sizing her up as he’d done the first time she had seen him, then left to do his master’s bidding.
“A lady rides sidesaddle,” Alex told her, as if her bottom couldn’t possibly fit the horse any other way. “Come over here, and I’ll show you.” His voice rumbled seductively, while a ray of late-evening sunlight turned his tanned skin a rosy shade of gold. He was smiling down at her, his teeth strong and white, dimples etched appealingly into his face. It was all she could do to look away.
Alex seemed not to notice. Effortlessly hefting a weighty sidesaddle onto a bale of straw, he helped her climb up on the tapestry seat.
“Hook your leg up over the horn.”
She did as she was told, beginning to warm to the game. “Like this?”
“Not exactly. Straighten your spine a little.”
He positioned one hand on her calf, fitting it more carefully, while the other maneuvered her hip into proper position. Nicki felt the warmth all the way to her toes.
“That’s better,” he said softly, but there was tightness in his voice that hadn’t been there before.
“Orange Blossom’s ready,” Patrick called out, and Alex seemed almost grateful. They moved into the corral, where Patrick waited with the dun-colored mare.
“She’s twenty years old,” Alex told Nicki. “Wouldn’t harm a fly.”
She had no time to comment before his hands circled her waist, and he lifted her up on the mare. With controlled, businesslike movements, he looped one leg over the saddle horn while positioning her otherleg in the stirrup. No matter that the horse was so old it could barely stand, it felt wonderful just to be riding again.
“Use the reins to guide her,” Alex instructed, showing her the proper way. “Keep your back straight and your balance centered over the saddle.”
Nicki did as she was told, restraining an urge to charge out the gate and off through the cane fields. By the time it was dark, Alex had taken her through the walk, trot, and canter.
“You’ve got a natural ability for this,” he said, and she felt a little guilty for her deception. “If you like, we can work together in the evenings until you get good enough to go out of the corral.”
Nicki grinned. “That would be marvelous.”
He looked at her oddly. “How old did you say you were?
Oh God, what had she done to set him off? It was hard to play the role of a child when she’d done everything in her power to forget her childhood. “How old?” she repeated, stalling for time.
“Exactly
how old?”
Twelve seemed out of the question. “Thirteen,” she said, and was grateful for the darkness. “I’ll be fourteen in October.” October twenty-fourth was her natal day, at least that much was true.
“You seem older.”
“I was forced to grow up in a hurry.”
He nodded, apparently satisfied. Patrick returned for Orange Blossom, who nickered softly as she was led away. Alex made no attempt to leave, but joined Nicki where she stood by the fence.
“How did it happen?” he finally asked. “How didyou come to be indentured? You’re obviously educated. How in God’s name did you end up in jail?”
Nicki propped her arms on the rail and looked out among the towering oak trees that loomed like great gray shadows in the distance. The last of the light had fled, leaving the corral illuminated by the stars overhead and the round sphere of a moon. She had wondered if he would ask about her past. It didn’t seem likely, yet she had both feared and hoped he would.
“We lost our home in the depression. My father died rather unexpectedly, and my mother and I were left alone. That same year my mother died. They said it was a stroke, but she missed my father so much, I think she died of a broken heart.”
“Surely there was someone you could turn to, someone who would help.”
Your father!
her mind accused.
Your family. We came to you, but you wouldn’t help us.
“Most of our friends were in worse trouble than we were. In the end, I
“A lady rides sidesaddle,” Alex told her, as if her bottom couldn’t possibly fit the horse any other way. “Come over here, and I’ll show you.” His voice rumbled seductively, while a ray of late-evening sunlight turned his tanned skin a rosy shade of gold. He was smiling down at her, his teeth strong and white, dimples etched appealingly into his face. It was all she could do to look away.
Alex seemed not to notice. Effortlessly hefting a weighty sidesaddle onto a bale of straw, he helped her climb up on the tapestry seat.
“Hook your leg up over the horn.”
She did as she was told, beginning to warm to the game. “Like this?”
“Not exactly. Straighten your spine a little.”
He positioned one hand on her calf, fitting it more carefully, while the other maneuvered her hip into proper position. Nicki felt the warmth all the way to her toes.
“That’s better,” he said softly, but there was tightness in his voice that hadn’t been there before.
“Orange Blossom’s ready,” Patrick called out, and Alex seemed almost grateful. They moved into the corral, where Patrick waited with the dun-colored mare.
“She’s twenty years old,” Alex told Nicki. “Wouldn’t harm a fly.”
She had no time to comment before his hands circled her waist, and he lifted her up on the mare. With controlled, businesslike movements, he looped one leg over the saddle horn while positioning her otherleg in the stirrup. No matter that the horse was so old it could barely stand, it felt wonderful just to be riding again.
“Use the reins to guide her,” Alex instructed, showing her the proper way. “Keep your back straight and your balance centered over the saddle.”
Nicki did as she was told, restraining an urge to charge out the gate and off through the cane fields. By the time it was dark, Alex had taken her through the walk, trot, and canter.
“You’ve got a natural ability for this,” he said, and she felt a little guilty for her deception. “If you like, we can work together in the evenings until you get good enough to go out of the corral.”
Nicki grinned. “That would be marvelous.”
He looked at her oddly. “How old did you say you were?
Oh God, what had she done to set him off? It was hard to play the role of a child when she’d done everything in her power to forget her childhood. “How old?” she repeated, stalling for time.
“Exactly
how old?”
Twelve seemed out of the question. “Thirteen,” she said, and was grateful for the darkness. “I’ll be fourteen in October.” October twenty-fourth was her natal day, at least that much was true.
“You seem older.”
“I was forced to grow up in a hurry.”
He nodded, apparently satisfied. Patrick returned for Orange Blossom, who nickered softly as she was led away. Alex made no attempt to leave, but joined Nicki where she stood by the fence.
“How did it happen?” he finally asked. “How didyou come to be indentured? You’re obviously educated. How in God’s name did you end up in jail?”
Nicki propped her arms on the rail and looked out among the towering oak trees that loomed like great gray shadows in the distance. The last of the light had fled, leaving the corral illuminated by the stars overhead and the round sphere of a moon. She had wondered if he would ask about her past. It didn’t seem likely, yet she had both feared and hoped he would.
“We lost our home in the depression. My father died rather unexpectedly, and my mother and I were left alone. That same year my mother died. They said it was a stroke, but she missed my father so much, I think she died of a broken heart.”
“Surely there was someone you could turn to, someone who would help.”
Your father!
her mind accused.
Your family. We came to you, but you wouldn’t help us.
“Most of our friends were in worse trouble than we were. In the end, I
Similar Books
