Free Black Hills Bride by Deb Kastner Page B

ride, she just knew it.
    “Is he what you’re looking for?” John asked when she didn’t speak. “I don’t mean to sound pushy, but as it happens, I’ve got another buyer who is extremely interested in this gelding. He’s coming by this afternoon, in fact. I’ll let you have first dibs at this fine fellow, but I can’t hold him for you until you make a decision. I hope you understand.”
    She nodded, then mentally faltered. Faking another buyer was the oldest salesman trick in the book. Was she being conned by this sweet yet gruff old man?
    “I think I’d…” She wished she’d invited Erik along. He’d know for sure if she was making a wise choice.
    She didn’t even know what other questions to ask, what else to check out, other than his gait and any obvious outward faults.
    Erik would know.
    Should she ask to ride the horse before she bought him? What if Victory had some inward, hidden fault she couldn’t see with the naked eye? Something a true horseman like Erik would recognize.
    “I wondered if I could—or you, I guess—could ride him for a minute?”
    John immediately shook his head. “Sorry, ma’am. Can’t do.”
    He lifted up one of Victory’s legs, slapping the horse on the neck when he shied away. Gripping Victory’s leg between his knees, he pointed to the bottom of the hoof. “He’s not shod. You’ll have to have that done before you can ride him.”
    “Oh.” She was both disappointed and embarrassed at not knowing better. A real horsewoman would know such things.
    Heat flared to her cheeks as she mentally stammered over what to say next.
    But then she realized it didn’t matter whether or not she rode the horse now, or even whether there might be some sort of fault with him. Even if she never once rode this horse in her lifetime, he was her horse.
    She’d have him shod this afternoon, and then she’d learn to ride him, no matter what quirks he might have. Even if it took her a year to become proficient in the basics.
    It didn’t matter. She already felt a growing love for Victory, and sensed instinctively he would return the affection she gave.
    Since she didn’t bring Erik to check the horse out, she’d have to follow her heart on this one and trust in God for the rest.
    Maybe it was foolish, but there it was. She’d waited her whole life for this moment.
    “I want to buy him.”
    Her heart lightened the moment the words were out of her mouth. Everything was going to work out. It had to. God had brought her this far. He wasn’t going to let her down now, not with the fulfillment of a lifelong dream right here in front of her.
    John smiled, this time the genuine article. He looked years younger, the hard lines on his face fading.
    “What does Mrs. Needleson think of this beauty?” she asked, lightly probing about his personal life.
    His mouth immediately became a thin, hard line that matched the ice in his gaze. She sighed inwardly, wishing she’d kept her big mouth shut and left well enough alone. But she was only trying to be neighborly.
    “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
    “It’s okay,” he said gruffly, interrupting her apology with a wave. “Cathy died two years ago. This is her mare’s foal.”
    “I’m sorry,” she said again. “Really.” Her heart broke for the man. He obviously missed his wife desperately. Even the birth of his wife’s mare’s foal brought back painful memories.
    She reached out, placing a gentle hand on his forearm, wanting to lend whatever small comfort she could. “It must be very hard for you.”
    He snatched his arm away and glared at her. “It’s okay. Now, do you want this horse or don’t you?”
    She opened her mouth to speak, but her throat was dry.
    Raising one eyebrow, he looked at his watch and shrugged.
    Dixie decided to ignore his harsh tone and narrow attitude, writing it off as inner pain he wasn’t ready to deal with. It was only natural he’d have misgivings when faced with so many tender