Read Online Lost Memories (Honky Tonk Hearts) by Sherri Thomas - Free Book Online
Authors: Sherri Thomas
Tags: Contemporary
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with some advertising companies to help bring more business.”
Not sure if she was relieved or upset over his departure, she focused out in the distance.
“I should only be gone for a couple of weeks. When the next big group arrives, I want you to go on the overnighter. We take the vacationers to a designated area in the woods where we camp and cook out. These people have been here before and want to head out right away.
“When are they due in?”
“Not for another three weeks. That should give you enough time to get your bearings. There’re smaller gatherings scheduled between now and then, but not for the camping experience.” His lips set in a grim line. “I’m not sure if I’ll be here or not, but one of my brothers will be with you.”
Not sure what to make of the information he divulged, she nodded.
“This will be the saddle you use whenever you ride.”
Her horse. Her saddle. Her home. She was finally making a new life with new memories. She straightened her spine.
Nick handed the lunge line to her and led the way to the corral. Opening the gate, he motioned her to precede him. He shut the entry and leaned his tall muscular form on the fence.
“Walk him around a bit.”
With the horse building her confidence with each step, Darcy gave her lungs the right to oxygen in slow steady breaths, letting the calming effect wash over her.
“Stand in the center.”
Nick’s baritone voice tingled down her back as he followed her to the sanded area. The heat from his body absorbed into her as he stood close behind. A calloused hand closed over hers, dissolving her strength into a puddle.
“Twirl this end. It will help to get him moving. Then take this hand—” His fingers slid down her arm causing her legs to turn to jelly. “And point the way you want him to go.”
T.J. started off, and Nick let go.
Caught off guard at his sudden absence, she stepped back and collided with Nick’s chest.
His hands went to her waist steadying her.
Her heart fluttered with the contact, but she set the feeling aside to step forward and point with the rope.
The animal started one way then reared to turn the other way.
“You’re confusing him. Point with the hand not holding the line.” Tepid fingers closed around her wrist. “Step out and look to his butt.” He pulled her arms to her belly.
Darcy did as instructed. With his body guiding her movements, her nerve endings shorted out, zapping her senses to full capacity.
The horse stopped, more from Nick’s body language than hers. Her mind, too busy absorbing the strength of the body wrapped around her, refused to focus on the exercise.
He raised her right arm, stuck her forefinger out and twirled the lead in her left, her arms performing as an extension of his own.
T.J. jumped and moved right.
“There ya go. Now stop him and turn him the other way.” The cowboy let go and stepped back.
She missed the connection in an instant. Not having time to dwell, she focused on the horse, and soon had him moving in the direction she indicated.
“Good. Keep him going.”
The relentless instructor guided her through for an hour before he called a halt.
“That’s enough for today. You did real good and catch on quick.” He smiled.
Her head tilted as she embraced the praise and tried to pull the vague memory to the surface.
“You can take him in the back and hose him down.” He went on to instruct her on how to cool the horse. “Then put him out to pasture.”
Needing time to think, to get her hormones under control, she sauntered to the barn.
Chapter Five
The day after Nick left, Darcy finished work later than usual and longed for a soak in the tub. She had just submerged her aching muscles into the hot bath when her cell phone rang.
Drying her hand, she placed the device to her ear. “Hello?”
“Hi, it’s Nick.”
Goose pimples rose on her skin despite the warm water and her eyes closed. He didn’t need to tell her; she recognized his voice the
Not sure if she was relieved or upset over his departure, she focused out in the distance.
“I should only be gone for a couple of weeks. When the next big group arrives, I want you to go on the overnighter. We take the vacationers to a designated area in the woods where we camp and cook out. These people have been here before and want to head out right away.
“When are they due in?”
“Not for another three weeks. That should give you enough time to get your bearings. There’re smaller gatherings scheduled between now and then, but not for the camping experience.” His lips set in a grim line. “I’m not sure if I’ll be here or not, but one of my brothers will be with you.”
Not sure what to make of the information he divulged, she nodded.
“This will be the saddle you use whenever you ride.”
Her horse. Her saddle. Her home. She was finally making a new life with new memories. She straightened her spine.
Nick handed the lunge line to her and led the way to the corral. Opening the gate, he motioned her to precede him. He shut the entry and leaned his tall muscular form on the fence.
“Walk him around a bit.”
With the horse building her confidence with each step, Darcy gave her lungs the right to oxygen in slow steady breaths, letting the calming effect wash over her.
“Stand in the center.”
Nick’s baritone voice tingled down her back as he followed her to the sanded area. The heat from his body absorbed into her as he stood close behind. A calloused hand closed over hers, dissolving her strength into a puddle.
“Twirl this end. It will help to get him moving. Then take this hand—” His fingers slid down her arm causing her legs to turn to jelly. “And point the way you want him to go.”
T.J. started off, and Nick let go.
Caught off guard at his sudden absence, she stepped back and collided with Nick’s chest.
His hands went to her waist steadying her.
Her heart fluttered with the contact, but she set the feeling aside to step forward and point with the rope.
The animal started one way then reared to turn the other way.
“You’re confusing him. Point with the hand not holding the line.” Tepid fingers closed around her wrist. “Step out and look to his butt.” He pulled her arms to her belly.
Darcy did as instructed. With his body guiding her movements, her nerve endings shorted out, zapping her senses to full capacity.
The horse stopped, more from Nick’s body language than hers. Her mind, too busy absorbing the strength of the body wrapped around her, refused to focus on the exercise.
He raised her right arm, stuck her forefinger out and twirled the lead in her left, her arms performing as an extension of his own.
T.J. jumped and moved right.
“There ya go. Now stop him and turn him the other way.” The cowboy let go and stepped back.
She missed the connection in an instant. Not having time to dwell, she focused on the horse, and soon had him moving in the direction she indicated.
“Good. Keep him going.”
The relentless instructor guided her through for an hour before he called a halt.
“That’s enough for today. You did real good and catch on quick.” He smiled.
Her head tilted as she embraced the praise and tried to pull the vague memory to the surface.
“You can take him in the back and hose him down.” He went on to instruct her on how to cool the horse. “Then put him out to pasture.”
Needing time to think, to get her hormones under control, she sauntered to the barn.
Chapter Five
The day after Nick left, Darcy finished work later than usual and longed for a soak in the tub. She had just submerged her aching muscles into the hot bath when her cell phone rang.
Drying her hand, she placed the device to her ear. “Hello?”
“Hi, it’s Nick.”
Goose pimples rose on her skin despite the warm water and her eyes closed. He didn’t need to tell her; she recognized his voice the
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