Free His Texas Wildflower by Stella Bagwell Page B

couldn’t see her face or guess how overwhelmed she was by his nearness.
    â€œShe—she’ll try to run away.” Rebecca finally managed to speak.
    â€œNo. She won’t,” he murmured. “She likes human contact. Don’t you?”
    Rebecca shouldn’t have to answer that question, she thought wildly. The mare wasn’t trying to move away from them any more than Rebecca was trying to pull away from Jake.
    Swallowing again, she admitted, “When the time and the place is right.”
    He didn’t say anything to that. But then he didn’t need to. The slow, sensual shift of his body was already telling her how much it liked being next to hers. How much he wanted to prolong the experience.
    She tried to swallow and ended up gulping as his low voice vibrated close to her ear.
    â€œThis piece goes behind Starr’s ears. And this one beneath her throat. Now latch the two together and pull it snug. But not tight.” He easily thrust two fingers between the halter and the mare’s jaw. “See. You should be able to get your fingers comfortably beneath the rope.”
    â€œYes—I see.”
    Her voice sounded more like a strained squeak than anything and he glanced over his shoulder to look at her. “Are you okay?”
    She tried to smile, but ended up merely nodding at him. “Sure.”
    â€œWant to try again?”
    Again? She’d barely survived this one lesson. “Um…no. I think I can manage now. Thanks.”
    Before he could insist on another haltering session, Rebecca quickly stepped back until there was a safe distance of space between them.
    Glancing over at her, he said, “You must be a fast learner.”
    Superfast, she thought, as she took in the faint grin on his face. In a matter of moments, she’d learned that standing next to Jake was like snuggling up to a piece of red-hot dynamite. “I am. I pick up on things—quickly.”
    â€œThat’s good. Especially around animals. You always need to be on guard around them.” With his gaze still on Rebecca, he stroked a hand over Starr’s rounded hip. “Just because Starr is standing still and behaving nicely now doesn’t mean that something couldn’t frighten her and make her rear or bolt. She wouldn’t be trying to hurt you—she’d just be trying to save herself. But you could get hurt in spite of that. You understand what I’m trying to tell you?”
    Yes, she understood far more than he could possibly know. That he and Starr could both be unpredictable. And that she needed to stay on guard when she was around either of them. Yet that wasn’t the way to enjoy the horse, him or even life in general. Strange how she could think in those terms now that she’d traveled out here to New Mexico. Before, back in Houston, she’d carefully thought out every step she’d taken.
    â€œDon’t worry, Jake. I’ll be very cautious when I’m around her.”
    â€œGood.”
    He gave her a lazy smile, then turned his attention back to the mare. For the next few minutes, he made a slow, thorough inspection of Starr’s teeth, ears, feet and coat. Once he was finished, he led the horse over to the fence and loosely tied the lead rope to one of the cedar post.
    â€œWell, I’d say Starr looks to be somewhere around ten years old. And she’s a quarter horse most likely mixed with a bit of Thoroughbred. The kind we use on the ranch to work cattle.”
    â€œIs ten old? For a horse, that is?”
    He ambled over to where Rebecca stood and lazily leaned a shoulder against the fence. “Not at all. She hasn’t even reached her prime yet.”
    She smiled with relief. “Oh. I’m glad. I mean, well—I guess I’ve already gotten attached to her and I hated to think that she might be in her waning years. And—I might not have her for much longer.”
    He casually folded his arms