Heirly Ever After

by Vernon, Magan

  Did the horse like that? What if it bit or bucked him?

  Ugh.

  I didn’t want to ask Jacob for any more favors, but I was way over my head with all of this stuff, and if my sister insisted we do weird things like ride horses with her future sister-in-law, then I owed it to her to try and not to make an ass of myself.

  “Yes, sir, both Buttermilk and Satin are ready to ride, just as you and Lord Gavin requested.”

  “I’ll help Miss Madison with Buttermilk, then I’ll take Satin,” Jacob said, taking over the situation.

  The man nodded before opening the gate and tugging on a small leather rope attached to the horse from somewhere. There were so many different random leather things on her face and her back that I wasn’t sure what was what.

  If I had asked my sister for the wifi password, maybe I could have googled a bit more about horseback riding before this.

  The large black helmet and stiff pants with knee-length brown boots Natalie had picked for me didn’t look particularly great—not that I was trying to impress the horse. Or Jacob, who filled out the riding boots and pants way better than I did. Including the helmet.

  Damn him for being handsome and helpful.

  Jacob reached for my hand, and I shot it back, which caused the horse to whinny, glaring at me with its large coal eyes. Or at least I interpreted it as a glare.

  “Madison.” Jacob’s voice was soft as he rubbed his palm along Buttermilk’s mane. “Rapid movements like that can scare the horse. You wouldn’t want her to crap on your new riding boots, would you?” He was smiling that damn cute dimpled grin that made me want to sigh.

  But I held my ground, narrowing my eyes at his words. “You tried to hold my hand. I told you, friends helping each other with this wedding.”

  He shook his head then smiled at the horse. “She thinks it’s all about her, doesn’t she? Didn’t realize I was just trying to take her hand to pet ye.”

  “You don’t have to try and make the horse like you better,” I grumbled.

  With his free hand, he reached for mine again, and this time, instead of flinching, I let the magnetic curl of his touch wind through my fingers. He pulled our intertwined hands together and glided them along the horse’s mane, letting the thick locks fall against my palm.

  “The first step to riding is to get acquainted with your horse. A good neck scratch will usually get them on your side.” His words were gentle as he moved our hands together against the horse’s mane.

  “I always thought a horse would feel different,” I said, watching as the big creature slowly closed her eyes then opened them again.

  Jacob let go of my hand, and a cold crept along my fingertips. I felt an itching to have his hand back in mine.

  Get a freaking grip, Mads.

  “We used to have a few stallions and mares on our property. My sister’s was the only left, but a buyer came for him last week.” His words were pinched, his eyes not meeting mine as he handed me a bristled brush.

  “The MacWebleys are no longer horse fans?” I asked, running my hand through Buttermilk’s long mane.

  “Something like that.” I wanted to press on what he meant, but as if he realized what I was going to say, he cleared his throat. “So, after you groom her, I’ll help you get mounted.”

  I found heat flooding my face and pushed my head to the side of Buttermilk, focusing on running my fingers along her mane until her breathing steadied. My own breathing slowed down, as if petting this horse not only calmed down her nerves, but my own as well. Maybe all that talk about people going to rehab with horses wasn’t just a crock.

  “I, um, yeah. I’m ready when you are,” I said, trying to keep my voice from turning into a stuttering mess.

  He grabbed a small stool and set it down beside me. “This is a mounting block to help you get on.”

  He patted the stiff wooden box before looking up at me. His smoldering green eyes were so intense I couldn’t look away even as he held his hand out to me.

  “Are you ready?”

  Was I?

  No.

  Yet did I stop looking or push his hand away?

  Also no.

  I sucked in a deep breath before putting down the brush. Slipping my hand into his, I eased my feet onto the block, my other arm shooting straight out to my side as I wobbled.

  Jacob’s hand steadied at my waist, the roughness of his palm pressing through my shirt.

  “Now you’re going to put your left foot here.” Jacob kept one hand on my hip, the other shaking a leather stirrup.

  “Okay.”

  I kept my focus on moving my foot and not kicking the horse. Or trying to think about the way Jacob’s thumb moved in a clockwise motion as if he was giving me a little massage while explaining.

  I probably should have kept pushing the whole “friends thing,” but the rhythmic pattern of his hand did help to slow my nervous heartbeat. Even if it was only for a moment before he opened his mouth again.

  “All right, now you’re going to swing your right leg over the horse, grab onto her mane as you do so, and slide into the saddle.”

  My heart went from a steady rhythm to a drum solo banging inside my chest.

  “What? You want me to pull the horse’s hair and just hoist myself over her? I’ll end up just pissing her off and she’ll kick me off. Then I’ll have to go and find an English doctor and see if they’ll even take me as a patient if I’m not dead.”

  The smile widened on his face as he shook his head. “You’re cute but have obviously never ridden a horse or know that’s where you’re supposed to grab them.”

  I narrowed my eyes, trying to think of a snappy retort.

  Then he stepped behind me, both hands on my waist as his warm breath blew against my shoulders. “Don’t worry, I know you say you’re not a damsel in distress, but your Prada Knight won’t let you fall. We’ll do this together, right?”

  A small gasp escaped my lips, and I hoped he didn’t hear it. Or felt how my body stiffened in his hands. “Okay,” I whispered.

  With his hands steady on my waist, I hoisted my leg over, pulled hard, and propped myself on the giant beast, who bobbed her head a bit.

  Jacob kept one hand on my side and the other against the horse’s head. He whispered, “Shhhh,” running his hand along the horse’s mane. Even though his attention was on her, his fingers back to making those small circles against my skin.

  Damn, he was good.

  “Are you all right?”

  I met his gaze. He looked genuinely concerned, his eyes wide, head tilted slightly.

  “Yeah. I’m good.” I swallowed hard, trying to right myself, even though there was a giant animal underneath me that could probably buck me off at any time. And a very sexy man in front of me, looking at me with the most gorgeous set of green eyes I’d ever seen.

  He nodded. “Great. I’m going to mount Satin, and I’ll come to you. Don’t move.”

  Like I could, even if I wanted to.

  I absentmindedly ran my fingers down the horse’s soft mane, trying to focus on the movement and the feel of the thick strands going through my fingers.

  Buttermilk let out a snort, and I froze.

  “You’re okay, right? No bucking me off?”

  I didn’t know if she understood me, but I swore she slightly nodded her head.

  “Okay, good,” I whispered, rubbing the side of her head.

  A large black horse trotted next to us, Jacob holding onto the reins, looking like one of those regal soldiers or princes from fairy tales. I’d never seen a lord in any fairy tale, then again, I wasn’t like my sister and into reading those sorts of things.

  And there was no way in hell this guy was my Prince Charming. A prince always got the princess, not the princess’s sister.

  “You’re going to have to let go of B
uttermilk’s hair and grab on to the reins if you want to ride,” Jacob said, nodding toward the leather strap near her neck.

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I knew that.”

  Nope. Didn’t realize that at all.

  I grabbed the leather strap just as Jacob positioned the horse so we were directly side by side. My horse followed the lead of his, moving so we faced the open doorway of the barn.

  I expected to see rows of green grass and whatever else was on this huge property. There was the green grass, but in the doorway stood a line of dogs, along with Gavin. Big white furry ones, a large black one that looked like a baby hippo, and a few other various shades of fluff, all lined up like they were a firing squad.

  “Um, what’s going on?” I asked, looking at Jacob, who had his eyes forward, a large grin on his face.

  “Ah, those are the property dogs I met earlier,” Jacob said. “They’ll move once we get started. May even follow us on our ride.”

  I sat up straight, like an invisible string pulled me. “What? They’ll just move? What if they don’t? I don’t want to be responsible for crushing a bunch of dogs.”

  He laughed, shaking his head. “Don’t worry. They’ll move.”

  I wanted to ask him how he knew for sure, but before I could, he made a clicking sound with his teeth, his boots lightly tapping against the horse before they took off at a trot toward the door.

  The dogs parted then pranced beside the horse, their tongues wagging in the air like this was their favorite playmate.

  “Okay, smart-ass, maybe you were right,” I mumbled to myself.

  Then I looked down at the horse, and dread filled me. I shot my head up, wide-eyed, watching the backside of Jacob’s horse get smaller and smaller as he trotted away.

  “Hey! How am I supposed to get out of here?” I yelled.

  “I believe in you and Buttermilk,” he yelled back, but it came as a softened echo through the barn.

  “Jerk.”

  I let out a deep breath and nodded to myself. “Okay, we can do this, girl, right?” I patted her head then took the reins with both hands. Then I made the clicking sound with my teeth, trying to mimic the same one that Jacob had.

  Nothing.

  Buttermilk didn’t even snort back.

  Okay.

  I looked up, seeing the dogs and Jacob watching me a few yards ahead.

  Blinking slowly, I waited, thinking there was no way he’d just leave me there and eventually come to help me. It could have been seconds, it could have been hours, but neither the dogs nor the horse moved.

  Gripping the reins hard, I tried to right myself and control my heartbeat that I was pretty sure was also pulsing right into the back of my neck.

  “Okay, Buttermilk. We can do this. All right? No bucking me off and I’ll take you out.”

  No response from the horse.

  I closed my eyes then opened them gently.

  Clenching my teeth together, I made a clicking sound like Jacob before lightly tapping my boot against the horse.

  No movement.

  Okay, maybe a little harder.

  Tap. Tap.

  Nothing.

  Okay…harder.

  Maybe I needed to pull the reins, too.

  Pull.

  Nothing.

  Okay, Pull and Tap.

  PULL. PULL. PULL.

  TAP. TAP. TAP.

  Buttermilk took off in a full-on sprint out the door. The wind whipped through her hair and over my face as we zoomed past the barking dogs.

  “Hey, Buttermilk, whoa!” I leaned forward, gripping the reins as hard as I could.

  How did I stop her?

  What if she never stopped?

  Would we just run forever until she kicked me off?

  I just kept my body as close as I could to the horse, gripping onto the reins and her hair, hoping like hell I could stay on.

  “Whoa, girl,” a loud voice called, but I didn’t lift my head. Not until a streak of black rushed in front of us, and then Buttermilk came to a full halt, snorting just as Jacob and Satin stopped in front of us.

  I held on to Buttermilk, looking down at her mane, not sure I could even get up right now without throwing up everywhere. My head was spinning.

  Jacob murmured a few things, then I heard his boots clomp to the ground and the grass crunch under his feet.

  His warm hands were again at my side, tracing small circles on my skin. “Are you okay?”

  I let out a deep breath out then in, keeping my head down. “You seriously just left me.”

  “I’m so sorry. I thought she would just follow. I didn’t realize you’d get a little overzealous and she’d go in a sprint.”

  I shot my head up, narrowing my eyes as I stared down at him. “I told you I’d never ridden a horse, and you just took off. Why the hell would you do that?”

  He shook his head as he ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry, Madison. I wasn’t thinking. I thought I was doing the right thing by teaching you that way.”

  “Well, it wasn’t.”

  “I know, I messed up, okay? I keep messing up with you, and I’m sorry,” he spat.

  “Is this just about me or something else?” I whispered.

  He sighed, putting one hand on the side of the horse, the other back to tracing circles on my skin. The same calming effect he’d used before. Though maybe he should have been calming the horse more instead of me. “I don’t know.”

  He then finally looked up, and it was as if all my fears melted away in that emerald green stare. “I’m sorry, Madison.”

  That could have meant so many things in that moment.

  About the horse.

  About not telling me who he was.

  I should have still been angry at him, but there was a deeper feeling behind his apology.

  “It’s okay. I’m okay,” I said, sitting up.

  “Do you want me to help you off and I can take them both back to the barn?”

  I shook my head. “No. If I’m going to ride with my sister, I need to learn now.”

  He licked his lips, his eyes slightly narrowed as if he was in thought. Then he finally nodded. “Right. Stay here and I’ll ride right next to you. No taking off this time.”

  “That sounds like a way better idea than your original plan.”

  He smirked, squeezing my waist. “Yeah, yeah. No need to rub it in now.”

  My body still seared, even as he removed his hand and got back on his horse with a fluidity that I could never have.

  He circled the horse back so we were next to each other. “Okay, we’re going to do this slowly this time.”

  “Yes. Slowly.”

  I followed his lead, and Buttermilk made her move alongside the large black beast to our right. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding in, finally able to look around at the lush green scenery.

  I’d lived in North Carolina all my life and was used to large pines that dotted every part of the landscape. Webley was almost like a different world with the rolling hills and dozens of irises everywhere there wasn’t a blooming birch tree. It was as if each piece of landscape had been chosen for this location to make it look like something out of a painting.

  “It’s peaceful out here, isn’t it?” Jacob said, breaking the silence.

  “Yeah, I guess, if you don’t have allergies.”

  “Do you?”

  I shook my head, laughing as I glanced at his worried gaze. “No.”

  He laughed in return, and I found myself smiling at the wonderful sound. “Good to see you’re not too angry at me to make a joke.”

  “Oh, I’m still not entirely happy with you, but I’m also afraid if I yell at you, I’ll scare this horse. I’d prefer her not to run away again.”

  He let out a big breath,
shaking his head. “I’m sorry I messed up.”

  “It’s not your fault. I probably should have paid better attention.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t need to just agree with me or put the blame on yourself.”

  “What?” I asked, sitting up straighter, trying to figure out his words.

  He nodded. “You do that, a lot, I’ve noticed. You try and take the blame for everyone else. Sometimes things are literally just someone else’s fault. No need to apologize.”

  I rolled my eyes, but there was a pang deep in the pit of my stomach. He didn’t need to know how hard that statement hit me. How I knew it was exactly what I’d done every time Chris had messed up. I’d blamed it on myself. I’d always been saying “sorry,” even when things hadn’t been my fault.

  Usually, I just chalked it up to my southernness. But was this really something else?

  “Well, then I take back my apology.”

  He laughed, and again the sound vibrated through me. Dammit, I had to stop reacting to him like this. “Okay, then I still expect you to draw me this in a picture. Do you paint, too?”

  “I do. I mean, I did.”

  “Did?” he asked.

  I sighed, the words catching in my throat. “When I was still in school. Don’t have the supplies now.”

  “I think I saw an art store in town. Maybe we can go sometime. Oils? Acrylics?”

  Chewing on my bottom lip, I tried to figure out my next words carefully. Not only did I not have the money for those things, but I hadn’t painted since I’d left school. Drawing in my sketchbook was one thing, but painting a full-on canvas?

  “Maybe,” I muttered, fully knowing I wouldn’t do that.

  Silence loomed over us as we continued on, the only sound the horses’ hooves clomping beneath us.

  After a few beats, Jacob sighed, breaking the silence. “You have no idea just how much you’ve helped me here.”

  “What do you mean? Because I was your ticket into the manor?” I asked, trying to keep the hurt out of my voice.

  He swallowed hard, the smile fading from his face as he shook his head. “No. More than that.” He focused on the trail ahead of us. “It’s a nice break to be with you. I don’t feel like I have to try to be something else.”