Free The Manning Sisters by Debbie Macomber Page B

with fire. Unfortunately, if we continue like this, one of us is going to get burned.”
    Russ closed his eyes and nodded. “You’re right, of course.” He inhaled deeply. “Does this mean you want me to leave?”
    â€œNo,” she said, smiling at her own lack of willpower. “But I think you should, anyway.”

Five
    â€œM andy, I’m not going near that horse.”
    â€œTaylor, please. I want to do something to thank you for all the sewing lessons you’ve given me.”
    As far as Taylor was concerned, the chestnut gelding looked as huge as the Trojan horse. He didn’t seem all that friendly, either. Her palms were sweating, and her throat felt dry from arguing with the persistent teen.
    â€œShadow is as gentle as they come,” Mandy assured her, stroking the white markings on the horse’s face. “You don’t have a thing to worry about.”
    â€œThat’s what they said to Custer, too,” Taylor muttered under her breath. This whole episode had started out so innocuously. Taylor had spent an hour after school helping Mandy cut out the pattern for a vest. Then, because Russ was busy with an errand in Miles City, Taylor had dropped her off at the ranch. One of the men had been exercising a horse, and Taylor had innocently inquired about the stock. Before she knew how it had happened, Mandy was insisting on teaching her to ride, claiming she couldn’t accept sewing lessons from Taylor without giving her something in return.
    â€œOnce you climb into the saddle, you’ll feel a whole lot better about it,” Mandy told her.
    â€œI’m not much of a horse person,” Taylor said.
    â€œThat doesn’t matter. Shadow’s gentle. I promise you.”
    â€œAnother time perhaps,” Taylor murmured.
    â€œBut today’s perfect for riding.”
    Before Taylor could answer, she saw Russ’s truck speeding down the driveway, leaving a trail of dust in its wake. Taylor hadn’t seen Russ since the night of the Grange dance, and she hated the way her pulse immediately started to race.
    Russ pulled to a stop and leaped out of the truck, but he paused when he saw Taylor’s Cabriolet parked near the barn. Setting his hat farther back on his head, he changed his direction and walked toward them.
    â€œHello, Taylor,” he said, bowing his head slightly.
    â€œRuss.”
    â€œMaybe you can talk some sense into her.” Mandy gestured toward Taylor, looking wistful. “I think she should learn to ride. Here she is giving me all these sewing lessons, and I want to repay her.”
    â€œYou’ve already had me over for dinner,” Taylor reminded the girl. “Really, horses just aren’t my thing. The last time I sat on a horse was on a carousel when I was ten years old.”
    â€œIf Taylor’s afraid…”
    â€œWhat makes you say that?” Taylor demanded. “I’m not afraid of horses. It’s just that I’m unfamiliar with them. I don’t think now is the time for me to do more than gain a nodding acquaintance with Shadow here, but I most certainly am not afraid.”
    â€œThen prove it,” Russ challenged. He patted Shadow on the rump. The gelding returned the greeting with a nicker and a swish of his thick tail.
    â€œI promise you’ll enjoy it,” Mandy said.
    Grumbling under her breath, Taylor took the reins from Mandy’s hands. “Why do I have the sinking suspicion I’m going to regret this?”
    â€œYou won’t,” Mandy vowed.
    â€œThis kid is much too free with her promises,” Taylor told Russ. Lifting her left foot and placing it in the stirrup, Taylor reached for the saddle horn and heaved herself up.
    â€œYou might need some help,” Mandy said. “Russ, help her.”
    â€œShe seems to be doing fine without me.”
    Taylor had hoisted her weight halfway up when she started to lose her grip. Russ was behind