Free Wild About the Wrangler by Vicki Lewis Thompson Page A

should.” She took another swallow of the coffee and bit into the energy bar. Her eyes were growing brighter in tandem with the rising sun.
    It was compelling, watching her wake up with the sun, but he couldn’t let himself continue to do it. Staring at her for any length of time was a bad idea. His thoughts were either tender or lustful, and neither of those emotions had any place in the proceedings.
    He cleared his throat. “Tell you what. While you drink your coffee and eat your energy bar, I’ll take Jasper out of his stall and tie him to the hitching post outside. That way he’ll be ready for you to brush him.”
    â€œOkay.” She remained standing in the exact middle of the aisle.
    â€œYou might want to move over to the side while I do that.”
    â€œOh!” Showing quite a bit more animation, she backed toward the wall where her messenger bag hung.
    Ed glanced at Mac. “Guess I’ll let you get on with it while I go have my breakfast. Let me know if you need anything.”
    â€œThanks, Ed. I will.” As Ed left the barn, Mac looked at Anastasia with what he hoped was an encouraging smile. “This’ll be so easy. Like falling off a log.”
    â€œRight.” She shoved the unfinished energy bar into her vest pocket.
    â€œYou have time to finish that while I take him out.”
    â€œNot hungry.”
    Apparently she was awake enough to be scared. He felt her attention on him as he grabbed a lead rope and unlatched Jasper’s stall. Up to this point she’d seemed to have forgotten why she was here.
    Maybe the caffeine had kicked in, because the prospect of a horse walking right past her obviously had penetrated her sleep-fogged brain. After clipping the rope in place, Mac started to lead Jasper out of the stall.
    Anastasia had backed closer to the wall and stood clutching her coffee mug in both hands as if it could serve as a shield. With her straggling hair, untucked shirt, and hastily pulled on boots, she looked like a waif lost in the storm. His heart lurched.
    This must be the vulnerability that Georgie saw in her little sister and now he saw it, too. But Anastasia had asked him to be tough on her, to push her out of her comfort zone so that she could overcome her fear. He hadn’t realized how difficult that might turn out to be.
    Instead he wanted to hold her, comfort her, and protect her from anything scary. That attitude wouldn’t help her at all. Taking a deep breath, he vowed to be the kind of teacher she needed.
    He paused. “On second thought, why don’t you put that mug down and come on over here on his right side? We’ll lead him out together.”
    Her eyes widened and she swallowed. She also didn’t move. She remained frozen to the spot.
    â€œHe likes you. You’re the person who scratched his neck for so long that you nearly put him in a trance. He knows you’re back and he’s hoping for more of the same. You don’t want to disappoint this poor horse, do you?”
    â€œNo.” She crouched down without losing eye contact and put the mug on the floor. Then she straightened. Holding his gaze, she walked slowly toward him.
    In any other context, it would have been an extremely sexy thing to do. But he was fairly sure she didn’t have sex on her mind. She was fixated on him so she wouldn’t have to look at the big scary horse standing
right there.
    â€œGreat. When you get over here, take hold of his rope and we’ll go out the door. It’s not far. Remember, he thinks you’re great.”
    She nodded. Once she had a grip on the rope, she faced forward immediately. “It’s a lot different when he’s out of the stall.” Her voice was tight with strain.
    â€œI know. That’s why I wanted you to get used to him while he was contained. Your sketches are of a kind horse, a cooperative horse, one who likes people, especially pretty ladies who scratch his