Page 40 of Spencer and the Younger Girl
A cry cut off as she slammed into the ground.
Spencer rounded the horse. “You okay?”
She lifted a hand. “I think you killed me.”
“I didn’t kill you.”
“I can’t feel my legs.” She lifted a leg as if to emphasize her point.
“Your legs are fine.”
Sitting up, she reached for the hat that had fallen from her head. “Do you have no sympathy for the girl you just threw over a horse?”
“I didn’t throw you.” He patted the saddle. “This is a saddle. You sit in it. You don’t go sailing over the top.”
“Easy to do when someone doesn’t try to murder you.” She drew a finger across her throat. “I was almost dead. Gone. Six feet under.” She fake sniffled. “What would you tell Stammer?”
“Stammer wouldn’t even notice.”
“You take that back.”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Just come on. We’re already running late. This time, when I lift you up, swing your leg over.”
She let him help her into the saddle, this time without incident. “Oh, that was easy. I don’t know why you were making such a bit deal about it.”
“Me? You know what, never mind. Scoot forward.”
“Why? You aren’t getting on behind me. Toby is now my horse.” She rubbed his neck. “Isn’t that right, buddy?”
“You’ve never ridden before. There is no way I’m letting you ride up to the back pasture alone. Scoot forward.”
“Well, if you insist. But I kind of think you just want your arms around me.” She waggled her eyebrows.
“Before I get up there, let’s get one thing straight. You are in high school. Seventeen. So, don’t say things like that again.”
She tried to hide her disappointment. Something about the gruff guy intrigued her. He was like a science experiment, and she wanted to know how much Hadley it would take for him to explode.
“Fine, I’ll keep all my naughty thoughts to myself.” She scooted forward, careful not to lose her balance as the horse took a step.
Spencer pulled himself up with little effort and settled in behind her. He reached across her for the reins and nudged the horse forward.
Hadley put all her effort into staying on the animal. Seeing the world from atop a horse was an entirely different adventure. As they rode away from the more populated part of the ranch, she could almost imagine she wasn’t in Gulf City any longer.
A sea of grass stretched out before them with trees and cows in the distance. It was a different kind of peace.
But as Spencer’s arm tightened around her from behind, there was nothing peaceful in her mind.
