Page 63 of Embers of You
“You haven’t even seen the worst of it.” I don’t let go of her hand, and she doesn’t try to let go of mine either.
“I haven’t?”
“Not at all, she hasn’t brought out the baby pictures for you yet.”
“Oh, is that what she does with all the women you bring around?”
I rear back slightly, pausing in my steps, and she does the same.
“Ma was serious at dinner. I’ve never brought any girl around, just you.”
She shakes her head. “Really? No I’m sure you did in high school or just at some point you’ve brought a girl home.”
I shrug, “I mean I’m not going to get into the dirty details of everything I did as a teenager, but I’ve never brought a girl to meet Ma before.”
Her mouth gapes before shutting it, her eyes bouncing across my face like she’s trying to detect the lie, but she won’t find it. We continue walking again, and I can tell she’s thinking extremely hard.
“What about prom or homecoming or anything like that?” she finally asks.
“Went stag. No one was going to tie me down,” I joke.
“Oh, there’s your flaw. You’re afraid of commitment.”
I chuckle. “Not afraid of it, but even if I was then it would seem like we’re a good pair, huh?”
“I’m not afraid either, just…reserved.”
“And why’s that?”
She hesitates. “Because the people closest to me tend to do things to hurt me.”
“Is that why you moved here? Did something happen?” My hackles rise thinking of someone hurting Sutton.
She’s quiet and I feel her start to pull her hand away from mine, but I hold on tighter. We’re at the barn, so I divert the conversation away from a subject she clearly doesn’t want to talk about and ease the tension she’s holding.
“If you don’t want to tell me, feel free to tell Sandy, she’s a great listener. Even better than a human therapist.”
“How do I know she won’t spill all my secrets once I’m not around?”
“You caught me, she’s really my little spy.” I grab Sandy’s halter off the front of her stall before opening the door to put it on her.
“I knew you had some ulterior motives. No one’s as perfect as you seem.”
I scoff, guiding Sandy out to put her in the cross ties and get her tacked up for riding. “I’m not perfect.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
I show Sutton how to tack up the horse and she stands off to the side watching as I do the actions I’ve done hundreds if not thousands of times in my life while preparing a horse for a ride. When I’m done and Sandy is ready, I switch out the halter for a bridle with a bit and guide her out to the arena.
Sutton follows, and I can feel her hesitation, but I would never put her in any danger and the only problem she’s going to have with Sandy is getting her to move, not getting her to stop. I shut the gate to the arena, and Sandy stands, just waiting for her rider.
“Do you want me to walk her around for you or just walk next to you?”
“Walk her around for me to start.”
I nod. “Okay, let me help you up.” I could have brought her over to the mounting block, but wanted an excuse to get my hands on her again.
She takes a couple tentative steps toward me, and when she’s close enough, I hold her hips to guide her to stand in the best spot next to Sandy. Before anything else, I take my brown cowboy hat off and place it on her. “Now you’re ready,” I tell her with a smile.
