They’d stopped about five feet away from the hitching post.
“You’ll make her sad if you don’t ride her,” said Reed.
“Nice try.”
“Just look at those big brown eyes.” Reed left Katrina behind and moved around the hitching post to stroke North Star’s neck. “She loves teaching new riders.”
“She does not.”
“Want to bet?” He scratched the mare’s nose, and she gave a couple of long, slow, obviously contented blinks.
Katrina didn’t blame her. Reed did have magic hands.
“I’ve had six-year-olds on her back,” Reed offered in smooth, honey tones. “She’s a mama through and through. She won’t let anything happen to you.”
North Star was gazing at Katrina now. She did look rather gentle. In fact, she looked quite friendly.
“You want to come closer?” asked Reed.
“Not really.” Katrina was tempted, though. When Reed had proposed back in New York, she had told him she’d learn to ride. She wanted to keep that promise. And if she could force herself to get on the horse’s back, it would be one less thing to be embarrassed about while she was in Colorado.
And they were definitely going to spend time in Colorado. Reed had been amazing about offering to move to New York City. The least she could do was try to meet him halfway.
She glanced at him.
His expression had turned loving, one of understanding and patience.
She wiped her damp palms across the front of her blue jeans and took a step forward, then another and another.
When she came up beside Reed, North Star swung her head to look. But her movements were slow and calm, not at all threatening.
“Pat her neck,” Reed suggested. “Firmly, or you’ll tickle her.”
“I don’t want to tickle her.” Katrina reached out. She patted the mare’s neck three times. It was hot and wiry under her touch. A small puff of dust came up.
The horse didn’t move at all.
“She’s all saddled up,” said Reed.
“I’m terrified,” Katrina confessed in a whisper.
“I’ll hold the lead rope. We’ll walk her in the round pen.”
“Inside the pen?” That would be easier.
“Until you’re ready to go out.”
Katrina screwed up her courage. She nodded. “Okay. But only inside the pen.” It had to be safe enough. Surely to goodness, Reed wouldn’t let her die before the wedding.
He kissed the top of her head. “Back here.” He moved. “Put your hand around the saddle horn.”
She reached up to grab the hard protrusion of leather.
“Foot up in the stirrup. I’m going to grab your butt.”
“You’re not allowed to enjoy this,” she warned.
“I’m allowed to enjoy it all I want. Let me know when you’re ready, and I’ll give you a boost.”
Katrina braced herself. “One, two, three.” She pulled and Reed lifted, and before she knew it, she was perched on top of North Star. The mare hadn’t moved a muscle.
“See how easy it is?”
Katrina adjusted her seat. “I’m awfully high up here.”
“Put your other foot in the stirrup. And relax. You’re not going anywhere.”
He released the lead rope from the hitching post, and the horse shifted under her. Katrina gave out a little whoop of surprise.
“Go with the motion,” Reed advised. “Don’t fight it. We both know you have good balance.”
Katrina tried to relax. Reed was right. She did have good balance. In that, she was ahead of the game.
He opened the gate to the round pen and led the horse inside. North Star’s gait was slow and smooth beneath Katrina. The horse’s barrel was warm against her legs. Its breathing was somehow soothing. And having Reed close by certainly helped.
He stopped North Star then moved back and released the reins that were looped around the saddle horn. He reached into the back pocket of his worn jeans and produced a pair of small, leather gloves.
“Put these on.”
The gloves were soft against Katrina’s hands, warm from Reed’s body.
He placed the reins across her palm, showing her how to hold them. Then he backed away, holding a long length of the lead rope while North Star started forward, moving in a big circle.
It took a few minutes for Katrina to realize she wasn’t afraid. A little while later, she felt as if she’d found her balance. And when Reed asked if he could take off the lead rope, she found herself agreeing.
He stayed in the middle of the round pen while North Star, who apparently knew the drill, paced around the perimeter with Katrina on her back.
“You’re doing great,” Reed told her.
She braved a look up from North Star’s back. She smiled at Reed, and he smiled back, strong, sexy and confident.
The sun was high in the sky above him, the snow-capped mountains rising behind, a knife edge against the crackling blue sky. Wildflowers fanned out in the field, and aspen leaves blew in a gentle breeze. Even the cattle looked bucolic grazing on the hillside, while robins, chickadees and bluebirds flitted from tree to tree.
Katrina’s heart lurched, and for the first time in her life, she felt at home in Lyndon Valley.
A pickup’s engine rumbled in the distance, growing closer. The truck pulled into the yard, and North Star glanced over her shoulder, but otherwise didn’t pay any attention to the interruption. A few moments later, Mandy and Caleb appeared and moved toward the fence.
Reed paced his way over to Katrina and North Star, stopping the horse with a hand signal and a low word.
“Probably don’t need an audience yet,” he told Katrina. Then he helped her down from North Star.
She was grateful for his understanding.
Reed took the mare, and she waded her way through the deep, loose dirt, back to the round-pen gate. Mandy opened it, beaming.
“You did it!” She laughed, pulling Katrina into her arms.
“I did it,” Katrina agreed happily.
Reed had been right. North Star was gentle as a kitten, but she felt proud anyway. She hadn’t been scared, and she hadn’t fallen off, and she was actually willing to try it again.
“Caleb and I have been talking,” said Mandy, linking arms as they started toward the house.
A stable hand took over North Star, and Reed and Caleb fell into step behind.
“About?” asked Katrina. She pulled off the leather gloves and twisted her new engagement ring back into place. The band was a stylized tension wave, platinum, holding a round diamond solitaire, with two small emeralds embedded in the outsides of the band.
She and Reed had found it at a funky jewelry store in Brooklyn. Katrina had loved it on sight. An hour later, she had her ring, and Reed had bought into the jewelry business.
“Why don’t we have a double wedding?” Mandy asked in a breathless, animated voice.
Katrina blinked in surprise at the unexpected suggestion.
“Katrina doesn’t want to get married in Lyndon Valley,” said Reed.
“It doesn’t have to be in Lyndon Valley,” Mandy responded.
Reed moved up next to Katrina. He took her free hand and placed a kiss on the back of her knuckles. “I think she wants a New York City wedding. And I’ve promised her anything she wants.”
“We’ll be living in New York City,” Katrina put in. Not that she wanted to get married in Lyndon Valley. But Reed had certainly made one huge concession. She could do the same.
“What about Chicago?” Caleb suggested. “That’s halfway in between.”
Katrina glanced at Reed. She kind of liked the idea of a double wedding with her sister and Reed’s brother. But Chicago didn’t mean anything to either her or to Reed.
