Page 34 of A Steadfast Heart
Could that happen if all she and Drew had was a business arrangement?
She was distracted from her thoughts when the wind picked up a handful of leaves and blew them directly across Phantom’s path.
The horse shied sideways, then took off.
A crowhop, then another. David slid sideways in the saddle.
“Stay with him,” Ed murmured. “Turn him in.”
Drew stayed silent and still, only his lips moving. He was too far away to do anything.
David regained his seat, settled deeper into the saddle. The horse bolted around the ring, his pounding hooves echoing across the corral.
“One-rein him, David. Turn him in.” Nick stepped onto a higher rung.
Kaitlyn’s breath caught in her chest. Her heart raced and her hands shook. If David got thrown, he could break his neck—God, if You’re listening, please help this boy.
David slid a hand along the inside rein, grabbed hold a foot nearer the bridle.
“Attaboy, David. You’ve got this.” Ed had settled on the highest rung of the fence, prepared to jump inside if needed. Another quarter lap, and David steadily pulled on the inside rein.
At first, nothing happened. Then slowly the horse’s head lowered. His ears lifted from his head, just a little. His pace slowed.
And finally, finally, his nose came around toward his flank as he eased to a stop.
Ed slipped down a couple of rungs on the fence. “That boy’s a chip off the old block, and no mistaking it.”
Drew was already approaching horse and boy. Kaitlyn couldn’t hear his words over Tillie’s excited jabbering. She gestured for her to quiet.
Drew held the colt’s bridle, drawing horse and boy toward the gate. “That was a mighty fine ride, son.”
David sat straighter in the saddle, a mile-wide grin on his face.
He slipped off the horse’s back, accepting congratulations from his uncles.
“We’ll help take him to the barn,” Nick said.
He seemed to be trying to give Drew a message with some wiggles of his eyebrows.
Kaitlyn and Drew were left standing near the corral. A couple of feet separated them, as well as a wooden fence.
She glanced over to see Tillie and Jo heading for the house, their heads together.
“You’ve got good instincts. With the kids.” Drew’s words brought her focus back to him.
She glanced toward Jo. “Not all of them.”
He made a soft sound. She didn’t know whether it meant he agreed or disagreed with her, but she didn’t ask.
She was still standing near the railing, and when he leaned his elbows on it, her breath caught. He was almost too close.
“What was your ma like?”
His question shocked her, and a glance at his face made her think he’d surprised himself too.
The image of her mother’s casket threatened to overwhelm her, as it always did when she thought of her mother. But she pushed past it. Her mother was more than the day that’d turned Kaitlyn’s world inside out. She dug deeper into her memories, and a calming, simple scent rose in her mind. “She smelled like flowers.” What flower? If only she knew, she’d buy the scented soap or perfume. Anything to hold on to the memories.
“What else?” Drew’s deep voice softened.
