Page 31 of Marked

“Me too.”

“Why don’t you disappear again, Alaina.” At the edge of the fence line, Jill Benson paused to spit her vitriol. “Everyone’s lives were so much better when you left.”

“Ignore her,” Percy spat. “I’ve told Dave for years to get her some help.”

“She’s hurting, Dad.”

“Doesn’t excuse her ignorance.”

Stepping to the side, she reached for me, placing my hand high up on the horse’s side with hers on top. Up and down she guided us while his muscles quivered beneath each stroke we made on his flank.

“I stopped riding when she disappeared. It wasn’t fair to Whiskey or Smoke, but the memories were too painful.”

“Smoke?”

“She was Beth’s.” A frown pulled at her lips. “I’m not even sure what happened to her.”

Percy cleared his throat, alerting us to his presence. “She’s still here, baby girl. Dave couldn’t bring himself to sell her, even though Jill begged him to do it.”

“Where is she?”

“In the stable.”

Lanie flashed me a smile I knew meant trouble. I just didn’t realize how much.

“Do you wanna go for a ride, Noah?”

7FROZEN BALLS

Lanie

I tried. I really did, but the laugh came bubbling out of me anyway. Seeing my stoic Agent Anderson sitting stiffly atop Beth’s black mare was picture worthy. A definite Kodak moment. There was no way our team back in Huntington would believe me without proof, but unfortunately, Noah had the burner phone and he wouldn’t give it up.

“We’ll see how funny you think this is later, Little Lamb,” Noah grumbled, which only served to make me laugh harder.

We hadn’t gone out straightaway. In fact, we waited two days before we hit the trails. It was a slow process, teaching Noah the ins and outs of horseback riding. Honestly, I thought he’d give up after the first hour, but he proved to be more stubborn than I gave him credit for. Then again, I should’ve realized his control freak side would never allow for defeat.

Even Leland’s fiancée, Amy—who we finally met—got in on the action. Between her experience as a champion barrel racer and an extreme amount of patience on all ourparts, we were able to get him in the saddle pretty quickly. Once he was up, Noah was a natural, if he’d relax long enough to enjoy it. Plus, he looked damn good sitting on top of Smoke.

“Oh, come on, Noah. You have to admit, it’s a little funny.”

“What part of my balls being battered and bruised do you find amusing?”

“Okay, now you’re exaggerating.”

He wasn’t though. I knew he was sore; however, he’d done it to himself.

Right before we’d started down the trail we were currently on; we’d come across a large open field. Wanting to test out his new horse riding abilities, Noah bumped his heels against Smoke. Instead of gently easing into a trot, the ebony mare took off in a canter. They didn’t get far before I was able to get alongside them and grab the reins, but the damage was done.

Amy and I had only taught him the basics, we hadn’t thought about covering how to keep yourself from bouncing around. And boy did Noah bounce…and bounce. I cringed thinking about the way his lower half collided with the hard, unforgiving saddle.

“Do you want to get off and walk for a while?” I offered.

“How much longer until we get to where we’re going?”

“About an hour or so.”

“Then let’s keep riding because once my feet hit solid ground, you might not get me back up here.”

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