Begin Again - Jennifer Probst Page 0,40
day that passed.
* * * *
The sun sank over the horizon and the mountains shimmered in a haze of muted pinks and oranges. The horses’ hooves thundered over the pasture, caught in the rush of an old-fashioned race. Owen leaned forward to urge Flower on, but Chloe had always been a better rider. She guided Chloe’s Pride to the lead, her black hair blowing in the wind, her laugh rising in the air and caressing his ears.
She passed the marker first and gave a wild whoop, and he grinned as he eased back on the reins, watching her perfect mount on the white horse, who twitched her tail with pride at the win.
God, she was beautiful. This was the woman he remembered—a free spirit tearing around the farm in her zeal to do her best for the animals, morphing into a goddess as she rode on the back of her horse without fear, open to the unknown path ahead.
And he knew in his heart, no matter how far he ran, no matter how hard he tried to forget, he’d always be the man who was helplessly, foolishly in love with this woman.
“Got a bit rusty there in surfer city, huh?” she teased, trotting Chloe’s Pride over.
He patted Flower. “Just taking it easy on you girls. Didn’t want to push you too hard.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, I’ve won every race we ever had and you know it.”
“Only because I like watching you from the back. You have a fine…form.”
He relished the spot of color on her cheeks. “Chauvinist,” she muttered, tugging the horse toward the trail. “Let’s go to the creek.”
The rocky path twisted and turned through the woods. The sound of rushing water mixed with the chirp of birds and rustle of leaves. The dying rays of sun cast trickles of rainbow light through the thick shade of trees. They picked their way to the bottom, then tied up the horses at the creek where they could grab a drink. Settling on two massive rocks, they sat together in silence, breathing in the stillness and life of the woods around them. The musky scents of earth saturated the air, mixing with Chloe’s unique smell of wildflowers, making him a bit woozy.
“Are you going to tell me what happened with Dad?” she asked, propping her hands behind her back.
“We came to an understanding. I told him I was working hard to see if we can have a second chance together. He had some questions for me.”
A laugh rose from her lips. “I bet he did. How did you both leave it?”
“He’s not going to put a hit out on me. Yet.”
“Dad gets a bit intense.”
“I remember. But it’s because he loves you. I can deal with that.”
He reached out and took her hand and she let him. Owen soaked up the warmth of her presence, the slide of her fingers in his, the feeling of finally being home. At the farm.
With her.
“You know the hardest part about you leaving me?” she asked.
He looked over, but she was staring out at the water. He studied her profile, the strong chin, the pert shape of her nose, the smooth skin and fall of her dark hair. “What?”
“I didn’t know how to trust myself anymore. I always believed in my gut we’d be together forever. I know that may be naïve, especially since we were so young. But it was like the only thing in my life I didn’t doubt. Maybe that was wrong. Maybe I pushed you for too much, too soon.”
“I always wanted everything you did, Chloe. I just wasn’t able to give it to you. But I’m here, and now I can. If you open up a little to the possibilities.”
She turned her head and their gazes met, connected, melded. The air peaked with sensual tension, and he remembered the first time they’d made love, a blanket spread out in the pasture, under a sky full of stars.
“You want to go to the cupcake festival with me?” she finally said.
He smiled and squeezed her hand. “I’d love to.”
“Then it’s a date. But we better head back—it’ll be dark soon.”
He helped her up from the rock and they got back on the horses.
This time, they rode side by side the whole time.
Chapter Twelve
The festival was held in the back fields behind Wrights Farm. Endless booths lined up filled with various vendors, selling homemade cupcakes, treats, food, and crafts. Music drifted from a tent with the live band, and local breweries