Free Montana Wrangler by Charlotte Carter

of that,” she muttered.
    â€œYeah, I wouldn’t last long, would I?”
    His arm felt so right around her, his reassuring tone as comforting as a warm winter sweater, she almost forgot how mad she was at him for laughing. Almost!
    And the truth was, she must have looked plain silly trying to get that saddle on backward.
    â€œYou want to try again, Aunt Paige?”
    No!
    â€œI think your aunt has had enough of horses for today,” Jay said. “You go ahead and saddle him up. Take him for a ride to calm him down.”
    Bryan lost no time removing the misplaced saddle and scooping up the blanket to start over.
    â€œI guess I’m a real dunce, aren’t I?” she said.
    â€œNope. It was your first time. Anybody would be nervous.” The corners of his lips quivered.
    Paige was pretty sure Jay had never been anxious or nervous about anything in his life, including rattlesnakes, mountain lions and going to his high school prom. She’d dreaded them all.
    His arm still around her, Jay escorted Paige back into the barn.
    â€œYou all right, child?” Grandpa asked.
    â€œOutside of making a complete fool of myself, I’m fine.”
    â€œYou got spunk, child. No doubt about that.”
    She’d need a lot more than spunk to prove to Jay—and Bryan—that she was worthy of being anyone’s guardian.
    * * *
    When Bryan came back from his ride, Jay had a talk with him.
    â€œI know your aunt looked pretty funny with that saddle business,” he said as Bryan led Bright Star into his stall. “But we shouldn’t laugh at people who make mistakes.”
    The boy looked up at him. “You were laughing.”
    â€œYeah, I know. But I was trying really hard not to.” Which hadn’t been easy. “And I’m going to apologize again at supper. Maybe you should too.”
    Bryan scrunched up his face.
    â€œShe was trying because of you, son.”
    â€œBecause of me?”
    â€œShe really wants you to like her. She’s trying real hard to get to know you.”
    â€œOkay.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll tell her I’m sorry.”
    â€œGood boy!” Jay gave him an encouraging pat on the back.
    * * *
    By the following morning, Jay had to hope Bryan had had better luck saying he was sorry than he had.
    During dinner he had tried to apologize again. She’d wanted none of it. Nearly silent while they ate, she’d retreated to her room after cleaning up the kitchen.
    She’d been equally quiet this morning, finally announcing that after Bryan left for school, she was going to the grocery store.
    Now, as he and Nathan gathered horses in the corral for the morning trail ride, a flock of wild turkeys gobbled their way along the dirt road. A morning dove cooed from the top of the barn.
    Paige wasn’t the talkative kind like those silly turkeys. She was more like the dove, soft and innocent. Defenseless against the way Jay had set her up for failure trying to saddle Bright Star. He worried how he could to make it up to Paige for what he’d done. He shouldn’t have pressed her so hard. He’d known she was scared.
    Effectively throwing her into the deep end had been cruel. He was usually a better man than that. He imagined Annie would have given him what for if she’d been around.
    Paige had torn into him, too, as rightly she should have. All riled up, she was a fiery, beautiful woman. No wonder Henry thought she had spunk.
    So what had gotten into Jay? It wasn’t Paige’s fault Krissy had named her as Bryan’s guardian.
    Working next to Jay, Nathan hefted a saddle onto a mixed-breed gelding named Aladdin, a good trail horse who liked to be at the front of the pack.
    â€œWhat kind of riders have we got this morning?” Nathan asked.
    â€œIt’s two families, total of seven including three kids. One of them hasn’t ridden before.”
    â€œHope none of ’em are as scared