Page 42 of Texas Daze (Texas Montgomery Mavericks)

The tan horse walked up to the railing and begin to nose Marti. “She’s looking for a treat,” she explained. “You spoiled them with those horsepeppermints.”

He smiled but it was forced more than natural. “Yeah, Bikini. Remember that. I’m the guy who senttreats.”

Marti led both horses out of the pasture and into separatestalls.

“Help me get thesaddles.”

He nodded and followed her. Shortly, his arms were laden with a blanket, reins and asaddle.

Marti fit the bit of the reins into Bikini’s mouth and fastened the reins to a tie in the stall. “Hang here,” she said. “I’ll get Ransom saddled and then come back to doBikini.”

“I can put on asaddle.”

“I thought you were afraid ofhorses.”

“More like I don’t trust them to not toss me off, but I know how to saddle.” He knew his voice was indignant, but damn it! He didn’t want her to think him a total loser. Not being able to stay on a horse was a whole lot different fromsaddling.

“Okay,” she said. “Be sure to get her cinched tight. She’ll hold her breathonyou.”

He waved her off. “I know allaboutthat.”

She nodded. “See you in aminute.”

Jets of acid streamed into his stomach. A wave of nausea swept through him. He could do this. He’d done it before. The horse seemed nice enough. So far, she didn’t seem interested in nipping him. That was arelief.

He started going through the steps as he’d learned them years ago. Plus, he’d watched Gina saddle her horse numeroustimes.

He coulddothis.

He found a brush on a shelf in the stall. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he remembered he was supposed to brush the horse’s back before he put on the blanket under the saddle. He had no idea why, only that he wassupposedto.

Bikini was calm as heapproachedher.

“Nice horse,” he said. His hand shook as he touched her. She didn’t move, didn’t flinch. He stepped closer, the brush in his hand. Loose horse hair flew around the stall and collected in the brush. After a few strokes, he set it down, picked up the saddle pad, and put it on her back. She remained still, not at all concerned about what he wasdoing.

He had no trouble setting the saddle on her back. He remember all the little things like making sure the right stirrup and girth strap were over the saddle so they wouldn’t get trapped when he hefted it onto Bikini’s back. Marti’s words about cinching the saddle tightly came back to him, but he was doing great. In fact, he was feeling pretty darn good about what he’d done thus far, to the point of almost be cocky. Marti would beimpressed.

So he had to pump himself up to reach under Bikini to grab that strap. He winced and braced for the horse to kick him. She didn’t. She remained placidlystill.

“Good girl,” he cooed. “Just keep standingstill.”

He pulled the strap through the latch and jerked it tight. After waiting for a couple of minutes for Bikini to breath, he was able to pull the strap another notchtighter.

“How’s itgoing?”

He whirled around and found Marti watching fromthedoor.

“Fine.”

“Rememberto—”

“Igotit.”

“Bikini tendstohold—”

“I know. Igotit.”

Marti nodded. “Okay then. Let’s head out. We’ll take it slow.” She whirled and walk down theaisle.

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