Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 47804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
“She’s really something, isn’t she? Mrs. Corbett, I mean,” Is all I can think to say.
Mack pauses mid-step to remind me the same about myself.
“I think you’re really something,” he whispers hoarsely, making me flush again as I gnaw at my lip.
Feeling like maybe nature isn’t so bad after all if there’s someone like Mack to help guide me through it.
Gasping some more once we reach the top of the huge, wooded hillside. The scenery even more breathtaking from his arms.
The ancient looking stone and wooden stables, overgrown with ivy and moss look more inviting than I could have imagined.
With sounds of heavier steps than Mack’s moving with snorts and puffs of welcome as the horses move from the corral to the modern timber fence line.
Tossing their heads and whinnying once they see Mack.
Shifting on the spot the way horses do when they meet someone new too.
Sensing my rising anxiety, which Mack is quick to put at ease.
“I think you’ve ridden before,” he murmurs, gently easing me down from his grip and taking my hand in his as he moves closer to the massive beasts that look suddenly small next to him.
“I-I had an accident,” I stammer. Figuring he may as well know now before I freak out when he tries to get me on one of those things again.
He gives me a pained look, flattening his mouth. “What happened?” he asks. Keeping one hand in mine while letting one of the chestnuts nuzzle his.
I find myself relating the whole story to him, to the horses as well, who all seem to want to move in closer.
Making me feel like they all understand how I feel somehow, but Mack most of all when he makes a low sound as he listens.
“It was so long ago,” I recall. “But…I dunno. I’ve just been scared stiff of animals, even going outside ever since,” I tell him honestly, hearing the emotion in my own voice.
Hearing my mom in my mind, and all the other people who try to understand but just don’t get it.
But Mack gets it. And so do his horses. That’s how telling them all makes me feel.
He’s quiet for a long time and with nothing but the breathing of the horses, and the buzz of insects in the undergrowth by the stables, I feel my whole past, not just the accident, fading into the shadows.
The weight of it all feeling like it’s finally been lifted somehow. Just by standing here with Mack and his horses.
Instantly knowing that they’re more than just work for him. They’re his friends.
And at the same moment it hits me.
“You’re not just a ranch hand here, are you, Mack?” I ask him, breaking the long silence.
And for the first time, I see the closest thing to shyness in his features.
He looks down at his feet bashfully before regaining his usual, stoic look.
“You can ride with me if you’d prefer,” he says in a deep voice, eyeing one of the mares.
“But I think Lucy here kind of likes you…she’d take it to heart if you didn’t at least pet her some,” he informs me.
The smallest of the horses whinnies in reply, tossing her mane as she lifts her head, stamping her hooves on the spot and making us both laugh softly.
“And what about our little bet?” I ask, surprised by my own newfound courage.
“You carried me this far, so now you just want me to pat a horse?”
Mack shoots me a quizzing look, but smiles broadly, showing his perfect white teeth as I feel him pulling me closer to him.
His low growl as he scoops me up off my feet yet again mixes with my shriek of surprise before he nibbles at my neck.
Moving surely toward the open stable doors. The smell of sunshine, pine needles, and hay all mixed with his own woodsy, manly scent.
Soon to be mixed with my own essence that I feel pouring out of me once it’s clear he has plenty of other things he wants to show me before we even think about going anywhere else.
Dropping his heavy pack from his shoulder, and easing me onto a solid wooden bench, my legs move wider apart as he faces me.
Taking a moment to stroke back my hair as he stands in front of me, resting his hand on my burning hot cheek before he leans in to kiss me again.
Each time his mouth meets mine, it’s better than the last, and now we’re truly alone. It’s crystal clear to me that we both need more than just kisses.
Feeling his big warm hands sliding up my sweater, I hear myself moan from his touch.
Still unsure what a man like this could ever see in me, but his sure movements and low groan of satisfaction is music to this shy, chubby girl’s ears.
“I want you so bad, Tina,” he groans. “Wanted you like this the second I laid eyes on you.”