we had more time, and by the time we started our loop back to the barn, I was kind of bummed the ride was ending so soon. It was a beautiful day, with a gorgeous man, and I didn’t want it to end.

We reached the end of the trail and Jase brought Boston to a gentle halt, causing Hank to follow suit. I could see the barn off in the distance, and between us was a meadow covered with small yellow flowers, with a narrow dirt path that led all the way back to the ranch.

“Let’s dismount here and walk ’em back the rest of the way. I want to show you something special,” Jase said.

He threw his leg over Boston and slid off like something out of an old western. Damn, he was sexy. I knew that after all this riding, andridingI was gonna be sore as hell in the morning, but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep my hands off him regardless.

“Here, let me help you down,” he said, taking a hold of Hank’s reins, and instructing me on how to properly dismount without breaking my neck.

“Great job,” he said, smiling. “See, you’re a natural.”

“I was scared out of my mind, but that was so much fun!” I said, still slightly out of breath.

At that moment I had a realization. I was vulnerable with Jase and found it easy to admit to him when I felt scared, which was rare for me.Minus, on the other hand, made me feel safe, and therefore adventurous. Both sides of his personality may prove to come in handy.

“C’mon, let’s cut over this way,” he said, leading us off the path, to a clearing near the back side of the stables. We tied the horses to a nearby hitching post and walked to a picnic table located near a large uprooted tree.

“Why are we stopping here?” I asked, and we sat down.

“First off, I wanted to show you the baby elephant tree, and I thought it’d be a nice place for us to sit and talk.”

“Baby elephant tree?”

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