Page 355 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

Daisy skipped back to the stall and held out herhands.

“All clean,” shedeclared.

“Great,” he said. “Let me throw a saddle on Thunder and we’ll be onourway.”

“Okay.”

As soon as he’d readied his horse, he returned to Clover’s stall. He unlatched it and pulled open the gate. The horse ambled out and stood justoutside.

Greg smiled. It had taken months to get Clover to trust him. Someone had been abusing the gentle creature before he’d found him lying on his side in the field. If he ever found out who had been hurting him, Greg would beathisass.

“How am I supposed to get all the way up there?” sheasked.

“I’ll give you a boost.” He bent down and locked his fingers together. “Just put one foot here and I’llhelpyou.”

“Okay,” she said in askepticaltone.

As she stepped into his cupped hands, he lifted her up. She started to teeter to one side. He quickly grabbed her bottom and shoved her into thesaddle.

“Thanks,” she said. “I don’t think I could have gotten up here withoutsomehelp.”

“I’m always happy to help,” he said. Getting a handful of her curvy butt was abonus.

“You’re a good guy,”shesaid.

“Thanks, ma’am.” He flushed and dropped his gaze to the floor. He kicked a piece of hay to help release his nervousenergy.

“I can’t wait to get out there,”shesaid.

He took the comment as his cue to climb up on Thunder. Once he was in the saddle, he steered the horse toward thebarndoor.

“When we get outside, pull up alongside me and we’ll walk together,”hesaid.

“How do I make him turn?” sheasked.

“You give a slight tug on the reins on the side you want him to turntoward.”

“And if I want himtostop?”

“You pull back on the reins,” he said. “But not too hard. The slightest tug will make him stop in his tracks. If you’re not prepared for it, you might go ass overteakettle.”

“I love your expressions,” she laughed. “I’m excited about today. We haven’t really had much timealoneyet.”

“I was thinking the same thing,”hesaid.

But he’d been doing more than just thinking. He’d been fantasizing about riding off into the sunset with her. All of the Western movies he liked to watch seemed to end the same way—with the hero and his girl riding off into the sunset. He’d always wanted to do that with someone special. If today went well, maybe he’d finally get thechance.

Chapter8

Daisy turnedher face into the sun. When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed the balmy summer afternoons. A breeze rustled through a pair of quaking aspen trees. Her hair flowed behind her as the wind caressed her face. The scent of pine and juniper filled the air. She wished she could bottle the scent and carry it with her forever. She never wanted the daytoend.

They’d been riding for over an hour when Greg brought his horse to a halt. She carefully pulled back on the reins until Cloverstopped.

“I was thinking we could take a break here,” he said. “Since you’ve never ridden before, be careful when you get down. Your knees mightbuckle.”

If she collapsed, it wouldn’t be because of the ride. It would be because she’d swooned at his feet. She’d never been so affected by a man. But Greg’s sexy smile melted every last bit of strength in her body. She wanted to dissolve into his embrace. But he’d probably think she was a crazy person ifshedid.

She swung one leg over the back of the horse, then attempted to slide down his side. Her foot dangled beneath her. Where on earth was the ground? She swiped it back and forth trying to make contact. The motion threw her even more off balance and she toppled backward intoGreg’sarms.

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