Page 16 of Ride With Me
“Oh, baby. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Come here.” Logan pulled me in, his arms tight around me. He murmured into my hair as I cried. “I’m here. I’m not leaving, doll. I’ve got you.”
It seemed like forever that I cried in his arms. When my tears stopped, I slumped in his embrace, feeling empty.
Logan nuzzled my hair “The scar on your leg, love. Is it from that accident?”
I nodded into his shirt. “It’s from the surgeries to fix the broken bones.”
“Is that why you never wanted to talk about it and talk about your past? Did you think people would run away if they heard the truth?”
I wiped my face. “My trainer found a new rider to work with. She stopped checking in on me at all. If I wasn’t a star rider, I wasn’t any good to her. My boyfriend thought I was too much work. My friends all graduated, moved on. I had no one.”
Logan shifted, bringing his face into my view. “Well, that’s not true anymore. You have the girls from Blackstone. You have your people at your barn. You have me.”
The wall I’d so carefully built was scattered on the ground, leaving me without a filter. “You didn’t want to play with me. For months.” I sniffled.
“I did want to, love. I wouldn’t let myself. You hid yourself away, wouldn’t let me in. I was scared that I’d push you too hard, wouldn’t read you right, and that I’d harm you. But you’re the one I’ve wanted ever since that first scene we did on your very first singles night. Even fully clothed, you were exquisite under my rope. I’ve dreamed about it ever since.”
Really? I twisted to see him, sitting up on his lap. “Me too,” I said shyly.
“Glad to hear it, love.” He gave me another squeeze, then pushed gently to move me off his lap. “Thank you for letting me in and for trusting me. I promise never to break that trust. Now, I believe you have some horses to meet. Are you ready?”
11
Savannah
Loganflippedontheoverhead light in the barn. The horses in their stalls for the night let out nickers of excitement, probably hoping someone was bringing them food. Bailey had reappeared, following along behind us with her tail wagging. She looked way too happy, which probably meant she’d found someone to feed her treats.
My money was on the ranch hand I’d met—Craig, wasn’t it? The old man seemed like the sort who was a pushover when it came to animals.
As we walked down the stalls, Logan introduced the horses one by one, by both name and personality. The white and brown paint in the first stall was a gelding named Storm. The bay was a Colbie, a mare.
We continued down the row, Logan giving names and describing personalities for each of the horses. Lena turned out to be a chestnut mare. He nodded to me and I opened the stall door to say hello. Lena looked at me with her big brown eyes as I ran my hand over her head, talking softly. After several minutes, Lena turned her head, placing her nose on my cheek. Love at first sight.
I giggled. “Aw, she likes me! The feeling is mutual, gorgeous girl. We’re going to make sure your foal comes out nice and easy when it’s time.”
I gave Lena another pat before I rejoined Logan, latching the stall door behind me.
“Are you ready to officially meet Henry?” Logan asked, carefully. “If you’re not up for it today, we can wait.”
I wasn’t sure I’d ever be ready, not really, but Logan had stood by me through all of the crap I’d thrown at him today. I could do this if he was with me “No. I want to meet him. Please.”
Logan nodded and moved down to Henry’s stall. He slipped inside and removed Henry’s halter. I traded places with him as he left the stall. I took a deep breath as I stepped into the small area.
I stroked Henry’s neck, the way Ace had liked to be touched. “You’re beautiful, Henry boy. I’m sorry I froze before. You look just like my boy Ace. I miss him so much. He was my best friend.” Apparently I hadn’t cried all my tears earlier, as a few ran down my cheek.
Henry turned his head toward me, then laid it on my shoulder. He pulled me slightly toward him. Then he stood there, holding me in a horse hug, while I cried on his shoulder.
We stayed locked together for several minutes before I pulled back, sniffling, and rubbed his nose. “Thank you, boy. I needed that. You’re a good one. Do you like carrots?”
At the mention of carrots, Henry moved his nose to my jeans, nudging at my pockets.
I laughed. “I don’t have any right now, boy. I’ll get you some carrots or an apple later, though, okay? We’re going to be friends.”
I gave him one final pat, then walked out of the stall to where Logan stood, amazement in his eyes. “He seems like a good horse. Thank you for letting me meet him.”
Logan cleared his throat. “He, uh, he’s never done that for anyone, you know. He’s not a cuddler. Or at least, he wasn’t before he met you.” Logan smiled. “Do you want to ride him? We have mostly western tack, but there might be an English saddle around here somewhere.”
“No, thanks,” I answered, too quickly. That was one step too much for me. I stepped away from Logan to the next horse down the row, trying to change the subject. “So, if you’re okay with it, I’ll plan to go to my barn to teach for a few hours each day this week. It’s not far away, and I’ll have my phone on me.” Something occurred to me. “We can’t go to Blackstone, can we? It’s way too far away. Even if someone was here and called, we might not make it back in time.”
