She would have preferred to take more time with the mare, but Liam showed up, leading a gorgeous bay stallion that was already saddled and ready to go. Hadley returned his nod before tossing the saddle onto Daisy’s back, settling it in just the right spot and tightening the cinch as if she’d done it last week instead of ten years earlier. Working just as efficiently, she slipped the bit into the mare’s mouth and fitted the headstall into place.
“Ready?”
All at once she became aware of Liam’s attention and grew self-conscious. “I think so.”
“Come on. I’ll work the kinks out of Buzzard while you try out Daisy.”
Leading Daisy, Hadley followed Liam and the bay into the arena. What if she made a complete hash of it and ended up getting dumped? While Hadley fussed with Daisy’s girth and grappled with her nerves, Liam swung up onto the stallion’s back. Buzzard took several steps sideways as Liam settled his weight, but quickly relaxed beneath the pressure of his rider’s legs and the steadiness of Liam’s hands on the reins.
The guy was an amazing rider, and Hadley felt a fangirl moment coming on. Embarrassed at her gawking, she set her foot in the stirrup. Daisy was a little shorter than Lolita, but she felt her muscles protest as she threw her leg up and over the mare’s back. Before she’d completely found her balance, Daisy’s muscles bunched beneath her and the mare crow-hopped a half dozen times while Hadley clung to the saddle horn, laughter puffing out of her with each jolt of Daisy’s four hoofs hitting the ground.
At last the mare got her silliness out of her system and stood still while Hadley retrieved her breath.
“You okay?”
“Fine.” Hadley could feel the broad smile on her face. “Is she going to be like this the whole time?”
“No. She just wanted to make sure you were going to stay on. You passed.”
“She was testing me?” The notion struck Hadley as ludicrous. What sort of horse had Liam put her on?
“She’s a smart horse.” His lips kicked up. “Needs a smart rider.”
Apparently Daisy wasn’t the only one doing the testing. Hadley keyed the mare into a walk and then took five minutes to work through all her gaits. Whoever had trained the palomino had done a fabulous job. She was a dream to ride.
“Let’s go cut some cattle,” Hadley said, all too aware how closely Liam had been observing her.
* * *
Liam didn’t think a woman’s pleasure had ever been as important to him as Hadley’s. Between their lovemaking in Vail and the joy she’d demonstrated cutting cattle today, especially when Daisy had kept a heifer from returning to the herd, he was convinced he would know true happiness only if he continued delighting Hadley.
Would he have felt the same a year ago? Remaining celibate for twelve months had given him a greater appreciation of companionship. Being with Hadley had enabled him to understand the difference between what he’d had with his former girlfriends and true intimacy. Granted, he’d only barely scratched the surface with her. Instinct told him she was rich with complex layers she didn’t yet trust him to see. Moving past her defenses wasn’t anything he wanted to rush. Or force.
He had a good thing going. Why make a mistake and risk losing her?
“That was amazing,” Hadley crowed. Cheeks flushed, eyes dancing with excitement, she was as vibrant as he’d ever seen her. “You knew I’d love this when you suggested I ride her.”
“She’s a natural, boss,” one of the ranch hands commented, his gaze lingering on Hadley longer than Liam liked.
“I figured she would be.”
The urge to growl at the cowboy was nearly impossible to repress. Obviously, Liam wasn’t the only one dazzled by the attractive Ms. Hadley Stratton. And since he hadn’t yet staked a public claim, the rest of the male population assumed she was fair game. That situation was not to his liking. Time he did something to change it.
Liam nudged his stallion forward and cut Hadley off from the admiring cowboys with the ease of someone accustomed to working cattle. “It’s late. We should be getting back to Maggie.”
Her eyes lost none of their sparkle as she nodded. “I’ve probably strained enough muscles for one day.” She laughed. “I can tell I’m going to be in pain tomorrow, but it was worth it.”
“I’m glad you like Daisy.” Liam decided to push his luck. “She could probably stand a little work if you felt inclined.”
Hadley hesitated but shook her head. He was making progress since the last time he’d tried to persuade her to ride. He wanted her to talk to him, to share how she was feeling. They’d discussed her friend’s accident, and Hadley had mulled his suggestion that she move past the guilt that she’d carried for years. Had something about that changed?