“She sure can talk about her horses. I could tell you about them all in detail. Including their medical history.”
“I’ll pass, thanks. You can save that conversation for later with my mom.”
“Will do. Have you been along the trail in the pine forest?”
She shook her head. “I cycle on the main roads where I have a phone signal.”
“A smart plan. We’ll be turning onto a wide track up ahead. It’s a shortcut to the Snowgum Creek mountain stream. The logging trucks use the road networks in the forest.”
“I’m glad we’ll be avoiding traffic. One less way for something to go wrong.”
He gave her arm a reassuring pat. “You worry too much. Can you unwind and enjoy the ride?”
“I’ll try.” If only she could switch off her brain and stop worrying. She inhaled a soothing breath, her body adjusting to the rhythm of riding Bessie.
They steered the horses onto the dirt track. Tall pine trees filtered the mid-afternoon sunlight as the horses trod deeper into the forest. Birdsong surrounded them, and she recognized the familiar magpie carols.
The magpies next door had stopped swooping, and she could now ride the perimeter fence circuit for her daily bike ride. She’d spotted a few downy-feathered baby magpies in the orchards, closely guarded by their parents who had to feed them and cope with their incessant squawking.
Not that different to children. She snuck a glance at Harry, his attractive profile affecting her in more ways than she wanted to acknowledge. His tanned face, partially hidden by his cute cowboy hat, was tranquil, his love of riding evident in his relaxed stance. He’d make a great father, if his patience in encouraging her to ride Bessie again was any indication.
Her heart rate accelerated, the truth in her mother’s words swirling in her mind. She could imagine being married to Harry, imagine sharing her life, her hopes, her dreams. Dare she hope he reciprocated her feelings, and wanted to become a permanent fixture in her life?
They continued their downhill journey to the bank of Snowgum Creek. The constant rush of water soothed her tumultuous thoughts. The creek wound its way downstream toward the township of Snowgum Creek, many miles away. Rough terrain surrounded them on both sides.
He cleared his throat. “Can I say something?”
“Sure.”
“I—”
His phone beeped and he pulled it out of his pocket, his eyes scanning the message on the screen.
“What’s wrong?”
“Your neighbor’s horses have escaped from their paddock. A mare and her foal are missing.”
“Oh no. They could be anywhere.”
He nudged his horse forward. “Which is why we’re going to help search. Your mom is on a different track not far ahead of us. The vet is with her.”
“What? She’s not supposed to be riding.”
“I didn’t know that. She was riding yesterday.”
She shook her head. “We’d better keep moving and listen for the horses.”
“My boss will make sure your mom’s okay. We should pay attention to the birds, too. If they become noisier than usual, it could be a clue that the horses are nearby.”
“Good idea.”
He typed on his phone. “I’ll let your mom know we’re looking. The section of the forest on the other side of the creek was cleared a few years ago. It’s possible the horses are wandering around there, or somewhere else in the forest.”
“I hope they’re okay.”
“Me, too.”
They rode deeper into the forest, following the trail as it wound down a long hill.
He checked his phone. “We’re in a black spot.”
“No big surprise.”
He nodded. “We should pick it up a signal when we’re on higher ground.”
The path narrowed and Serena followed close behind Harry. They came across a sandy section of the bank. He drew his horse to a stop and dismounted.
Serena sipped from her water bottle, her body appreciating a rest from the saddle. Tomorrow she’d feel the aches and pains from the long ride.
Harry glanced at his phone and shook his head. “Nothing.”
“They may have already found the horses, and we’d never know.”
“I was given instructions on our search area. We’re approximately an hour away from your parent’s farm.”
She widened her eyes. “That far.”
“We’re on a circular route I know well. Trust me, we won’t get lost, and we’ll be back at the farm well before sunset.”
She let out a long breath. “That’s good to know.” Their horses stood a few feet away on the sandy bank, quenching their thirst in the refreshing mountain stream.
Harry led the horses back onto the path and handed over Bessie’s reins. “It’s time to get moving.”
“Sure.” She hopped back into the saddle, memories of long rides with her sisters beside the river near her childhood home filling her mind. A younger Bessie had enjoyed cantering along the trails and stopping by the river.
The ground on the opposite side of the creek was clear of trees, the crest of the hill visible in the distance. A flock of cockatoos flew by, their loud screeching echoing in the valley. Sunlight broke through the tree canopy overhead.
A gentle whinny sounded from the forest.
Harry drew Mighty Boy to a halt. “Did you hear that?”
She nodded. “They’re close by, or we’ve come across brumbies.” Wild horses roamed the Snowy Mountains.
“It could be brumbies. We’ll take it slow and keep our eyes open.”
“No problem.”
Bessie followed Mighty Boy’s lead, moseying along behind him.
Harry pointed to a clump of trees. “I see her. Wait here.”
She brought Bessie to a stop next to a narrow section of the creek. The water looked shallow, maybe as high as her thigh in the middle. Rocks were embedded in the sand under the pristine flowing water.
Minutes later Harry waved her over. He’d tied Mighty Boy to a nearby tree and stood beside a chestnut mare, stroking her neck and murmuring soft words in her ear.
Serena took her time, not wanting to upset Bessie or the mare.
She approached Harry and stifled a gasp. A foal lay sprawled on the path ahead, not far from where he comforted the mare.
He handed over the phone, his mouth set in a grim line. “His front leg is injured.”
“What can we do?” She checked the screen. No signal.
“I need you to ride up the hill and call for help.”
She gulped. “You mean ride across the creek?”
He nodded. “The pine forest is too dense on this side. The foal is injured and I need to keep his mother calm.”
She closed her eyes and whispered a prayer. Lord, give me the strength to do this.
Chapter Seven
Serena opened her eyes, her mind resolute. She had no choice. It would take too long to wade through the thigh-deep creek water and climb the mile-long trail up the hill on foot. Bessie had negotiated rivers in her younger days, including the ill-fated day Serena couldn’t erase from her memory.
“Okay, Harry.” She shoved his phone in her shirt pocket. “Please pray.”
“I will, sweetheart. You can do this, and Bessie won’t let you down.”
The foal let out a weak neigh and the mare sniffed her foal, prodding it to move. Harry comforted the mare, his kind voice soothing the frightened mother.
Serena straightened her spine, focusing on her posture before speaking quiet words to Bessie. “Girl, we can do this. We’ll go slowly through the water, and we’ll see if you have the energy to canter up the hill.”
She guided Bessie back to the narrow bend in the creek, the banks less than twenty feet apart. The mare stepped into the water and plowed ahead, the gentle current swirling around her legs.
Serena’s stomach clenched into a hard knot, her body rigid as water splashed on her riding pants. She kept a steady hand on the reins and
relaxed her posture. Bessie responded to the release of pressure, taking the water in her stride.
They reached dry ground and Serena let out a deep breath. She’d survived the first crossing. “Okay, Bessie. Let’s see if you have any pace left in your legs.”
She shifted her leg into the correct position and Bessie took off, her slow trot picking up speed. Serena adjusted the lead and the pressure in her calf muscles, the subtle movement in her hips inspiring Bessie to canter at a respectable pace.
“Good girl. You remember your training.” She slowed the horse to a trot as they reached the summit, bringing her to a halt at the highest point on the hill.
She tugged Harry’s phone out of her pocket and checked the screen. Yes. A strong signal appeared and she returned her mother’s missed call.
“We’ve found the horses. The foal is injured.” Serena gave a detailed update on the situation, answering her mom’s questions.
“Where are you?” her mom asked.
“I’m on top of the hill that has been cleared, and Harry is with the mare and foal on your side of the creek.”
“You rode across the creek?”
“Yep. We couldn’t get a phone signal in the valley.”
“Okay. The vet and I are only a few minutes away from Harry. We’ll see you soon.”
“Thanks, Mom.” She disconnected the call and whispered a prayer. The foal had a better chance of surviving now the vet was on his way.
She guided Bessie back down the hill. By the time she reached the river, her mother and the vet were there with Harry.
Serena brought Bessie to a halt at a sandy spot near their original crossing. She dismounted and splashed cool water on her face. It was like old times. Nostalgia for her carefree childhood touched her heart.
Adult life was complicated. She couldn’t imagine life without Harry, yet she was due to leave him and Snowgum Creek in less than four weeks. How could they make a relationship work when they lived more than a hundred miles away from each other?
Harry appeared on the other side of the creek, sitting tall astride the majestic Mighty Boy. He waved, pausing opposite her. “I was wondering where you were.”
“I’m fine. How’s the foal?”
“My boss is examining him now.”
“Does he need your help?”
He shook his head and rode through the water to join her. “Your neighbors are there. They think the foal will be okay.”
She let out a slow breath. “I was so scared the foal wouldn’t make it.”
“You did well and crossed the creek. I’m proud of you.”
She nodded and mounted Bessie. “Well, I need to cross back to the other side.”
“We can do it together.” He maneuvered Mighty Boy beside Bessie and grabbed hold of her hand. “It’s less scary when you’re not alone.”
She blinked away a few tears and urged Bessie forward. Harry belonged by her side, his hand encasing hers, his words encouraging her to face and conquer her fears. How could she walk away without carrying a stable full of regrets?
Her old fears evaporated as water splashed over her. Mighty Boy enjoyed his impromptu water adventure, his playful nature creating a few minor headaches for Harry.
She laughed at Harry’s attempts to rein in the mischievous gelding. “I think he’s a water baby at heart.”
“I think you’re right.” Harry let go of her hand and steered Mighty Boy up on the bank. He removed his hat, shaking off droplets of water. “He likes being hosed down, and he’s usually well behaved in the rain.”
Bessie joined Mighty Boy at the water’s edge, her stance regal. Serena stroked her neck, rewarding her for good behavior.
Harry glanced at his watch. “We should head back. So much for a short ride.”
“You said nothing would go wrong.”
“I must remember that nothing is simple when you’re part of the equation.”
“And this is somehow my fault?” She nudged Bessie forward, the mare walking beside Mighty Boy. “I didn’t leave the gate open.”
He chuckled. “No, you have other talents. Like breaking heels off shoes.”
“That was an accident.”
“I know.” His voice softened. “The shoe fiasco brought us together.”
“It was stressful, and you saved the day. My hero.”
“I’m glad it ended well. Speaking of accidents, it’s great to see your mom’s arm is out of the cast.”
She nodded, inhaling the fresh pine scent from the forest as their horses walked beside the creek. “I can’t wait for her to be back on normal duties.”
“You’re still on the housekeeping roster?”
“Yeah. I need a break from cleaning.”
“I understand.” He led their horses on a different track, their new path taking them back in the direction of the main road. “Anyway, there’s something I wanted to tell you.”
“That’s right” He’d started to say something before they were distracted by the missing horses.
“You know how I’ve been applying for equine nurse positions everywhere.”
“Has something come up?”
“I received a phone call today about a job.”
She smiled. “Harry, that’s great news.”
“They want to meet with me.”
“When?”
“Monday, the week after next. They’re talking about sponsoring me to do my preliminary course next year, and maybe even a vet science degree after that if I can make the grades.”
“Wow. That’s a huge commitment on their part.”
“I’d need to agree to work there for a number of years. It’s a great opportunity. I was surprised to be offered an interview.”
“Where are they located?”
“Regional Victoria.” He paused, his voice losing a touch of his initial enthusiasm. “I can drive there and do the interview at midday. An easy day trip from home.”
She furrowed her brow. “How regional? Is it close to Melbourne? Commuting distance?”
He shook his head. “It’s a two-hour drive from Melbourne in a town that’s smaller than Snowgum Creek.”
Her heart sank. The location would be a career killer for her. Maybe her mother was wrong after all. They couldn’t have a future together if he insisted on living in the middle of nowhere. How could she ask him to decline his dream job that would fast track him to his career goal?
***
On the Tuesday morning after his job interview, Harry walked into the foyer of the Blaxland B&B and glanced at the clock on the wall. Serena was due to take her morning break any minute. Yesterday his mom had accompanied him on his interstate day trip to country Victoria. They’d travelled in her car and detoured via Echuca on the way home. He loved visiting the historic town on the Murray River, famous for its fleet of paddle steamers, and they’d arrived back in Snowgum Creek late last night.
Serena appeared from a room behind the reception desk, frown lines prominent between her brows.
“Hey.” He smiled, hoping to lighten her mood. “How’s your day going?”
“Busy. My mom had to call out the vet for one of the horses.”
“Which horse?”
“I can’t remember. She told me, but I’ve had a lot on my mind. It’s not Bessie or Mighty Boy.”
He nodded. Serena hadn’t been thrilled to hear about his job interview, and she’d distanced herself from him after he’d shared the news. Her excuse was work, and the B&B had been fully booked over the American Thanksgiving weekend due to a special online deal. He’d given her the space she needed to process her thoughts.
Harry ran his fingers through his hair. “Can you still take a break now?”
“Yes, my mom’s here, and I’ll take an hour. Would you like an early lunch?”
“Sounds great. I don’t start work at the vet clinic until two.”
The corners of her lips curved into a half smile. “Follow me to the kitchen, and I’ll see what I can put together.”
/> “Where would you like to eat?”
“Somewhere I can put my feet up.”
She strode ahead along the hall, leading him into the main kitchen. “Are sandwiches okay?” She opened the refrigerator. “We have sliced leg ham off the bone.”
“Perfect.”
She set to work, adding cheese and tomato chutney to the generous servings of ham on grain bread. “There’s a selection of juice on the bottom shelf. OJ will do me.”
“No problem.” He collected two bottles.
She passed over a sandwich. “Would you like cake or a muffin?”
He shook his head. “A sandwich is fine. Could we sit on the veranda outside the tearoom?”
“I’d like that.”
He followed her back along the hall and through the darkened tearoom, the blinds drawn shut on the windows.
She unlocked the door and chose a table by the edge of the veranda.
He sat opposite the garden beds, barren of foliage now the tulips were gone and the rose bushes had been pruned. “Your mom has been busy.”
“Dad and I helped her clean up the garden on the weekend. It was a big job.”
“No wonder you’re looking worn out.”
She let out a soft sigh, her gaze distant. “I’ve been working long hours over the last couple of weeks to get everything done.” She dragged over an extra chair and rested her legs on it.
He tore his gaze away from her jeans-clad legs, the fitted style highlighting her toned physique. “Are your feet sore?”
“No, I think I pulled a muscle in my leg during my bike ride yesterday.” She bent her knee and rubbed the back of her thigh. “It’s sore when I’m on my feet.”
He frowned. “Not good. I hope you make a fast recovery.”
“Me, too. I’ll skip my bike ride today. Is your mom working here tomorrow?”
“Yes, and she enjoyed her four-day weekend.”
“I’m glad.” Serena stretched out her leg and grimaced. “Your mom is a hard worker. She deserved a break.”
“She enjoyed Echuca. Have you been there?”
Serena shook her head. “It’s on my travel wish list. I’d love to see the paddle steamers.”
“We could go there together, sometime.”
“Maybe.” She sipped her OJ. “How did your interview go?”
The Bridesmaid's Hero Page 6
