Page 22 of Sweet Surprise

“It’s here. There was a horse outside when I woke up.”

“I can tell. It’s Cinnamon.” The drawing was so good from a distance, he couldn’t imaging what the boy could do up close and personal. “This is great.”

Mason beamed.

“So.” Carson pushed to his feet. “You ready to meet the horses?”

“Am I!” Clutching the pad to his chest, the kid sprang to his feet with unexpected speed and flexibility.

“We could see them later if you want to keep drawing.” Jess’s voice cracked ever so slightly.

It suddenly occurred to him that Jess was a city girl and this was her first time in ranch country. Facing her, he took a step closer. “Have you ever ridden a horse?”

Jess shook her head.

Okay. “But you’ve seen one before?”

“Before yesterday? Only if television counts?”

“You never went to a dude ranch or a rodeo?”

Nibbling slightly on her lower lip, she shook her head.

All right. Maybe it was Jess he needed to worry about and not Mason. “Then you’re in for a treat.”

Heaving in a sigh, she nodded, and mumbled, “Treat. Right.”

Coming in closer, he leaned into her and lowered his voice. “It will be fine. I promise.”

And with that, the three of them stepped out into the sunlight, heading toward the barn. Jess’s apprehension was palpable. Her hands rubbed down the side of her jeans and back again.

Effervescing eagerness, Mason scurried several feet ahead of them.

“Remember the rules.” Concern heightened in Jess eyes. “I can’t help you if I can’t reach you. Wait for us.”

Leaning against her, he lowered his voice. “There really isn’t much trouble he can get into out here.”

“It’s not out here I’m worried about.” Her gaze remained on Mason and his slower pace.

“Have I ever lied to you?”

That seemed to bring her short. Slowing her steps, she tipped her head to level her gaze with his. He could almost see the wheels turning the pages of time. “No. No, I don’t think you ever have.”

“Then trust me, he’ll be fine.”

The scent hit Jess first: earthy, a little dusty, and distinctly animal. She hesitated at the entrance to the stable, her hand resting on the weathered wooden beam. Peering inside, her heart did a nervous flutter at the sound of shuffling hooves and an occasional low, throaty snort. Her gaze darting left then right, she spotted Mason, jaw hanging slightly open, slowly walking, taking in his surroundings. All set to remind Mason to stay close—something she’d taught him as a toddler, terrified he might dart out in front of a moving car, or succumb to some human predator—she made sure he understood that if she couldn’t reach him to help him, then he was too far away. The words were at the tip of her tongue when Carson’s words echoed in her head:trust me.

She turned to see Carson at her side; his gaze fixed on Mason, his cowboy hat tipped just enough to shadow his pleased smile. “Stop there,” he called out. “That first horse is Boots. She’s a real sweetie.”

As told, Mason came to a stop, the horse nodding her head as if greeting the small human.

“You ready to see your first horse up close and personal?” Carson smiled at her, looking entirely too at ease for a man who’d just promised to introduce her to creatures the size of small trucks.

“Define ‘ready’.” She resisted the urge to take a step in retreat.

Carson chuckled, his boot heels clicking against the floor with every step. “You’ve got this, city girl. Just stick close to me.”

“That’s the plan,” she muttered under her breath as he gestured for her to follow.

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