Free Ex, Why, and Me by Susanna Carr Page A

a bucket of raw horseradish than get on”—she pointed a shaky finger at the horse—“that thing.”
    “Michelle.”
    “No. No. No.” She folded her arms tightly across her chest and ground her heels into the playground’s trampled grass. “I can’t do it and you can’t make me. You know what? I quit!”

Chapter 5
    “You’re quitting over a horse?”
    Ryan’s disbelief rang in Michelle’s ears. It probably did seem strange since she had told him that they weren’t quitting. And had sounded as though she wouldn’t budge on her position.
    And she had meant it, too. But he didn’t realize that there were special circumstances. Like horses. Big ones that looked as if they could knock you down with the flick of their tails. “I can’t ride it.”
    He stroked her upper arm. “Sure, you can.”
    Michelle was already shaking her head. “No, you don’t understand.”
    “It’s going to be okay.” His voice was kind and gentle. Ryan was being very patient. And that was making her very suspicious. He was probably figuring out the best way to throw her onto the horse like a burlap sack.
    “Have you ridden before?” Ryan asked.
    “Yes,” she answered with false brightness, “and I have fallen before, too.”
    His hands curled around her shoulders. “The rule is to get right back on the horse.”
    “I did that,” she said as she hunched. “I rode it all the way back to the stable, got off, and never looked back. It’s amazing how easy one can get through life without riding a horse.”
    “Guess what?” He stepped behind Michelle and propelled her toward the horse. “You’re going to break that streak today.”
    “If I do that, I’ll break more than a streak,” Michelle predicted as she dug her heels in, feeling the dirt spraying behind her.
    She noticed that they were getting closer to the horse. Her strength was no match for Ryan’s. She hooked her legs around his knees.
    Ryan halted before he fell. “Michelle,” he warned. She responded by hooking her elbows with his. “This is ridiculous.”
    “Easy for you to say.” She looked at the old man who was watching her as if he saw panicked women every day. “Am I required to ride that horse?”
    He adjusted the dingy brim of his hat and he pondered the question. “Probably.”
    You’re a big help, mister. “Well, unless the organizers officially demand it, to my face, I will walk beside Satan here.”
    “Lucifer,” the man corrected.
    “Same thing.” It was a nice compromise. They would use the horse and she wasn’t quitting. A very mature handling of a crisis if she did say so herself.
    Ryan disentangled himself from Michelle. “You can’t keep up with this horse.”
    “Excuse me? Are you saying I can’t hold my own with a horse?” She glanced at the old man. “No offense. I’m sure it’s a fine animal.”
    “Uh…none taken.”
    “Yeah,” Ryan said. “That’s what I’m saying.”
    “You’re wrong.” Michelle folded her arms across her chest and looked at Ryan in the eye. He really did have gorgeous eyes. It was unfair.
    “You really want to crisscross town on foot in those shoes?” He gestured at her feet.
    Michelle remained still although her toe started to throb harder from all the attention. “Yes. More than I want to ride that horse.”
    He held his hand up. “Enough arguing. You’re wasting time. Get up on this horse. I’ll help you.”
    Michelle held her ground when she really wanted to make a run for it. She had a feeling he could catch up with her easily. “The other teams couldn’t have gone far on their horses.”
    “They don’t have horses,” the old man said.
    Michelle’s and Ryan’s heads swiveled. “What?” they asked in unison.
    “First team out got first pick of transportation,” he explained. “I thought you guys knew that.”
    Michelle closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, warding off a hell of a headache. “What were the other choices?” she asked with unnatural