Southern Comfort - Natasha Madison Page 0,45

lone tear that sits at the corner of my eye.

He walks to the side and grabs a saddle, then comes over. Opening the stall, he goes inside, and the horse backs away. “It’s okay,” he whispers, and she finally lets him tie the saddle on her. “There you go,” he says softly and walks her out toward the front of the barn, holding her reins.

We walk out of the barn door toward the enclosed fence part. You can see from the worn grass in a circle how much the horses have been ridden in here. “Let’s get you on her.” He looks at me. I put one foot in the stirrup and pull myself up, without his help, and I’m happy that I didn’t embarrass myself by falling on my face. “So you have done this before.” He winks at me, taking her by her reins and walking her around the enclosed area. She walks perfect while he holds her, then after the third round, he looks at me. “Let’s see how she takes to you, and if she’s good, we can open it up and you can take her out into the field.”

“I think she’s going to be fine.” I lean over and pet her while I whisper into her ear. “Isn’t that right, girl? You’re the boss, so you tell me where to go.” It’s like she understands me because she blows out again.

He walks over to the other white fence and opens it, the reins still in his hands. “If at any time you feel like she is going to buck you off, just say the word.”

“Oh, a safe word.” I wink at him. “Didn’t think you had it in you, cowboy. I mean, I thought you did, but now it’s going to be making out even better.”

“That mouth of yours is going to get you in a whole heap of trouble.” The way he looks at me, I know that he means every single word. I also know that what he’s going to do with me is going to have me begging him to come back and do it again.

“I have to know. Is the saying ‘save a horse, ride a cowboy’ actually ever used?” He just glares at me. “I mean, I’ve never met a cowboy, so I’ve never actually had the opportunity to ask.”

“You want to find out that meaning, then all you have to do is get ready to ride,” he says, making my whole body tingle. I swear, this time I can’t even hide the shiver that runs through me. I’m about to say something when I feel eyes on me. I turn around, thinking someone else walked into the pen with us, but there is no one. I turn to the right, and all I see are the heavy wooded trees and the little light that is coming from the trees. I turn around right and left and see nothing, but something is there. I don’t know what it is, but I feel it. “What’s wrong, darlin’?” he asks, and I turn to him.

I contemplate not telling him about it so I don’t ruin the mood, but I know that I could be putting him in danger also. “It’s the craziest thing.” I start as I look around again. “But I feel like I’m being watched.” I try to play it off by shaking my head and faking a smile. “It’s silly, I know,” I say, and he just nods. When I start to trot around with her, though, the feeling is even more; so much so the hair stands up behind my neck.

Chapter Eighteen

Casey

“It’s the craziest thing, but I feel like I’m being watched.” She shakes her head. “It’s silly, I know.” My body goes on high alert, and I stop myself from doing the only thing I want to do, which is grab her off the horse and put her on lockdown until this shit is over. Instead, she trots off, and I grab my phone to send Derek a text right away.

Me: I want the feeds from the cameras surrounding the barn in five minutes.

Now here I am, watching the girl who has me all in knots, literally in knots. The need to keep her safe almost consumes me more than anything I know. “Thata girl,” she says as she gallops past me on the horse. I’m impressed that Lady M hasn’t tried to buck her off. She rides with ease, and it’s the hottest thing I have