Page 17 of Cowboy Stole My Heart
Sam breathed deep again, calm and happy to let the horse figure him out. Growing up he’d had it rough, so he’d been plenty scared before, he just hadn’t ever seen horses as being something to fear. He treated animals with respect and never pushed them, and he always got a lot back from them. He’d become used to trusting his instincts, and something in his gut told him that for all the overt anger Tex displayed, he wasn’t going to charge him and kill himwhile he was standing there. Although he also knew how easily he could be proved wrong.
He felt the horse move closer. Still he didn’t turn. He wouldn’t turn until Tex approached him, touching him or waiting expectantly within a foot of him, otherwise it would be over. He needed the horse to see him as a safe place.
He’d been standing for some time, waiting and biding his time, when he heard a soft snort behind him. Sam smiled and kept his back turned, only tilting when he felt the horse close. He wasn’t as close as he’d have liked, but he was close enough.
“Good boy,” Sam murmured, knowing the horse would be listening. “That’s a boy. It’s just you and me here.”
He slowly pivoted then, keeping his eyes downcast. He stood still, waiting for Tex to stretch his neck out. He did, eventually, but he was timid.
Sam slowly, slowly raised his hand, holding it out and letting him sniff it. Once he’d done that, he walked back a couple of paces and then turned to exit the pen. He wasn’t going to push him any further for the day.
That’s when he heard the clapping.
“Impressive,” Mia said, sitting on the grass with his dog. Blue had his head in her lap. “I’m annoyed that you snuck around here and didn’t invite me to watch, but damn impressive either way.”
Sam grinned at her, hoping she wasn’t too pissed at him. He got the balance of the hay he’d brought and ducked back through to leave it for Tex.
“Here you go, buddy,” he said, eyes lowered still so as not to challenge him. He left the hay there and exited again, only to find Mia waiting, arms folded over her chest as she stared at him.
“Sorry, I didn’t want any other distractions on my first proper session with him,” he said.
Mia raised one perfect brow as she glared at him. Her expression was hard to read, but it was like a cool breath of wind had blown through.
“I’ve been here for at least fifteen minutes. He was so busy watching you he didn’t even care.”
Sam shrugged. “I’d say that’s lucky then,” he replied. “But then maybe it was me who would have been distracted, had I known you were sitting there watching.”
He leveled his gaze on Mia, secretly pleased when she faltered. She was full of so much spark and although he admired it, he wasn’t used to having to justify what he was doing and why.
“Is it that hard for you to let me be part of this?”
He groaned. “Kind of, yeah. I’m a creature of habit, and I’m the kind of creature who likes being alone.”
“So no lucky wife then, huh?”
Subtle. Very damn subtle. He ignored the question. “I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to making my way down here without you seeing on purpose,” he said, not about to discuss his personal life with Mia.
“Maybe I should thank my lucky stars I didn’t get another critique on my riding this morning,” she quipped.
He laughed. “Bet you rode her into the jumps differently today though.” When her cheeks colored but she didn’t reply, he grinned. “And I bet you had the ride of your goddamn life on her.”
Mia burst out laughing. He hadn’t been expecting that. She twirled her long blonde ponytail and shook her head. “God, I hate you,” she muttered. “But yeah, I did, and she responded just like you said.”
He cupped his hand to his ear, leaning forward. “Sorry, did I miss something? I think this is the part where you thank me for my incredible tips.”
Mia didn’t look impressed. “No, this is the part where I realize that you’re worth the exorbitant sum we’re paying you. I’m just pleased I don’t have to fire you.”
Sam whistled his dog over and patted his head. He crouched down, looking up at Mia as she stood there, full of attitude and overconfident. He had a feeling that she was actually full of bluster, that she projected a confidence that she didn’t truly feel, and that it was her instant defense mechanism. He’d spent a lot of his life reading horses, but he got a feeling from people too, and he doubted he was wrong about her.
“If you’re not going to say thanks, the least you could do is make me a coffee.”
“Hungry too?” she asked, pausing to look at the horse before starting to walk off.
Blue jumped to attention and ran after her, and Sam silently cursed the dog for taking such a liking to her as he jogged to catch up. He fell into step beside her, adjusting his pace to hers.
“Most of our workers bring their own coffee and lunch,” she said dryly, glancing across at him, her eyes dancing with what he was fairly sure was humor. “But then again, you’re not exactly our usual kind of worker, are you?”
“No, ma’am,” he said, saluting her. “But in exchange for a coffee and a turkey sandwich, I’ll let you hang out with me and Tex for the afternoon.”
