Capturing the Texas Rancher's Heart by Debra Holt

Author:Debra Holt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
ISBN: 9781953647641
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2022-06-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

“Isn’t it great? We’re going to take you out on the ranch. And Dad and me picked out a really good horse for you to ride. Her name’s Mischief Maker. She’s the mom to my horse.” Andy imparted the words as he skipped ahead of her toward the open doors of the first barn. Jamie wished she could mirror his enthusiasm. She had little recourse when faced with the news that the three of them were going on a little trail ride that afternoon after the siblings and trucks had pulled back out on the road.

Thomas had delivered the news with a smile that flipped something in the center of her chest and reminded her that she was in unchartered waters. At least Andy would be there to be an added buffer between the two of them…if she managed to even get on the animal, much less stay on its back.

“Smile, you aren’t going to the dentist.” She heard his words as she walked up to where he was cinching the saddle on one of three horses standing patiently tethered to their stall doors.

“That’s easy for you to say. And right now, I’d argue a visit to the dentist might be preferable.”

“Are you afraid of horses or just afraid of having no experience with them?”

“I love horses. I just haven’t had much experience with them in my life to date. Some of us weren’t lucky enough to be born on a ranch.” She met the blue-eyed gaze with a small lift of her chin. This was not her usual environment. She was an interloper.

“Well,” Thomas smoothed into a grin, “I suppose I wouldn’t be at ease in your hospital world.” He turned to Andy. “Son, lead Red Bug on outside to the step gate and wait for us.”

The little boy didn’t need to be told twice. He looked so tiny next to the horse, yet the animal went in docile movements beside him, with Jasper on the other side.

“We should begin with introductions. Come closer. Horses pick up on your feelings, and she knows you’re a novice. But you both have to be able to trust each other.”

Jamie moved slowly toward the gray horse with the darker mane and tale. The animal watched her approach with an unblinking gaze from her almond-shaped black eyes. She reached out a hand, and with tentative strokes lightly moved up and down the nose that was presented to her.

“She’s beautiful. Her eyes are gorgeous and such long lashes.” Jamie laid her other hand on the horse’s neck, smoothing along the short hairs. “You are such a sweetheart,” she murmured to the animal.

She glanced over at the cowboy standing with his hand resting on the horse’s back, his gaze still on her. “But why is she called Mischief Maker? That doesn’t quite fit with the horse standing here right now. Is she just lulling me into a false sense of trust?”

He shook his head. “In her younger days, she had the habit of letting herself out of her stall and then doing the same to the other horses in the barn.

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