Summer Nights. Сьюзен Мэллери

never found them quite so perplexing. The young cowboy was hitting on her, which was flattering, but made no sense. She was too old for him. Sure, her new boots were cute, but she’d yet to meet a guy who was that into shoes.

      It was the height thing, she thought with a sigh. Because she was small, people often assumed she was younger than she was. Or incompetent. Or both.

      As for Shane, who was even better looking in person than in her memory, he seemed more amused than attracted to her. Probably for the best. At least he was acting more normally today. Maybe he hadn’t been feeling well the last time they’d met.

      “Don’t move,” Shane said in a low voice.

      She blinked at him. “Excuse me?”

      “Don’t move. Stay exactly where you are. Elias?”

      “On it, boss.” The teen slipped between the rails of the corral and started walking in a wide circle.

      “It’s going to be all right,” Shane said, never taking his eyes from her.

      Annabelle realized this wasn’t some strange game, that there really was a problem. Her body went cold as she imagined a large snake approaching. One with big fangs and poisonous venom designed to kill in six painful seconds. Or maybe she was being stalked by something worse, although right now she couldn’t imagine what could fit that description.

      “A bear?” she asked hopefully. Being mauled seemed better than anything to do with a snake. “Is it a bear?”

      “A horse.”

      “What?”

      She turned and saw the large white stallion they’d talked about the day before. Apparently he’d let himself out of his enclosure and was now trotting toward her.

      He was beautiful—like something out of the movies. His mane and tail shimmered, muscles rippled and his hooves were a shiny black. Dark eyes locked with hers as he headed directly for her.

      He had the most gentle expression, she thought, her nervousness fading away. Almost as if he were trying to reassure her.

      She put her hand on her chest, just below her throat. “You scared me. I thought it was a snake. While I hate to be one of the crowd, I share the typical female fear of snakes.” She turned toward the horse. “Hey, big guy. You’re beautiful. I assumed I would be afraid of horses because you’re so big, but you’re sweet, aren’t you?”

      “Annabelle, stay calm.” Shane’s voice was insistent, almost fearful.

      “Okay,” she said. “I can do that.”

      “Move back slowly.”

      From the corner of her eye she saw Elias approaching with a rope. The teen was bent over at the waist, practically running. Overreact much, she thought, as Khatar reached her.

      “Hey, baby,” she murmured, reaching up and stroking the huge animal’s face. “Who’s a handsome boy?”

      Khatar shuffled closer and placed his face near to hers. She smiled at him and breathed in the scent of horse. It wasn’t as overwhelming as she would have thought. She patted his neck.

      “You’re very strong,” she told him. “Do all the girls say that? I’ll bet you’re very popular with the lady horses.”

      He put his head on her shoulder and leaned into her. The action nearly sent her to her knees, but she managed to stay standing. She wrapped both arms around him and would have sworn he sighed.

      “What’s the matter?” she asked, stepping back and rubbing his cheek again. “Are you lonely? Does mean old Shane ignore you?”

      She glanced over her shoulder and saw both men staring at her. Elias’s eyes were wide, his mouth hanging open. Shane looked surprised, but slightly less comical.

      “What?” she asked.

      “Stay calm,” Elias told her, sounding oddly desperate.

      “I am calm. What is with you two?” She glanced around, half expecting to see a marauding snake or twelve.

      Shane and the teen exchanged a whispered few words, then Elias began to circle the stallion. Khatar, still nuzzling her, casually kicked out a back hoof. Elias jumped back.

      “Annabelle, please step back.”

      Shane sounded stern. She did as he asked. Khatar followed. She rubbed his shoulder.

      “Will I be riding him?” she asked.

      “No!” The two men spoke as one.

      “Okay, okay.” She returned her attention to Khatar. “Are you valuable? Is that the problem? You’re pretty enough to be worth a ton. Although I suppose handsome is a better word, right? Who’s a handsome boy?”

      Elias and Shane had another whispered conversation.

      “Annabelle, we’re going to put a halter on Khatar,” Shane said in that slightly annoying, reasonable voice.

      “Want me to do it?” she asked. “He seems to like me.”

      “No. I want you to slowly step away, while I get between you and him.”

      She took the horse’s big head in both her hands and lightly kissed the hair above his nose. “You be good for Shane, you hear me?”

      His eyes flickered and his gaze shifted to the cowboy. Then his ears went back.

      She didn’t know much about horses, but that didn’t seem like a good sign.

      “Why don’t I stay close,” she offered. “That way he’ll be calm.”

      “She’s not crazy, boss,” Elias said. “Look at him.”

      She’s not crazy. Wow—maybe she could get that made into a bumper sticker for her car. Talk about a way to step up her game in the romance department. Men would be flocking.

      Shane hesitated for a second, then nodded. “Be careful,” he told her. “Watch out for his hooves. He’s likely to kick.”

      “How do you know that? Has he kicked you?”

      “No, but—”

      She folded her arms across her chest. “Has this horse done even one mean thing since you got him?”

      “No, but—”

      Annabelle exhaled. “Why do you think he’s a problem?”

      “I don’t. He’s a great horse. Okay? Happy now?”

      Shane moved in. Khatar stiffened slightly. Annabelle rubbed his neck.

      “It’s okay, big guy. He’s not going to hurt you and I’m right here.”

      Khatar relaxed and Shane slipped on the halter. She grabbed the rope hanging down.

      “Now I have you in my power,” she joked. Khatar took a step toward her. She glanced at Shane. “I guess I can take him wherever you want him.”

      The two men both looked stunned. Again. Shane pointed to the corral where Khatar had been kept before. She led the way, stroking his neck as they walked, his head right beside hers. When they reached the enclosure, she walked him in, closed the gate and then unfastened the rope.

      “Home again,” she said with a smile.

      Khatar sighed. Or maybe snorted. She couldn’t tell.

      Shane secured the latch on the gate. “Annabelle, slowly move to the railings.”

      She glanced at him. “Seriously, you don’t need to talk in that ‘let’s keep the crazy horse calm’ voice. He’s fine. Too bad I can’t ride him.”

      “You can’t,” Shane told her. “Now please come out of the corral.”

      She did as asked. Khatar followed her to the fence, then