Page 27 of The Wedding Ranch
Heat rose to her chest and cheeks. She swept at her clothes, hoping he wouldn’t notice. “No, it’s fine. I’m fine. I’m sorry. I should’ve been paying attention.” She touched her forehead.
“Did you bump your head too? Follow my finger with your eyes.”
She did as he said, but it was hard not to notice how handsome he was.
He moved his finger in the other direction. “Now again.”
She pulled away from him. She’d never been good at being fussed over. “I’m fine. I’m sure. I’ll just get up and…”
“Not so fast,” he said. “My name is Ryder. What’s yours?”
“Lorri.”
“Lorri what?”
“Is this a quiz or do you just want to know?”
“That was a pretty good answer.” A smile curved at his lips. “Does it matter?”
She paused, sorry to have been short with this guy who was clearly just trying to help. “I suppose not. Walker. My name is Lorri Walker.”
“Excellent.”
She was more humiliated than anything. “Is Ryder your first name or your last name?”
His playful grunt was followed by, “Is this a quiz or do you just want to know?”
“I just want to know.” Her eyes were finally clear enough to see that the man who’d rescued her from being trampled by a steer was very good-looking, which made her wish she hadn’t been so brazen just now. It had been a protective reflex. She got snarky when she was embarrassed. It was a skill she’d learned as a younger sister who was picked on by her older brother.
“First name. Ryder.”
The whir of a motor and tires skidding to a stop startled her. An EMT rushed over to them from a John Deere Gator with a medical kit. “She okay?”
“I think she’ll be fine.” Ryder wiped his hand across his face, still smiling.
He had a nice smile. She was horrified that she’d caused this scene. All she’d wanted to do was build a birdhouse. Next time she’d stay home, watch a video, and figure it out on her own.
The EMT insisted on cleaning up the scrapes, but he wasn’t nearly as gentle as Ryder had been. “You’re friends with Ryder?”
“Um. No. I mean, never met him until just now. I suppose a rescue earns at least one point toward friendship though.”
“He’s a good guy.” The EMT pressed a bandage into place on her arm.
“I really think I’m okay here. I’m going to go home.”
“We’ll get you a ride to your car, ma’am. Actually, you might not want to drive after a fall like that. We’ll get you a ride home.”
There was a crowd of people around her.
“Nothing to see here.” She climbed to her feet, happy that her legs seemed okay and she felt stable. “Thank you for your help. I’m really fine.”
“Lorri?” Tinsley ran over to her. “Ryder told me what happened. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She leaned in and quietly said, “Embarrassed, but fine.”
“Oh my gosh. Don’t be. You could have really gotten hurt. I’m so sorry this happened, especially since I was the one who told you to come. Can I give you a ride home?” Tinsley asked.
“No. You’re working the booth tonight,” Lorri said.
