Page 35 of Rival
Her hands have been twisting the bottom of her shirt since we started moving, and I don’t want this little incident to deter her from getting on the back of a horse again.
Once she has a good grip, I adjust her hold until it’s more relaxed and keep my hands over hers. I lean forward so she can see me in her peripheral. Tilting my head to the right, I say, “We want to head over there. That’s the corner of my land and that’s where we’ll start. Then we’ll follow the fencing around to the other side. You’ll want to lead Austin in that direction, so pull back on the right rein to turn his head.”
I feel her muscles tense beneath my arm as she follows my guidance, and I press the heel of my boot into Austin’s right flank to help guide us.
“Like that?” she asks, checking for approval with a glance over her shoulder.
“Yep. If he starts drifting in either direction, just pull on either side to straighten him out. Eventually, you’ve gotta use your feet and legs as well, but for now, just control his reins.”
She sits up straight, as if this task I’ve given her is the most important one she’s ever been assigned. Her body is going to be sore after our stumble while staying this tense, but for now, I’ll leave her be.
When the sight of the fence pokes through the trees, I teach her how to pull him to a stop, and I rest my hand on her side as I slip to the ground. “Stay here for a minute. I’m going to check out his leg before we start our walk around the property line.” Edith grips the leather straps harder, causing Austin to jerk his nose in the air in response. “Don’t hold the reins tight like that. He thinks you’re directing him to move. Just relax and keep them loose. He might walk around a bit, but he won’t run off.”
She swallows nervously, but nods once, loosening her hold. Keeping her in my line of sight, I quickly check on Austin and don’t notice any injury. He’s walking fine and nothing looks swollen. I’ll keep our pace slow for the day just in case, but we got lucky.
Settling back into my seat behind her, I pat her thigh in approval. “You want to keep the reins, or do you want me to take over?”
“You do it. I don’t want to mess up.” Quickly, she shoves them into my hand and settles her fidgeting fingers in her lap. As soon as I have us moving again, I keep a close eye on the few times she subconsciously rubs at her stomach, but never once does she complain.
I’m tempted to ask to see it again, but I have a feeling it’ll only make her more uneasy with the whole day.
By the time we make it to the other side of the fencing, I dismount and help her down, noting the soft groan as she lands on her feet.
“You gotta tell me if you’re hurtin’, girl. I won’t know unless you speak up.”
Narrowing my eyes at the way she waves me off, she gives me a forced smile. “I’m good. What’s next?”
I want to argue, but I won’t push if she’s going to be stubborn about it.
“Lunch. Then we’ll fill holes.” Turning away, I hear her follow as I lead us toward the house. I’ll see how she feels after a good meal and decide if we’ll get back on Austin for the afternoon. But I don’t plan on coddling her if she’s going to be difficult.
Chapter Sixteen
Edith
Carrying a basket of snacks around the construction site, I follow behind Mrs. Danielson as she offers lemonade to everyone working hard at their jobs. Jaxon hasn’t yet arrived this afternoon, and I find myself disappointed. Ruth offered me the explanation that he had an emergency at another job without me asking.
Since I’m not sure what I should be doing without him here, she enlisted me to assist with passing out snacks with her. As she chats with one of the regular church attendees, and a man who’s well over fifty and normally has a herd of children following him, I hear the growling rumble of a vehicle on the road.
Hoping it’s Jaxon, my eyes fly around to seek him out. Instead, I recognize my father’s friend Corbin’s truck inching past the land where the barn is going to sit. The glare from the sun is too bright as it reflects off the windshield, but I feel his eyes on me, nonetheless.
My suspicion grows, realizing it was Corbin who informed my father last week of my supposed infractions of flirting with “the enemy” as he phrased it.
Frowning at the food basket, I let those thoughts swirl in my head. A hint of betrayal is my underlying feeling, but confusion is there too. Why would Corbin care about my volunteering, andwhyis here again today checking up on me?
When I lift my head again to peer into the passenger window as he passes, I catch him jerking his head forward just before he presses the gas hard, causing his tires to squeal on the asphalt.
A small amount of worry fills me that he’s going to report back to my father, but what could he say? I’m standing behind Ruth, a basket in my hands, and speaking to no one. There’s nothing I could possibly be scolded for.
Moving on to the next pair of workers who are mixing a bag of concrete next to a framed out step, I hear another engine and this time my heart thumps excitedly as Jaxon pulls into the lot.
Keeping him in my line of sight so it’s not obvious I’m watching, my newfriendhops out of his truck, a deep scowl etched in his features. My concern with Corbin checking up on me shifts over to Jaxon’s obvious mood.
He drops the tailgate and starts tugging boxes and bags from the back, never once glancing over in our direction.
Look over here, please.
I will my thoughts to reach him, but I’m jolted out of my head by a hand on my arm. “Let me take the snacks, Edith. Why don’t you go on over and give our Mr. Thorton a hand?”
