Free Fated for Love by Melissa Foster Page B

sun.
    “Sorry I’m such trouble,” Callie answered.
    It was that sweet, caring side of her, he realized, that made her so different from the women he was used to. She wasn’t feigning helplessness, and she was far from helpless. She was trying to keep up with her friends in an unfamiliar world with her pride intact, and he respected the hell out of her for it.
    “You’re no trouble at all.” He held the reins in one hand and tightened his arm around her waist. “We’re going to move up this hill, so hold on.”
    She gripped his forearm as they climbed the slight incline with Sweets trotting along beside them.
    He glanced over his shoulder and found the others smiling and happy, riding along like they’d been born on horseback. He wondered what Callie’s life was like when she was growing up and what her parents were like. Did she have these fears because of past experiences, or had she never been given the chance to face the things that scared her? Had they gotten blown out of proportion in her mind? He hoped he’d get to know her well enough to find out.
    At the creek, they dismounted and stretched from the long ride.
    “I haven’t been on a trail ride for so long. I forgot how freeing it feels.” Bonnie came to Callie’s side. “What did you think?”
    “Breathtaking.”
    Callie flashed Wes a smile that made his stomach do something weird. He focused on filling a water bowl for Sweets, then walked the horses over to the creek while Callie’s friends ooh ed and aah ed over the views. He noticed that Callie stayed far back from where the mountain sloped. Sweets hurried over to her and rubbed against her leg. Callie held on to a tree as she crouched to pet her.
    “Cal, come look at the pastures in the valley. They’re incredible.” Kathie held a hand out toward Callie.
    “I can see from here.” Callie remained beside Sweets, and Sweets ate up the attention, rolling onto her back with her legs pointed up toward the sky and her tongue lolling from her droopy lips. “You like that, huh, girl?”
    He knew he shouldn’t eavesdrop, but he loved hearing her with Sweets, and he wondered what she had to say about their ride up the mountain—and about him.
    Kathie crouched beside Callie. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
    “Mm-hm.”
    “The creek’s beautiful. Let’s lay out in the sun.” Kathie rose and pulled Callie to her feet.
    Callie’s eyes shifted toward the slope of the mountain, and Wes could tell by the way she threw her hands behind her and latched on to a tree that she’d gotten a good look at the miles of space between where they stood and the mountain range across the enormous, seemingly bottomless gap in between. She slammed her eyes shut.
    He took a step toward her, then hesitated, aware of how hard she’d tried to appear brave in front of him and her friends. He reluctantly turned back to the horses. He didn’t want to overstep his bounds or smother her.
    “Callie?” Kathie asked after her.
    Bonnie stopped taking pictures and went to her. “Uh-oh. Cal, how did you get up here if you can’t even look out at the view?”
    “I had my eyes shut,” she said in a loud whisper.
    Wes fought the urge to whip his head around at that. He clenched his jaw. Eyes shut? Good Lord.
    “The whole way?” Bonnie asked.
    “Mm-hm.”
    He heard twigs and leaves crunching beneath their feet as they walked deeper into the woods. He chanced a glance. They were huddled together beside a tree, with Sweets pressed against Callie’s leg. Lucky Sweets .
    A few minutes later, he said, “Okay, ladies. Ready for lunch?” He drew everyone’s attention except Callie’s, whose eyes were riveted to the ground.
    Aw, Christ.
    He should have known better than to bring her on the trail. Hell, she should have known better than to go . He wondered why she’d agreed to come along if she had to ride up with her eyes closed. Maybe she’s as drawn to me as I am to her . He chewed on that for a few minutes, and it