From This Moment On. Debbi Rawlins

with Matt or if Jamie calls.”

      “Ah. I won’t take it personally then.”

      She didn’t have to look to know he was grinning. She much preferred keeping her eye on the stalls as they walked by. A horse at the back made an angry sound. “Gee, don’t tell me…that’s Diablo.”

      “He’s still getting used to being penned in.”

      “Maybe we should turn around.”

      “You’ve trusted me this far. Give me five minutes. You can stand as far back as you want.”

      “The next county?” She sighed. “Five minutes.” Neither of them wore a watch. So what? She’d know when it was time to make a run for it.

      They got to the last stall, and Trace took his arm from around her shoulders. She moved back as he stood at the stall and stroked the horse’s neck.

      “Mustangs have a reputation for being harder to tame and train than other breeds. They’re innately suspicious of humans.”

      “So he was wild when Matt bought him?”

      “Someone else had him for a short while, but they couldn’t handle him.”

      It had taken Trace about three hours. She’d watched him from her window, awed by his patience, never speaking above a whisper. The horse had responded fairly quickly all things considered.

      “See this black hair rimming his ear? We call them black points.” Trace stayed focused on the stallion, murmuring things she couldn’t hear. She was beginning to think he’d forgotten about her when he said, “I have a proposition for you, Nikki.”

      “What’s that?” she asked, suspicious when his gaze remained on the horse.

      “Let me teach you to ride.”

      “Diablo?”

      “No.” The corners of his mouth quirked, but he kept the smile in check. “I have a Sundance mare in mind.”

      She didn’t care if it was a pony. “Why? What’s the point?”

      “You live on a ranch. It’ll be easier when you see you have nothing to fear.”

      “I’ve been doing just fine by staying in my own corner.”

      “You’re also missing out. Horses are terrific animals.” Trace met her eyes. “Come on, Nikki, give me a shot.”

      Breathing in deeply, she turned her gaze to the stallion, and watched Trace stroke its velvety neck. “Okay,” she said, the word nearly sticking in her throat. She hated feeling afraid…of anything.

       5

      THE NEXT DAY Trace waited for Nikki at the agreed upon spot, a grassy field between the Lone Wolf and the Sundance. It was the perfect place because she could easily access it by truck, and yet they’d have privacy.

      He’d brought Gypsy, a sweet bay mare that was a guest favorite because of her gentle disposition. She rarely spooked and she was also on the small side, a good size for Nikki to control. Not that he expected her to climb in the saddle right away. She had to get to know Gypsy first and let confidence squeeze out some of the fear.

      Damn, he hoped she hadn’t changed her mind. He glanced at his watch. She was only five minutes late. Nothing to sweat over. He thought he’d given her good directions but he might’ve taken a turn or two for granted. There weren’t many landmarks out here.

      He checked his phone to make sure she hadn’t called him to cancel, relieved to see he didn’t have a voice mail. It wouldn’t have shocked him if she’d had second thoughts, but she wouldn’t leave him dangling. A moment later he heard the truck, and through the aspens and spruces, saw flashes of chrome reflecting the sunlight.