Free Romance for Matthew by Nancy Fornataro

riding," he said with a smile.
    "I'm ready," she said, relieved at the thought of getting fresh air and also away from the over-eager IRS agent.
    They met Ollie and a stable-hand at the barn and Matthew swung himself expertly up into the saddle on a large black horse, while Ollie showed her a smaller black and white mare. She made it up on the horse at the second try, laughing the whole time.
    Mutty accompanied them, off leash, sometimes barking loudly, and she thought he was rather herding the horses and letting them know which direction to turn.
    "How often do you ride horses?" she asked Matthew as they rode along.
    "I try to go out once a week at least. Nat takes them out with Alicia sometimes, and Ollie and Sarah will go also to exercise them." He sighed. "Listen, Bethany, what's going on in the house there?"
    She knew what he meant. "The man just makes me nervous. He's creepy. Keeps looking at me like he wants to eat me for breakfast."
    Matthew laughed at that. "I don't want you to worry. There's always someone within shouting distance, you know. So, you're safe."
    "Yes. I guess I hadn't thought of that."
    They were silent riding along together while the sun shone on them.
    "Matthew, I just am curious and you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but I was wondering why you are blind. Whatever happened?"
    He smiled. "It's called ROP, Retinopathy of Prematurity. I can just barely say it much less understand it. Before my parents died, they told me I had a few operations to try to fix my retina after I was born, but they didn't work. So, unfortunately for me, it's irreversible."
    "Doesn't it just make you mad?" she asked before she could stop the words. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way."
    "Yes, actually it does. It's very frustrating for me. Especially colors, which I wish I could see. I know hot and cold, red is like hot, blue is like cold, and purple somewhere in between. It's all a jumble in my mind sometimes. And babies, like Jacob. I would just like to see him once, get a picture in my mind."
    "Oh he's just lovely," Bethany said softly, "such an expressive little face. He just lights up when he sees you. I think he can feel your warmth."
    "Thank you. That's very nice."
    They rode along what she thought was his property line, a wide swath of trails, until Mutty led the horses back to the barn.
    "That was wonderful," she said to Matthew after she dismounted somewhat awkwardly. "I'm not sure if I'm a horse person, but I did have a great time. Now I have to go back and face the beast," she laughed.
    But the agent, although acting well in the house, was right in her face again as she opened her back car door at the end of her day to throw in her briefcase.
    "Would you like to go for a drink?" he asked, standing entirely too close to her.
    "No. Thank you." She moved quickly to the driver's side door and slid in.
    Unfortunately, her car window was all the way open and he leaned on it now. "Sure? I know of this really nice place. We could have dinner."
    She decided she'd had enough of this and enough of him. "I'm sorry, but not only am I in a relationship," she thought of Matthew then, "but I also have home commitments. Now, you'll excuse me." And she rolled up her window fast, before he could comment, and drove home.
     
    Matthew and Nat stood at the window. "What's happening?" Matthew asked his friend.
    "She got rid of him. Not to worry. Now he's driving away."
    "Good. Do me a favor and check on her from time to time tomorrow would you? I've got that meeting in town and I can't miss it. She really doesn't like him at all, does she?"
    "I don't think so, my man. Go ahead to your meeting. I've got you covered."
     
    But, as she came into the den the following day, Bethany was dismayed to find Matthew gone. Sarah told her about his meeting, and she calculated about three hours at least for going to and from and the meeting time.
    Donny was badgering her now, he seemed in a hissy mood, and finally she just