Where Her Heart Lies by Carolyn Twede Frank

Author:Carolyn Twede Frank
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2021-12-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

After Celeste and Logan cleaned up the dishes in Ma’s back room, Logan went outside and down the stairs while she changed into a pair of Ma’s trousers. With her skirt and petticoat stuffed into her bag, she hurried down after him.

Logan was walking his horse toward her, with reins in hand. He watched her every step with nary a blink. “I think it was good we decided against our stroll.”

“I agree. Getting on the road right away will allow us to take our time and stop along the road if we choose. It’ll be just like our stroll, only your horse will be walking for us.”

“Good ole Bootstrap.” Logan patted his horse on the neck. “He’s used to doing a lot of my walking for me.”

Celeste handed Logan her bag. “Here, hold on to this while I mount your horse.” In one fluid motion, she mounted his horse and nestled onto the blanket he’d placed behind the saddle.”

“Whoa, where’d you learn that?” Logan handed her back the bag and mounted.

“One of my best classes at school was my equine course.”

“Eck wine?”

“That’s the upper crust’s way of saying ‘horseback riding.’”

“Oh.” Logan chuckled and prompted his horse onto the street. “Does this mean if I round you up your own horse, we can go riding together—real riding, like in a friendly race or two?”

“That would be lovely.”

“Aw, come on now, Celeste. We’re talking horses right now, here in the West, not back East. Lovely sounds . . . I don’t know, just too fancy for what we’re doing.”

“You are absolutely correct.” She wrapped her arms around Logan’s waist as Bootstrap picked up speed. “It’d be to my liking,” she corrected herself, “just like this is.” She squeezed him tighter.

As they rode through the last block in town, Celeste caught a glimpse again of that man in the fancy suit who reminded her of Charles. He was walking into the telegraph office, so she didn’t get a look at his face this time either. Old memories stirred, and the pain felt raw. She shuddered.

“What’s wrong?” Logan asked.

“Oh, nothing. I just saw someone who reminded me of a person I knew back at school. That’s all.”

“Those days are behind you. There’s no need to fret about them anymore. You hear me?”

“Yes, Miss Bennett.” Celeste giggled. “She used to always ask, ‘Do you hear me?’ Only not as nice as you.”

“What? I thought I was being stern. Even a little downright mean.”

“You, Logan? I don’t think there is a mean bone in your body.”

Logan turned his horse to the east and headed out of town on the road to Hayden.

“I’m glad we didn’t end up taking a buggy,” she said. “It would have slowed us down considerably. So thanks, Bootstrap,” she patted Logan’s horse, “for letting me share your back with Logan.”

“He don’t mind at all,” Logan said over his shoulder.

“So you can speak for your horse, can you?”

“All the time. We know what each other’s thinking too.”

“Interesting.” Celeste loved the breeze moving past her face, and this conversation too.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.