Page 19 of Fool's Gold

Rafe tipped back his hat and looked deep into Sarah's wide eyes. "You look right natural up there, wife."

She burned under the scrutiny while slowly realizing she wasn't going to fall off the horse, dead from fear as she first imagined. Still, this was all the riding lesson she would try. "I'm ready to get down now."

His eyes crinkled as he smiled. "We haven't even started yet. I'm going to lead Bay Rum around the corral so you can get the feel of the saddle."

She scowled. "I've already got the feel of the saddle. It's hard and too high off the ground."

He threw back his head and laughed, barely waking up the horse. "Come on, old girl, let's put her through her paces." He walked to the front of the horse and looked back. "Now, hold lightly onto the pommel and try to relax."

She held her breath when the horse started to move, but by the third time around the corral, she had loosened her grip and had become accustomed to the saddle rocking.

They stopped in front of Mandy, sitting on the rail.

Rafe stepped back and handed the reins to Sarah.

She took one hand off the pommel and took the leather straps reluctantly. She figured Rafe had stopped in front of Mandy on purpose. He thought she wouldn't want to look like a coward, and he was right.

"What now?" she asked churlishly.

"Now you get to take Bay Rum for a spin. Just remember not to tug on the reins. Nudge him gently, and he'll go where you want him to."

She stiffened her spine and gave the horse a little nudge with her knees. He took several slow steps. This wasn't so bad, she decided. She might even be able to handle this. Then she nudged him to the right, but he kept plodding straight ahead.

She spun her head and looked at Rafe leaning against the fence by Mandy. "How do I turn this thing?"

"Bay Rum is a little bit stubborn. Keep nudging him, and he'll get the idea."

"Come on, you fugitive from a glue factory." She pulled on the reins. The horse snorted and kept heading straight.

Sarah shot an embarrassed glance Mandy's way when she heard Rafe chuckle.

"If you turn like a nice horse, I'll give you a carrot," Sarah crooned.

The horse whinnied and turned, plodding back toward Rafe and Mandy. He came to a stop in front of them.

Rafe pushed away from the fence and took the reins from Sarah. He dropped them and placed a hot hand on her denim-covered thigh. When he looked into her eyes, there was a soft smile. "That's enough for today." He turned to look at Mandy. "Why don't you run off and play, honey."

"Okay, Uncle Rafe."

Mandy skipped away, leaving Sarah feeling vulnerable. Stuck on top of a horse with only Rafe nearby made her easypickings. Was he getting Mandy out of the way so he could make advances? More importantly, did she want him to make advances? She glanced at him and was bemused by his tender smile.

"I'll give you lesson two tomorrow," he husked.

At his suggestive tone, alarm bells went off in Sarah's head, and she shook off the sensuous spell and looked away. "If I can find time out of my busy schedule."

"Mrs. Murphy is coming back from vacation tomorrow." His voice carried more than a hint of determination. "That way, you'll have time for other things."

She could imagine the other things he was thinking of as his heated gaze locked onto hers.

His strong hands went to her waist, tugging her unresisting body off the saddle toward him. He slowly slid her down the length of his muscular body, and she gasped as her breasts brushed against his lips. He placed a damp kiss on her cleavage.

She whimpered as her nipples formed tight buds. They dragged against his chest until she was standing on shaky legs. She closed her eyes as his lips claimed hers for a soft kiss.

Her breath came rapidly into her chest.

The sound of a car coming up the driveway brought her to her senses. She pulled away, blinking up into Rafe's heated gaze. A car door slammed, and she glanced over at it.

A tall, sandy-haired man got out of a sleek white Cadillac. He shrugged, rearranging his dark suit, and put a matching Stetson on his head.

---