by Sharon Dunn
Alex let out a heavy breath. He caught the tinge of pain in her voice. He hadn’t meant for his frustration with everything going wrong to be taken out on her. The liability for losing a boarded horse was huge, and Stephanie didn’t strike him as the kind of woman who would extend him any level of mercy.
“I can handle it,” she said when he didn’t answer.
He did have a lot to do, and she was perfectly capable of bringing in a horse on her own. “All right then. I’ll see you back at the stable in a little bit. I’m sure a lot of people are going to need help getting saddled up.”
She offered him a quick goodbye and hung up.
Alex’s old truck rumbled down the road. He did an abrupt U-turn and headed back to where Morgan was. Regardless of how much work he had to do, he owed her an apology. He parked the truck far enough away to prevent spooking Bluebell and hiked toward the area Morgan had described.
From a distance, he saw Morgan slowly step toward Bluebell. She held her palm open, probably with some sort of treat. The other hand held a rope, which she rested on her thigh. Bluebell reared up and then stepped side to side but didn’t bolt.
Morgan stopped about ten feet from Bluebell and waited for the horse to come to her. She slipped the rope over the horse’s head while it ate from her hand.
He loved watching her work with the horses almost as much he liked being with the horses himself. So much of his life felt like a giant detour. This is what he had been meant to do. Gretchen had never liked the outdoors or animals, but he’d grown up spending every chance he got on his uncle’s farm. He stepped a little closer to them.
Morgan leaned toward the horse and said, “I have half a mind to run away with you myself. Then we’d both be safe.”
A twig snapped under his boot, and both Morgan and Bluebell startled.
Morgan raised her head. “I didn’t see you there.”
She’d been really focused in on the horse. “Sorry, I didn’t want to destroy your horse-whisperer moment.”
Morgan stroked the horse’s neck and then stopped, abruptly stepping around to the side of Bluebell. “What happened here? Looks like she got cut up by some brush or something.”
Alex cringed. The cuts were right where a saddle needed to go. “Stephanie’s not going to be happy.” He was mad at himself for letting things get so out of hand.
“She can’t be ridden until she heals. I don’t care how it makes Stephanie feel.” Her voice was forceful.
“Agreed, but let me handle giving her the news that she came all the way down here for nothing,” Alex said.
Morgan brushed Bluebell’s forelock with her hand. “Sometimes people need to hear things straight or they don’t hear them at all.”
It had taken guts to tell Stephanie she needed to care more about her horse. He admired that. “You’d never make it in business. It’s all about the word choice.” He chuckled and walked the few paces to where Morgan had tethered Anxious Heart.
“Diplomacy was never my forte. I can’t help it. I have to speak my mind if I think something is wrong.” She took the reins of the horse from him. “Why’d you come back here, anyway?”
“To say I was sorry.”
“I understand about business and all that.” She looked directly at him. “Guess I wanted to feel like you were on my side.” Her eyes held a warm quality that drew him in, and he wondered if she wasn’t trying to tell him more than she was saying.
He cupped his hand on her shoulder. “I’m always on your side, Morgan.”
“Thank you. I needed that.” Her eyes glazed. Something had her upset. What was she keeping from him?
He focused on the soft curves of her lips. Whatever was causing her so much pain, he wished she would share it with him. He leaned closer, wanting to hold her.
Bluebell whinnied and tossed her head.
The moment shattered and Morgan stepped back. “You’d better get back to running things. I can bring her in on my own.”
He strode back to his truck with a glance over his shoulder. Morgan focused on getting on Anxious Heart and leading Bluebell.
He jumped into the cab and slammed the door. What had he been thinking? He wanted to hold her, but he couldn’t fall for someone who wouldn’t even give him details about her family.
He looked in the rearview mirror as Morgan and the two horses got smaller. He had to let go of the blossoming feelings he had for her. There were too many unanswered questions where Morgan Smith was concerned. He didn’t want to be set up for any kind of deception.
As the stable and outbuildings came into sight, he wondered what she’d meant when she said if she ran away, she’d be safe.
* * *
By the time Morgan returned and led the horses toward the stable, she could hear the sound of music coming from outside the guesthouse. Some sort of barbecue was taking place. Two men played guitars and sang while twenty or so people milled around picnic tables.
Inside the stable, the gate Bluebell had busted down had already been repaired. She had to hand it to Craig—the kid wasn’t afraid of work. She led Bluebell into the stall and put some salve on the cut.
Hopefully, Alex had given Stephanie the bad news with more tact than she would have been able to muster up. She pulled the saddle off Anxious Heart and led him into his stall. Her muscles ached and her throat still hurt from inhaling smoke. She looked forward to a quiet dinner and then maybe she could get one more horse exercised before dark.
Alex greeted her when she stepped outside. “You want to join us for dinner? Mrs. Stovall has whipped up her famous barbecued pork and corn on the cob.”
“Is it part of my job description?”
“It’s an opportunity for the regular guests to get to know you,” Alex said.
“I was hoping to catch a quick dinner alone so I could take one more horse out. I’m not crazy about exercising a horse in the dark alone.” In the past, a late-night ride would have been relaxing. Now it only made her feel vulnerable. Maybe the fire was only an accident, but she needed to talk to the marshals.
“I still owe you help with exercising the horses,” Alex said. “Even if it’s dark, I’ll go out with you. Now, why don’t you come enjoy the meal?”
Alex had already put in a long day, too. His offer to help made her forget their earlier squabble. “Okay. I never turn down barbecue.”
Alex’s face brightened. “Let’s go eat.”
They walked toward the party. “So did you give Stephanie the bad news?”
“Her feathers were a little ruffled, but she took it better than I thought she would,” said Alex. “I think she was starting to think shopping and fancy meals would be a lot more fun for her and her friend anyway.”
The tangy aroma of barbecue sauce made Morgan’s mouth water. Alex took her hand and led her to a plus-size woman with white fluffy hair pulled into a bun. “Morgan, this is Mrs. Stovall.”
Mrs. Stovall grabbed Morgan’s hand and squeezed it tight. “Pleased to meet you.” She had a smile that was mostly teeth and dancing brown eyes. Her grip nearly shut off the circulation in Morgan’s hand. “You look like you could use some meat on your bones.”
After Mrs. Stovall loaded up Morgan’s plate, Alex introduced her to several of the guests. She didn’t see Craig anywhere. Talking to him about the spur would have to wait. Morgan enjoyed the good food and visiting. The guitar player switched to slower tunes as the guests filtered away and the sky turned gray. Some people returned to the parking lot and left while others disappeared into the guesthouse. About ten or so people lingered, conversing in hushed tones as it grew dark.
Alex rested a hand on her shoulder. “I think we can slip away now.”
“Great. I’ll go get the horses saddled,” Morgan said.
“I’ll meet you there in about ten minutes.”
Inside the stable, Morgan found a middle-aged man brushing a horse. He was short, and his cowboy hat was pushed back on his head revealing a widow’s peak.
“Hi, I’m Morgan Smith, the new horse caretaker. You must be Sunny’s owner.” She pointed to the silver dapple horse.
The man nodded. “I got off work a little late. I was hoping to take her out, but now it’s getting dark. I’ll go out first thing in the morning.”
“Alex and I are exercising some horses. You’re welcome to join us on the trail.”
“Naw, I’m a little worn out.” He stroked his horse’s neck. “I have the weekend to ride. I’m Leonard, by the way.”
Morgan nodded. “Glad to meet you.”
“I try to get up here every weekend. I love spending time with Sunny. I’d keep her in my condo in the city if I could, but, you know, all those silly large-pet regulations.”
Morgan laughed. Leonard was the kind of horse owner she liked, someone who respected that the animals needed time and attention.
The sky had turned dark by the time she led Jojo and Chipper’s Boy outside. She tethered the horses to the fence and looked around for Alex. White Christmas lights twinkled around the patio where the barbecue had taken place. A few people sat in lounge chairs.
She saw movement in her peripheral vision as her attention was drawn toward the caretaker’s cottage. A man, shrouded in shadow, peeked into her living room window.
She ran toward the cottage. “Hey.”
The man looked up and then disappeared around the side of the house. Her heart pounding, she took a step back and moved toward the safety of the people who were still outside.
Alex met her half way. “Everything all right?”
She struggled to keep her voice calm. “Someone was looking in my window.”
“Happens all the time. The guests are curious. They don’t see the Private Residence sign.”
“You think so?” Doubt plagued her. Why would the man run off like that? The explanations came easily enough for Alex. To anyone else, they would make sense. As soon as she was done helping Alex, she needed to talk to the marshals about the fire and now this man.
As she stuck her foot in the stirrup and swung her leg over Jojo, she realized how alone she was in all this. The marshals would protect her physical safety, but she had no one she could talk to about her fear. She couldn’t call her father or siblings or anyone she’d known as a missionary to talk through her fear and concerns. All this would be so much easier and maybe she’d be less jumpy if she didn’t have to face it by herself.
A sadness settled into her bones. How much longer would it be like this? Always looking over her shoulder, never relaxing.
Alex came up beside her on his horse. “Here, slap this on your wrists. It’s reflective tape so we can see each other. I already put some on the horses’ saddles and legs.”
Moving single file, they headed out on the trail. As the horses trotted at a steady pace, Morgan felt the tension leave her muscles. She gazed up at the sparkling night sky, and then at Alex. Having him close soothed her raw nerves. They passed one other rider headed back toward the house. Morgan recognized him as one of the men who had been at the barbecue.
Even when the trail widened and they were able to ride side by side, they didn’t talk. Alex seemed to understand that a night ride like this was an opportunity to regroup. Pointless chatter would only destroy the serenity of the moment. Gradually, her fear subsided. She took in a deep breath, appreciating the cool, clean fresh air.
“Let’s give these guys a good workout.” Alex spurred his horse into a trot and Morgan followed suit.
Morgan enjoyed the challenge of keeping up with Alex, who was an excellent rider. As they edged toward a clump of trees and a river, Alex reigned in Chipper’s Boy. He shifted his weight in the saddle and tilted his head. “I love nights like this. It’s a good chance to pray out here in the vast silence, don’t you think?”
Morgan closed her eyes. She could at least not lead him on about where her faith was at. “I don’t pray much anymore.”
He sat up straighter in his saddle. “Oh, why is that?”
“Let’s just say that things have happened in my life that make it hard for me to pray.” Her words came out with unexpected intensity as the events in Mexico played out in her head.
“Been there, done that. They don’t make a T-shirt for it,” Alex said.
Morgan laughed in spite of the seriousness of the discussion. His reaction surprised her. “Guess I’m in good company then.” Alex seemed so grounded in his faith, yet even he had been plagued by doubts at one point. She wondered what had happened to test his faith.
“You can get through it, Morgan. God’s not afraid of your honesty. You can shout at him if you need to, just don’t stop talking to him.”
His words were like a healing balm to her. His not pressing her for the details behind her disillusionment only made her want to talk to him more. The longing to tell him the whole story was so intense, her chest felt like it was in a vise.
I wish I could share everything with you, Alex.
A few drops of rain sprinkled from the sky. Within minutes, the rain intensified.
“Boy, that storm came out of nowhere. We’d better head on back.” Alex pulled up on the reins and turned his horse around. They pushed the horses into a gallop. The trail quickly became slick and muddy. Rain soaked through her thin jacket. Alex increased his speed, but Jojo didn’t have the same stamina as Chipper’s Boy.
Lightning flashed in the sky. Thunder crackled. Jojo reared up. Morgan held on. The reflective tape on Alex’s horse was all she could make out in front of her. The rain became a downpour as Morgan egged Jojo on. The horse grew edgier and then bolted suddenly from the trail. Morgan’s attempts at steering the horse back only stirred her up more.
More lightning and thunder caused the horse to take off at a hard run. Morgan held on and leaned forward until Jojo ran out of steam. The horse continued to show signs of agitation, stepping sideways and jerking her head. The thunder and lightning had really spooked the horse. Morgan slipped out of the saddle and soothed the horse until she calmed down.
“Now let’s try to get home before there’s any more lightning.” The rain soaked through to her shirt as a chill blanketed her skin. She looked around. They’d veered off the trail and nothing looked familiar to her in the dark. Morgan got back on the horse and headed in the direction they had come, scanning the dark landscape for a landmark that might orient her.
She heard the sound of an approaching horse. Alex must have come back for her.
“Alex, over here.” Could he even hear her above the rain?
The rider did not respond but the clopping hooves grew louder. As the silhouette of a horse and rider came into view, the hairs on the back of Morgan’s neck prickled. A sense of dread filled her.
It wasn’t Alex.
SEVEN
Alex craned his neck, expecting to see the glow of reflective tape behind him. He pulled up on the reins and waited for a moment, thinking she would come into view. He turned his horse around and headed back up the trail. He shouted Morgan’s name but the words seemed to fall at his feet. Sound wouldn’t carry far in the harsh wind.
How could he lose sight of her so quickly? The last time he’d looked over his shoulder she was right behind him. He continued back up the trail, his anxiety growing. He was really starting to care for her but her secrecy concerned him. They’d shared a moment of connection back at the river. She’d opened the door just a crack. And he’d been reluctant to share the details of his own dark night of the soul when Gretchen had left him, so Morgan wasn’t the only one who was clammed up about the past.
He reined in his horse and jumped off where the trail appeared marred. He examined the ground. Hard to tell with the c
onditions changing quickly from the heavy downpour. The horseshoe patterns suggested that her horse might have been spooked and headed off the main trail.
He studied the ground, looking for more clues as to which direction she could have gone. This part of the land was heavy with brush. The horse would take the path of least resistance. He jumped back on Chipper’s Boy and steered through the open areas.
As his horse wove around the brush, he knew that shouting her name would be futile. He peered out from beneath his cowboy hat as the rain pattered on top of it. He saw a flash in the distance, probably the reflective tape. Alex spurred his horse to go a little faster.
The rain had soaked through his clothes. In no time, they’d be back at home drying off in front of a fire. He spurred his horse to go faster. His optimism faded when he didn’t see the reflective tape again.
He hurried toward where he’d seen the first flash, hoping nothing had gone wrong.
* * *
Morgan sat up straighter in the saddle. The rider had not heard her cries and had disappeared into the brush. Maybe Leonard had decided to bring Sunny out for a ride after all and had been caught in the rain, too. She was alone and shivering from the cold and wet. Alex must be looking for her, though. She hadn’t been on these tangent trails and none of the landmarks looked familiar in the dark.
Jojo skittered to one side. The storm still had her upset. She kicked Jojo into a trot and headed in the general direction of the main trail. The light from the stables should come into view sooner or later.
After ten minutes of riding, panic set in. She didn’t see any light or even any landmark that could guide her home. The trail was slick with mud. She couldn’t risk injuring the horse. She slowed to a trot. She thought about the fire and the man she’d seen earlier around her house. Those memories and the darkness only fed her fear.
Jojo stopped abruptly at the creek bed, pitching Morgan over the top of her into the river. Morgan stood up only to be knocked down by a torrent of water. A hand grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the shore. Fear sank in like the teeth of a lion.
