Free Four Weeks by Melissa Ford

gracefully than the first time, he swung into the saddle and stared down at her.
    A sturdy barrier of silence hung in the air. Its wall was so solid it blocked any connection they might have shared. Whatever she'd seen, or thought she saw, in his gaze was gone along with any tenderness that might've lingered with it.
    His voice was as impassive as his face. “Let's go."
    She regretted, taking advantage of the fact that he didn't know how to ride but couldn't get the words I'm sorry out. Even if she could, she was pretty sure he didn't want to hear them. Louise un-looped the reins and mounted. She pressed her horse along, but kept it at a walk.
    Each hoof fall of the horse behind her echoed in the small cloud-darkened forest that filled the center of the island. The fog of tension swelled as they moved along the narrow trail. After awhile they came to a paved road. Louise prodded her horse onto it, then stopped and waited for Trent. Soon, his horse appeared. He nodded at her, but said nothing.
    After Louise checked her trail map and made note of their location, she tucked it into her hip pocket. “The airport is north of us. There're some more trails up that way and I think one of them runs along the bluff.” She offered a hesitant smile. “The view should be fantastic."
    A glimmer of a smile creased Trent's mouth. “Sounds good, but at this pace we'll be gone so long, Pete will send out a search party."
    Not sure if he was ready to laugh about his fall yet, Louise asked, “How're you feeling?"
    "My pride is still a little bruised."
    "Your fall is mostly my fault. I shouldn't have taken off before you were ready."
    "No, you were just doing what comes...” He paused and grinned, obviously not holding what would have been an understandable grudge. “Naturally."
    Tension eased out of her shoulders. “Let's not start all that again."
    "Later, then."
    She laughed in spite of her confusion. He was different away from the stable and whatever memories haunted him there. “For now, let's have a review."
    Louise repeated all her instructions, except the part about the hips. He'd heard that bit. When she asked him to stand in the saddle to check the length of his stirrups she noticed something wasn't right. She dismounted and asked him to do the same.
    "You like watching me make a fool of myself?” he asked as he swung down.
    Louise ignored his comment and reached for the cinch and tugged on it to confirm what she suspected. “It's too loose.” She pulled the strap away from the horse's belly to show him. “It should be snug enough to hold the saddle in place.” With two quick movements she tightened it and checked it again. “That's better."
    Trent stepped up alongside Louise. He reached for the saddle and pulled on it the way she had. “Thanks, coach."
    Louise shifted, putting some much-needed distance between them. “No thanks necessary,” she said as she swung onto her horse. “Would it help to heal your wounded pride if you knew that loose girth could have caused your fall?"
    "I'd been wondering about that.” Trent avoided her gaze and brushed a hand casually through his hair. Was he hiding concern? Silently, he mounted his horse and got settled.
    If he'd been a rider out on a rented horse and that had happened ... insurance, lawyers ... Something like that could mean the end of Hawk's that was for sure. To avoid losing everything, he'd probably have to sell. He wouldn't back out his agreement, would he?
    She had to keep him from even considering it. “I'll talk with Pete as soon as we get back. We'll make sure it doesn't happen again."
    Louise glanced at the trail ahead then back to Trent. “Ready to move on?"
    He nodded, and nudged his horse with his legs to follow her head again. Although his gaze was fixed on the road ahead, he didn't seem to be watching where they were going. Louise was having a hard time putting Pete's oversight out of her mind and it seemed that Trent was worried about it, too.
    Not that