Cowboy Ever After by Jennie Marts

Author:Jennie Marts [Marts, Jennie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Holiday, Contemporary, Christmas
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing
Published: 2022-02-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Thirty minutes later, Kaylee was regretting her hasty acceptance of Luke’s challenge as she took in the steep mountainside in front of her.

Luke had made a ride with him on his horse, Max, sound fun and easy. Until she was actually sitting atop the huge horse with Luke’s strong arms wrapped around her as he loosely held the reins.

She sat in the saddle and he sat behind it, but he was still close enough that her back brushed against his chest as the horse plodded along the short path to the base of the mountain in back of the farmhouse.

“This is my favorite trail,” Luke told her. “And it leads to one of my favorite places on earth. You’re going to love it.”

As thrilled as she was that Luke wanted to show her one of his favorite places, her nerves were jumping like crazy as she warily peered at the mountain in front of them. “What trail? I don’t see a trail. All I see are trees and rocks.”

He laughed, and she felt the rumble of it against her back. “That’s what’s so cool about it. It’s like a hidden path. But don’t worry, the horse knows the way. He and I have done this hundreds of times. I’ve been coming up here since I was a kid.”

Her knuckles were white as she grasped the saddle horn with both hands. She let out a small squeak as the horse entered the shade of the trees and started up a rocky path.

“This used to be an old deer trail, but I’ve taken my horse up it so many times, it’s become a regular trail now. It’s a tough hike on foot, but Max can practically go up with his eyes closed.”

“Does that mean it’s okay for me to close my eyes while we go up it?”

He laughed again.

“I’m only half joking.”

“You could close your eyes but then you’d miss this amazing view.”

The trail leveled out as they got further into the trees and the hush of the forested woods fell around them. Gladys had decided to stay at the farmhouse and take a nap, but Cooper raced ahead of them, occasionally darting back to make sure they were following.

“It is gorgeous,” she whispered as she relaxed a little into him. The scent of pine and moss perfumed the air around them. Birdsong and an occasional huff from Max were the only sounds. The branches of the pine trees reached out as if to grab them but didn’t quite make it to the trail.

“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

Oh gosh. She wasn’t sure if she should be scared or excited. Or both. But scared definitely took the lead as the horse wound its way around a large boulder in the hillside and started up another path. Kaylee flinched as rocks and sticks crunched under his hooves.

“Don’t worry, the horse is more sure-footed than we are. And he doesn’t want to fall either. Trust Max. He knows the way, and he knows what he’s doing.

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