Free Feels Like Home by Lisa Ireland

‘She’s certainly friendly enough.’
    â€˜She’s lovely to ride. Very responsive. Look at her, all saddled up and nowhere to go. Why don’t you take her for a quick canter?’
    Jo shook her head. ‘Honestly, Ryan, I wasn’t kidding before. I haven’t ridden for years. I think I might have lost my nerve.’
    â€˜You’ll be fine. I’ll come with you if you like. We won’t go far. Maybe just up to the ridge and back.’
    A wave of nostalgia swept over Jo. So many times she and Ryan had raced up the ridge. She always won, but she suspected that at least some of the time he let her. They’d arrive exhilarated and breathless before sliding off the horses and into each other’s arms. Under the ancient eucalypt at the highest point of Mason’s Ridge was their spot. It was only accessible through Jo’s parents’ farm, and even then only on foot or horseback, so there was little chance of them being disturbed. Many hours had been spent there, holding hands as they gazed out to the distant Strzelecki Ranges beyond and talked about their future. Occasionally they’d taken advantage of the light of a full moon and snuck out to the ridge to make love on a blanket under their tree. Jo briefly wondered if their initials could still be seen carved into the old tree’s trunk.
    Ryan shifted his weight from one foot to the other. ‘Doesn’t have to be the ridge,’ he said. She noticed a hint of colour creeping into his cheeks. ‘I didn’t mean…I just thought…’ He shoved both his hands in his pockets and looked at the ground.
    Clearly Ryan did not want her getting the idea that there was any hint of romance attached to his suggestion. Obviously it was inconceivable to him that she was no longer interested in him that way. Which of course she wasn’t. All these thoughts she’d been having were just a result of silly sentimentality. Packing up her childhood home had made her vulnerable to viewing her past through rose-coloured glasses.
    â€˜The ridge is fine,’ she said, making no attempt to keep the indignation out of her voice. ‘It’s just a place. It’s not like we’re kids anymore, Ryan.’
    â€˜No, I guess not.’ He turned and began unlooping Pepper’s reins from the gatepost so Jo could no longer see his face. Was it her imagination or was that a hint of sadness she detected in his voice?

CHAPTER
    7
    Ryan watched Jo urge Pepper on, pushing the mare up the steep incline towards the ridge. Her long wavy hair had freed itself from the tie that had secured it into a ponytail and now it streamed out behind her like a triumphant blonde banner. He was no match for Jo’s equestrian ability, even when she was riding the slightly pudgy and out-of-condition Pepper. He never had been.
    By the time he caught her she’d reached their tree — despite himself he couldn’t think of it as anything else — and had dismounted. Her cheeks were flushed and she was laughing.
    â€˜What took you so long, slowpoke?’
    He shrugged. ‘I guess I’m still no match for you. You win as usual.’
    She smiled. ‘Only because you let me.’
    He shook his head. ‘You’ve always been a better rider than me. Better than most people I know. You need to believe in yourself more.’ He jumped down off Mack and let go of the reins. ‘You can let Pepper roam here. She and Mack won’t go far, and if they start to wander I’ll just give them a whistle.’
    â€˜They come when you whistle?’ Jo asked. ‘That’s pretty amazing.’ She smiled at him. ‘I’d forgotten about your Doctor Dolittle talent. You always had the magic touch with animals.’
    Ryan grinned. ‘What can I say? It’s a gift.’
    Jo gave him a playful shove and his pulse quickened at her touch. ‘Don’t go getting a big head there,