Country Roads(106)

As soon as she stopped speaking, Darkside’s ears swiveled forward and he dropped back into a smooth walk. “Phew!” Julia said, blowing a lock of hair up off her forehead.

As she came around the corner and started down the long side of the ring, she tried to read her uncle’s reaction.

His shoulders were rigidly squared, but he gave her a faint smile. Self-consciousness had her checking that her heels were down, her elbows tucked in at her sides, her knees steady against the saddle skirt. Having an audience containing one of the most important people in her life seemed unfair when this was only her second time on a horse.

“The hell with Carlos!” she said, as realization dawned. “I’m here for you, buddy.” She transferred the reins to one hand and leaned forward to stroke Darkside’s strong, gleaming neck. “We’re going to learn together. You need to know how to be a normal horse, and I need to figure out how to ride you.”

The next pass by her gallery, she flashed a brilliant smile. Her uncle gave her a little salute, his posture more relaxed. It buoyed up her spirits even further, and she turned her concentration to exploring how best to communicate with her whisper horse. She watched the beautiful, eloquent movement of his ears, let her body shift with the bunch and reach of his powerful muscles, and felt the signals traveling along the reins. All her other concerns faded into the back of her mind.

Half an hour later, Sharon slipped into the ring and waited for her. “You’re going to be mighty saddle sore if you don’t stop now.”

Sharon walked over to the mounting block beside her. “Be careful, hon. Your muscles may not hold you up at first.”

Julia swung her right leg over the back of the saddle and slid slowly down to the wooden platform. When her boots touched it, she felt her knees begin to buckle.

“You okay?” Sharon asked.

“Give me a second and I will be.” She sent all her willpower to her thighs, commanding them to keep her upright. Taking a breath, she released the saddle. A slight sag and then she was standing on her own.

Now she just had to walk down three shallow steps. As she lowered her foot to the first one, muscles she didn’t know she needed screamed at the unaccustomed use. Once she was on the level, it wasn’t so bad, except she felt the disorienting sensation of being unusually low to the ground.

She wobbled around to Darkside’s head and ran her fingers under the straps of the bridle, scratching where she thought it might itch. He reciprocated by rubbing his head up and down her chest, nearly knocking her over. “Hey, save that for when I don’t have legs made out of rubber.” She looked up at Sharon. “I understand why you do what you do.”

The other woman nodded. “Wait till you take him over a jump.”

Julia laughed in disbelief.

“It won’t be long before you’ll be begging me to do it. But we won’t advertise that to your uncle.” Sharon jerked her head in his direction.

Forcing her legs to move in a semblance of normalcy, Julia walked over to where he stood. “What did you think?”

“A beginner does not belong on that horse, but you handled him well.” He nodded in approval.

From her uncle, it was high praise.

Sharon led Darkside up to them. Carlos reached out to run a hand over the horse’s shoulder. “He’s a magnificent creature. Do you breed him?”

“I haven’t but I may now,” Sharon said. “I worried about his temperament before he met Julia.”

Julia grinned. “I have a soothing effect on difficult personalities.”

Sharon gave a little choke of laughter. “I’m going to take him back to his stall for a good rubdown.”

“Wait,” Julia said, wrapping her arms around Darkside’s neck so she could speak into his ear. “Thanks for a good ride, buddy. I owe you a carrot.” She gave him a pat and turned to her uncle. “Shall we go back to the inn so I can get cleaned up?”

“I will drop you off there, and then I must return home.”

“You’re leaving?” Carlos kept knocking her off balance.

“I believe that is your preference.”

“I—” She swallowed. “As long as you come back Friday. I want you at my exhibition.”

“Wild horses would not keep me from it.” He gave her an impish smile. “You planned today well, mi querida. My eyes are opened.”



Another soak in a hot bath eased the new aches and pains created by her ride. As soon as she was dry, she texted Paul: “Carlos vanquished and in retreat back to NC. What time will you be free?”

The answer came back almost instantly: “Two hours. Where will you be?”