She could handle this. It was walking, and she settled into the steady, swaying rhythm within the first minute.
As soon as they’d cleared the stables and outdoor arena, Blake whispered, “You’re doing great.”
“Are you cheering on Burgundy or me?” Everly asked.
“You. I can feel your heart beating against my chest, and it’s finally starting to settle down.”
Heat rushed up Everly’s neck and into her face. She leaned forward, but Blake’s strong arms wrapped around her, stilling her.
“Don’t move away. I like having you this close.”
Everly settled back against him, and every nerve ending on her skin zinged. She’d never been this close to Blake before, probably not any man, and the rush was a lot like taking that first plunge on a roller coaster—terrifying and exhilarating.
Blake leaned close to whisper in her ear, “It’s racing again.”
His words were drawing her in, and she resisted the urge to melt into him. “Stop that. You’re making me nervous.”
“There’s no reason to be nervous. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Yeah, nothing except making her want his arms tighter around her. That was just as dangerous as falling off a horse, wasn’t it?
When she finally relaxed, she let her mind wander. She loved to read about adventures, and descriptions in books always captured her attention as they detailed things she might never get to do or see. She’d traveled a lot, but most of that time was spent in hotel rooms studying or attending football games wherever Ridge was playing at the time. She’d gotten to see so much, and yet so little.
It wasn’t long before Blake clicked his tongue, followed by a deep, “Whoa.”
“Is this it?” They’d just entered a semi-circle clearing by what she assumed was Wolf Creek. The water moved slowly, half frozen from last night’s frigid temperatures.
“This is it. It’ll be a good midday trail for couples or small families. The trail isn’t strenuous on the horses, and small groups could easily pack a picnic.”
Everly surveyed the spot. Blake definitely knew what he was doing. No wonder trail riders came from all over the country to ride at Wolf Creek. “It’s perfect. How long have you been working on this one?”
Blake leaned forward, keeping one arm around her as he adjusted to dismount. “Not too long, but I wanted it to be ready before the spring season.” He landed gently for a man his size. “Swing your leg over and keep a grip on the horn. I won’t let you fall.”
Everly did as she was told and ungracefully slid down Burgundy’s side, landing with a jolt on her feet. Blake’s hands found her waist and settled her.
“You okay?”
Everly swiped her hands down her shirt and over her hair. “All good.” Trying to take the attention off herself, she whistled low as she looked around. “What all do you have to do to get a trail ready?”
Blake untied a blanket roll from behind the saddle that she hadn’t noticed. “Clear the trail area and any resting or overnight sites. Make sure there aren’t places that might wash out in a storm. Take down dead trees that might fall and block the path. Stuff like that.”
Everly followed Blake as he headed for the creek bank. “It doesn’t look like you cleared anything here.”
He fanned the blanket out and smoothed any wrinkles. “I did. This was mostly a wooded area. I dug up stumps, filled in the holes, replanted grass, and took out a few bigger stones that I could get out of here without heavy machinery. I didn’t want the trail to be that wide, and the machines sometimes do more harm than good.”
“Are you serious? This looks so natural.”
Blake gestured for her to sit on the blanket. “That’s why I’m the best trail manager at Wolf Creek.”
Everly laughed. “You’re the only one, but apparently, you’re a good one.” She sat on the blanket and tucked her knees to her chest. “I’m so thankful we found this place.”
Blake sat beside her, stretching one leg out and propping an arm on the bent one. “Me too. And that we got jobs here. It’s like things fell into place for us.”
“Things could have been a lot worse, especially for Ridge,” Everly said low.
Blake laid back and propped his hands behind his head. “This place is good for him.”
Everly looked over her shoulder. She’d seen Blake in his work environment both when he played football and when he negotiated multi-million-dollar contracts for professional athletes, but she’d never seen him as happy as now. He worked the same long hours, but they didn’t seem to take the same toll on him. “It was good for all of us.”