Free The Belligerent Miss Boynton AND The Lurid Lady Lockport (Two Companion Full-Length Regency Novels) by Kasey Michaels Page A

if he chose. We challenge you to a race!" she shouted with unladylike glee as she expertly launched herself onto the saddle.
    The crowd in the stable yard immediately roared its approval, but their pleasure was to be short lived. Jared rode over to Amanda and whispered in her ear, "Haven't you made a sufficient spectacle of the two of us, Amanda? I suggest we move on and let these people get back about their business."
    "Oh, how poor spirited of you," Amanda countered, but she saw the wisdom of his words. They certainly had become the center of all attention, and the innkeeper would be sure to remember them if her stepfather should pass this way. A rescue from Jared that included Peregrine Denton was like no rescue at all.
    "All right, I agree, my lord, but only if you will do me the honor of allowing me to have the opportunity to see you eat your words about Tempest once we reach the open country."
    "We shall see who dines on vowels this evening, Amanda. But I concur. A test is called for."
    They rode out of the inn yard amid the muttered protests of the disappointed customers, who were already laying down their blunt on the outcome of the race. Jared would not have been too pleased to find that Amanda was already the decided favorite at five-to-one odds.
     
    #
     
    They rode on for a few miles until they reached a large open field not yet sown. Jared swiveled in his saddle and addressed Amanda. "I believe a gallop from here to that far fence should be a sufficient test of our animals. Do you agree?"
    Amanda did, and at the count of three they were off, racing across the field. Devil took the lead and held it for some time, but when Jared cast a look over his shoulder he could see the triumphant grin on Amanda's face. She was obviously holding Tempest back! As they neared the fence the stallion passed by as if Jared's horse was standing still and Amanda never slackened pace as horse and rider easily cleared the high barrier.
    She rode on a few yards, then reined in to catch the look on Jared's face, her blood chilling as she realized he was going to try to jump the fence! The fool, she worried frantically, no ordinary horse could do such a thing. She watched in horror as Devil approached the jump, and her heart went into her throat as the big black stallion gathered its legs for the leap.
    For a moment it appeared as if Devil had made it, cleared the barrier, but then one hind leg caught the top rail and horse and rider somersaulted over the fence, to land in the soft grass at Amanda's feet.
    She slid off Tempest and ran to Jared's side. Devil was already up and standing dazedly a few feet away; a quick glance told her he would not run off. She dropped to her knees beside Jared's still form and held her breath as she looked for any signs of life.
    He lay so still that for a moment she thought he had broken his neck—which would have served him right, even if she might feel some responsibility for his death. And wasn't that just like the man? No matter what she did, she found her life increasingly tangled with his with every passing moment. She pressed her ear to his chest, desperate for any sign of life, and could hear his heart still beating, causing her to give a soft exclamation of relief.
    Not that she cared. Because she didn't. She couldn't!
    Hurriedly she ran her hands over his body to feel for any breaks but found no obvious sign of injury until her fingers encountered the rapidly rising bump on the back of his head. That couldn't be good. Slowly she raised his head and positioned it on her lap, stroking his black hair back from his forehead as she softly called his name. "Jared, Jared, don't you dare die on me. Oh, you stupid, headstrong man, how could you try such a thing? Please, please wake up!"
    She rested her cheek against his forehead and rocked his head back and forth in her lap, continuing her crooning until at last Jared showed some signs of life.
    Amanda quickly lowered his head to the grass and got to her