Free Chasing Clovers by Kat Flannery

Rusty, who continued to laugh. The man was a practical joker. He'd moved the outhouse three weeks ago in the middle of the night. John grimaced. Poor old Ken was a mess when he fell into the shit hole. Rusty had never played his tricks on John, and he was thankful. Boyd was choking Rusty now, and John pushed them a part. "Okay, enough. Rusty I need you to saddle a horse for Miss Green. Boyd, go and clean out your boots."
    " This ain't over," Boyd said and walked away.
    Rusty snickered. "It was a good one, Boss." He plucked a piece of hay and stuck it into his mouth. "Boyd will be cleanin' them boots for a while."
    " Yeah, yeah, but you may want to ease up on the jokes Rusty. It's no way to make friends."
    " I suppose," he said thoughtfully.
    John patted him on the back. "By the way, make sure you saddle the mare in the far stall."
    " Sure thing, Boss."
    " Lead the horse out front of the barn. I'll grab it in a minute."
    The other man nodded, and John went to find Ezekiel. He needed to ask him if he could watch Ben and Emily for a few hours while he took Livy for a ride. He 'd meant to go riding alone, but when he'd seen Clive talking with her, he changed his mind, marched over and invited her to come along. He shook his head as he rounded the corner of the cook shack. Ezekiel stood outside, hands deep in suds, as he scrubbed out one of his pots.
    The other man smiled when he saw John approach. "Boss."
    " Ezekiel, could you watch Emily and Ben for me for the rest of the afternoon? I'm taking Miss Green for a ride." He hoped the cook wasn't so busy that he wouldn't be able to do him the favor.
    " That'd be fine." His large dark hands placed the cloth over the metal container he used as a sink, and his full lips tilted into a smirk. "I could use a break anyway."
    " Much appreciated."
    " Any time, Boss."
    He'd come to think of Ezekiel as more than one of his hired hands. He had often relied on him to watch Ben and Emily after their Ma had died, and when Alice couldn't get away. Walking back to get Livy's horse, he watched as a few of his men fixed the gate on a corral.
    The mare he had asked Rusty to saddle for Livy was tied to the fence, and chomping on some grass. His own horse, a black stallion named Midnight had meandered close by. He smelled the mare, John was sure.
    Grabbing Midnight 's reins, he pulled the animal's head close, "Don't even think about it."
    Midnight shook his head and grunted, stomping his front hooves on the ground .
    " You heard me fella, not today." He held his horse close until he settled down. Still holding Midnight's reins, he went over to grab Livy's horse and lead her to the back of the house.
    She was waiting for him on the back step. Her blue dress contrasted with the brown cowboy hat that sat lopsided on top of her head. Her brown hair hung in a long braid, draped over her front shoulder. She was a sight―that was for sure. She stood out like a three-eared rabbit, and not in a bad way.
    " Ready?" He offered her his hand. She reached out, and he noticed her hands shaking before she clasped onto the horn of the saddle. He helped her onto the mare. Her body stiffened under his touch, and he knew she was uncomfortable. She wasn't heavy, not that he was surprised. Her waist was so tiny he was sure he could wrap both his hands around it.
    " Ever ride before?" he swung up onto his own horse.
    " A bit."
    " Well, it ain't too hard. Pull on the left rein to go left and the right to go right." He gestured with his own ropes, "If you want to go fast, dig your heels into her side and lay low. But don't forget to hang on."
    She bobbed her head.
    " Got it?"
    " I think so."
    " I'll take it nice and slow, till you get the swing of things." He clicked his tongue and the black horse trotted off. The mare followed suit.
    They rode for over a half hour at a slow, steady pace. He was determined to let her get the feel of the horse. When he glanced back at her, she sat stiff in the saddle, her body not moving in rhythm