As she ran, I leaned back.

I spread my arms wide, and as her mane was flying behind her, so was mine.

I’d never felt more alive than I did in that moment.

This was the world I loved. Moments like these, where it was just she and I and our perfect understanding of each other, were what I lived for. She wanted to run, and I wanted to feel like I was flying.

We stayed on the ridge for as far as we could, dipping into the woods again once we neared the main lodge.

I knew domestic horses had been brought in, and I didn’t think they would mind if I snuck one out, especially for the star.

We drew up to the end of the field, and I jumped off Shiloh. I scrambled over the fence and then ran the length up to the barn. I would need a halter this time. Once inside the barn, I eyed the saddles, not knowing if he would need one but knowing I didn’t have time to grab one I kept going. Part of me churned at the idea. In the truest sense, they weren’t supposed to be strapped down with saddles.

Grabbing a halter and lead rope, one long enough for him to hold on to, I studied all the horses. A few didn’t want me there. Their nostrils flared. They could smell the wild on me, but one didn’t huff or back away. Her eyes were the gentlest I’d seen in a long time. I slipped the halter on, then the lead, and took her out of her stall. Once we were free of the barn and I had shut the door behind us, I tried to swing on to her back. Unfamiliar with the move, the mare shifted away from me, and I had to try again. Only Shiloh and Shoal knew my routine, but once I was on her, I made the clicking sound and urged her ahead. There was no opening at the fence so I had to get her going at full speed. Once we were close, I pulled her head back and she followed my signals. She jumped, her body clearing the fence easily. Shiloh fell in step beside us, following us all the way back to where Brody was still sleeping.

Except he wasn’t.

He was walking on the path, his shirt hanging over his shoulder, and his shorts and shoes on. He was looking down at his phone, frowning and only looking up when he heard us coming.

“Holy shit.”

I circled him with the horse before I slid down to the ground and handed him the rope. “You know how to ride, right?” I saw him earlier on a horse, but I didn’t know his comfort levels about a longer ride.

A gurgled laugh rippled from his throat. He was gawking at the horse, which had started to shift around, feeling his nervousness.

I frowned. “Brody. I saw you before, you were riding.”

He shot me a look. “I’ve ridden you.”

I flushed. “You know what I mean. You’ll need to ride back. It’s a long way.”

He grinned, his eyes darkening at me. “I know. Sorry. I rode a long time ago when I was a kid. I agreed to talk to some therapist who’s coming today. He or she’s going to use horses for therapy.”

“Really?”

He nodded, eyeing the horse again. “What’s his name?”

“Her.” I frowned. “I wouldn’t ever get you a stallion or stud to ride. Gelding, yes, but not them.”

“Yeah.” He laughed shortly, raising a hand to the horse’s neck. “Hey, buddy. Hey, hey.” He said to me, “I have no clue what you just said. I’ll be honest, they all look the same to me.”

Seeing a horsefly, I swatted it away.

Shiloh snorted, shifting sideways to avoid it as well.

“What?” Brody jerked around, alarmed.

I flashed him a quick grin. “She’s just calling you a dumbass.”

He looked at me. “Horses can’t understand what we’re saying. You can’t convince me of that.”

“She can feel emotions.”

“Oh.” He quieted, looking back to the horse I brought him. She was a beautiful chestnut body and mane. “Okay, I guess.” He nodded to her. “You and me, huh? I suppose we’ll get to know each other eventually.” He looked at me, motioning to her back. “How do I get up there?”

I eyed him up and down before doing the same to her. She was giving me a look that said, “Please don’t let him hurt me.”

I patted her on the neck, crooning, “No, no. I won’t.” I pressed my forehead to hers, reassuring her I had good intentions. She sensed my calmness, and her body visibly shook as she settled.

I took the lead rope from Brody and motioned to a rock jutting out over the path farther down. “You can get up there, and I’ll bring her along in front of you. You can get on her that way.”

He looked at her back. “She isn’t saddled.”

“Are you joking?”

He flushed. “You grew up like this. Being around horses is more normal to you than being around people. I get that, but it isn’t for me. I’m used to people, and cars, and motorcycles.” He gestured to the chestnut mare, who had a wary look in her eye again. “I can do sex. I’m very good at sex, but as far as riding another living creature like a horse? It’s been It’s a different ball game for me.”

“I’ve seen you ride for the movie. You handled everything like you knew what you were doing.”

He smirked. “That’s called acting. It’s what I’m damned good at, and that wasn’t long term. Those horses were trained. They knew to take me from spot A to spot B, and not to buck me off on the way.”