He lifted her to the ground, but he didn’t let her go.
Her eyes popped open, and she realized he’d pulled her closer.
“I like the feel of you in my arms.” His eyelids closed a little.
Bedroom eyes, they called them, and boy did he have them in spades. At this moment, he could ask her to burn down the house and, as long as he kept his hands on her, she would.
But she’d much rather he kissed her.
He must have read her mind, because he lowered his head and took her lips with his in a soul-searing kiss.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and angled her head to take the kiss deeper. Her heart pounded and she tingled all over. Her body seemed more alive than it ever had.
By the time she stepped back, she was so out of breath she might have just ran a marathon. It was the best kiss she’d ever had. “Oh, my gosh, how do you do that? Every kiss is better than the one before.”
He grinned. “I have help. The lady in question is a great kisser, and so responsive.”
She lowered her gaze and gave him a small smile. “You know, this isn’t a good idea. I don’t know what my future is. I can’t get involved.”
Ryan took off his cowboy hat and then ran a hand through his hair. He looked her up and down again. “I know. I can’t either. So, okay, outside I have a mounting block. Let’s have you use that.”
The mounting block had a couple of steps on one side, and she walked up them to the top.
Ryan positioned Goldy so the left side of the saddle was next to the mounting block. “Okay, hang on to the horn and bring your right leg over the saddle until you’re seated.”
She did, and it was much easier than trying to lift her foot up a gazillion feet to the stirrup. “That’s great. Now what?”
He led Goldy back into the barn. “Now you’ll just sit there until I get Star saddled.” He let Goldy’s reins rest on the dirt floor of the barn. “Don’t worry she won’t go anywhere.”
Kaylie watched as he did all the same things to Star that he’d done to Goldy. Then he came over to her, picked up the reins and handed them to her. “We’ll ride around the corral first to get you used to the horse and being in the saddle.” He opened the back doors of the barn before mounting, then he led the way out into the corral which was between the barn and the helipad.
Goldy followed Star at a gentle walk.
Kaylie loved the swaying of the horse and the feeling of freedom that came from riding her.
Once in the large corral, Ryan picked up the pace to a fast walk.
Then the gait changed to one where she bounced all over the place.
“Ryan!” Her voice jumped with the horse. “Ryan, I don’t like this.”
He laughed. “No one does. This is a trot, and you need to learn how to ride in all the gaits a horse has, including this one.” In a little while, he touched Star’s side and the horse sprang into a much smoother gait.
Not that Kaylie would release her death grip on the saddle horn, but she found it much easier to stay in balance now. “What is this one called.”
He rode abreast. “This is a lope, and it’s the best gait for both horse and rider. The horse can maintain this speed very easily, and you can stay on for much longer without having to get off and stretch your legs.”
“What happens when I’m out and there is no mounting block to use?”
“Then you’ll use my hands. I won’t let you out of my sight and definitely not out to ride by yourself for some time, regardless of how well you can ride. It’s not safe at least until after you testify.” He slowed the horses to a walk.
“Maybe not even then. I can never go back to being who I was. I’m Kaylie Smith now and forever, but it’s worth it to get that piece of…” Her lips formed a straight line. “Dung…off the street. I’m not naïve enough to believe that someone won’t just take his place, but he’ll be gone. One down and my friend can rest in peace.” Her eyes teared up and she swiped them with a palm.
He regarded her as he rested his left hand on the saddle and his right on his leg. “Would you do it again, even if you had to go through all this hoopla again?”
She narrowed her eyes. “In a heartbeat.”
He nodded. “You’re a good person Kaylie Smith. I’m glad you’re my friend.”