Bound and Determined by Regina Jennings

Author:Regina Jennings [Jennings, Regina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, FIC042030, FIC042040, FIC027050
ISBN: 9781493412044
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2018-02-22T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter

8

No longer counting the steps toward home, Ambrosia had something else to occupy her thoughts. Bradley Willis had refused to kiss her. Stealing a kiss was unforgivable, but refusing a kiss ranked somewhere around criminal. And what was worse, he refused to help her.

She grabbed the frame of her saddle and held on as Ruby made it down another sharp embankment. The brutal sun hadn’t slacked, and Amber was paying the price. Without her parasol, she was baking, and her forearms were blistering. Although the heat was the same, the terrain had changed. The ground was broken and chopped up here. Often the smooth, grassy plain dropped off, exposing a red vein of dirt. Here at least was one place that the camels weren’t quite as nimble as the horses. True, they endured the heat better and could carry a heavier load, but their large padded feet did better on flat surfaces than steep drops.

She’d saved Bradley’s life. Not really, but didn’t he owe her one tiny favor? She bit her lip. What if Bradley was right? What if her father was getting better, and what if it was because of the camels? She’d never considered how her father might feel with a room full of awards but no challenges ahead. How had Bradley figured it out?

Her father dropped back to ride next to her. “They’ve handled the gullies pretty well, but I’m curious if we’ll find one too steep.”

“It seems like we’re crossing the same gully as it snakes back and forth. Couldn’t we avoid this?”

“What would be the fun in that? Besides, I want you to see what they can do. Let’s head over to that washout.”

Because they had nothing better to do in the blistering sun than zigzag around, looking for obstacles to cross. Dutifully, Amber followed him. Bradley shrugged a question at her, but she had no answer.

“This will do.” Her father sounded like a boy when he was this excited. “Let’s see if we’ve found one that Omar will balk at.”

Omar didn’t like what he was being asked to do. He extended his long neck to investigate the drop, and his head swung slowly from left to right, looking the situation over. Then, with a strained trumpeting, he began to drop to his knees.

“Hold on,” her father cheered. “He’s going to do it.”

Whatever he was going to do, Ruby was following. She knelt as well, but by now Ambrosia could avoid getting pitched around in the saddle. “I guess we’re getting down?” she said. But Ruby didn’t stop to let her off. Instead, she rocked and scooted forward on one knee, then on the other. “She’s crawling!”

So was Omar. Her father beamed. “They did this in Dog Canyon when we were going across the Guadalupe Mountains. When the way gets too treacherous, instead of slipping, they crawl. Aren’t they the most practical, amazing beasts?”

Amber had to admit it was clever.

Once they’d reached the bottom of the gully, up on their feet they went.

Bradley caught up with them.

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