A Heart Renewed by Karen Baney

Author:Karen Baney [Baney, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Author Services International, LLC
Published: 2011-04-08T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Taking Annabel from the stall, Adam placed the bridle over the palomino’s head. The five year old mare was one of the finer animals Will purchased. With his guidance, she was learning quickly. Though the man Will bought her from said she was saddle trained, Adam had his doubts.

Once in the corral, he walked backwards as he led her around so he could observe her movements. She seemed comfortable around him—at ease—willing to take his lead.

A throat clearing behind him brought him up short. Turning, he stopped just before walking into Julia. She was dressed in her tan split skirt with a white shirt. Her dark cowboy hat hid the mass of curly hair, except for what was held together with a ribbon at the back of her head. Blue eyes flashed with mischief.

That was the Julia he remembered. That look—the same look she gave him in school whenever she played a prank on him—made him wonder now just what trouble she was scheming in her head.

Slowly, a playful smile stretched across his face. “Morning, Julia.”

“What’s that look for?”

A chuckle escaped his lips. “Just remembering how much trouble you caused me in school.”

“I never caused you trouble, Adam Larson,” she shot back, placing her hands on her hips. Tilting her chin up in defiance she added, “I just executed your sister’s ideas to perfection.”

His chuckle turned to a deep bellied laugh, as he relished the hint of a smile on her face—perhaps the first since they left Texas. “I suppose it was Caroline’s idea to put that frog in my lunch pail?”

A giggle—light and free, like Julia used to be—floated across the air. “Yes, it was your sister’s idea.” The light in her eyes brightened. “As was the snake, the rotten apple, the bees—”

“That was not funny. I got stung. Three times. And my hand hurt for days afterward.” Adam sighed. “I was mad at you for a while after that stunt. I couldn’t work with the horses.”

“You recovered just fine,” Julia replied, crossing her arms in mock defense.

“Yes, yes, I did.”

Both stood there for several more seconds, leaving Adam to wonder just what prompted her initial look of mischief. He didn’t have to wait too long to find out.

“So, shall we saddle up Annabel?” she asked.

The smile faded from his lips. “I was planning to do just that in a few minutes. I was going to take her out, though not anywhere near the herd just yet.”

“Good, I’ll get my things.”

As she turned back towards the stable, Adam grabbed her arm. “Wait a minute. You are not taking her. I am.”

Fiery blue eyes flashed on him. “Why not? You know I’m capable of handling her. I’ve ridden much greener horses before.”

A frown crammed his eyebrows together. “It’s not a question of your capabilities. I have no idea how Annabel is going to react.”

“So, let me take her.”

“No.”

Julia walked along Annabel’s side, placing her hand along the mare’s back. Making a full circle, she came up behind Adam. “Please, Adam,” she pleaded.

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