Page 15 of Fool's Gold

Rafe turned the horse, so it faced her. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, Aunt Sarah saved me."

"I guess that's one more thing to thank you for, wife," Rafe husked.

Tab rode up, followed by several other hands.

Rafe sighed. "Mandy, go back to the house with Tab."

Tab bent to scoop up the girl after giving Sarah a thorough once-over. "Everything okay here, boss?"

Rafe said tightly, "No harm done. They're both just a little shaken up."

"I can't think how that latch came loose, Rafe. Sorry about that," Tab added apologetically.

"It's not your fault. Somebody must have bumped it."

Rafe turned to look at Sarah as Tab rode away. "I've got a question for you. Why didn't you get out of the way sooner?"

Sarah clung to the bouncing saddle and closed her eyes. "I'm scared of horses. I froze."

"Of all the damned fool things," Rafe replied sourly. "Tomorrow, I'll get you used to them."

She gritted her teeth. Riding a horse wasn't part of the deal. "I won't get on a horse."

He chuckled, drawing her up close against him. "In case you haven't noticed, you're on a horse now."

She scowled at his mocking tone and overly friendly hands, but didn't dare pull away from his embrace for fear of falling.

Rafe abruptly reined up the horse. Sarah gasped as he swung her off the saddle. Before she could let out the panicked scream caught in her throat, she was standing. She slumped to the ground.

He slid out of the saddle and picked her up. He brushed the gravel off the seat of her jeans. "Are you sure you're okay?"

She pulled away, embarrassed by her weakness. "I'm fine."

His eyes narrowed as he looked her over. "No, you're not." He scooped her up and carried her back to the house, going inside and placing her on the sofa. Grabbing an Afghan off a chair, he carefully covered her with it, tucking it around her.

She scowled at him. "Rafe, I'm not some fragile doll you have to coddle. I'm perfectly fine."

"I say you're not fine." Rafe frowned. "Besides, if I want to coddle you, I will coddle you. Now you sit back and relax, and I'll brew you a cup of the tea you like. Then I'll go up and check on Mandy."

Flustered, she sat up. "Oh, my gosh, Mandy. I'd better go check on her."

He gently pushed her back. "I'll take care of it. You sit tight."

Rafe carried a tray into the living room fifteen minutes later. "Mandy's fine. She was more worried about you than anythingelse. She’s down for her afternoon nap, so you should have some quiet time."

He set the tray on the coffee table and handed Sarah a cup of the fragrant tea she enjoyed.How out of place this big cowboy looked pouring tea, and how endearing,she thought fondly.

"Those horses that stampeded? Were they the ones you were breaking?"

"Yeah. I'm still trying to figure out how they got out of the paddock. In all the commotion, someone forgot to ensure the gate latched, and something must have spooked the horses," he added regretfully. "I'm awful sorry for putting you in danger, Sarah."

She reached out to touch his arm, feeling his contrition. "It wasn't your fault, Rafe. Don't blame yourself."

"I don't see it that way. I'm your husband. I'm supposed to take care of you. To say nothing of Mandy."

"But we're not man and wife."

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