Elly: Cowgirl Bride by Trish Milburn

Probably a good thing because she wasn’t entirely sure she wouldn’t agree on the spot. His presence today was making her skin tingle, almost as though he was finally really focusing on her fully. That attention was so much more powerful than what he’d paid her before. Something had changed.
    They rode in silence for a few minutes until they reached a wider, higher part of the trail and Will steered his gray gelding off to the side. He sat staring out across the valley, his eyes seeming to miss nothing.
    Elly stopped, admired the image he made there. She pulled her camera from the bag that kept it thickly insulated against the cold. As quickly and quietly as she could, she lifted it and shot several photos before he turned in her direction. And one more even though she typically didn’t take shots of people facing her. They never seemed as real or honest as profiles and silhouettes.
    “With the views here, there’s got to be something more interesting to take photos of,” he said, a smile tugging at his lips.
    Not really.
    “Nobody’s safe from the camera.” She tried to sound teasing, flip, and wasn’t able to tell if she succeeded. She turned and took several shots of the line of people approaching where they sat and then some of those who were farther along the trail as it followed a bend in the river up ahead.
    “I’d forgotten how beautiful it was here,” Will said, reflecting the wonder she often felt while staring across the land, no matter how many times she’d seen it.
    “Yeah. I can’t imagine any place on earth being more beautiful.”
    He looked at her. “So during all your travels, you’ve never been tempted to relocate?”
    “Considering what I mostly see in those places are horse barns and arenas, no.”
    “Good point.” He smiled, making Elly focus on his lips. Would they be chilled by the snowy air or warm and welcoming?
    She jerked on Jasmine’s reins a little harder than necessary. “Better catch up with everyone else.” By now, the entire line of riders had passed them by, leaving them to bring up the rear of the column.
    “It’s nice riding back here,” Will said as he fell into place beside her. “Leisurely.”
    And she only had to hide how he was making her fidgety from him and not a bunch of neighbors who knew her perhaps too well for a mask to work.
    “How are your practices going?” he asked after they’d also rounded the bend in the river.
    “Well. I wish I could just go compete tomorrow instead of having to wait.”
    “Impatient?”
    “Just ready. Waiting for something I want to do so badly is torture.”
    “I know the feeling.”
    The way he said it made her look over at him, only to find him watching her with an intensity that made her want to leap onto his horse with him, kiss him silly and then have him wrap his arms around her as they rode on.
    She swallowed and searched frantically for a response. “What about you? Do any of your outdoor activities in the winter?”
    “I’ve done some winter backpacking and camping, some skiing, but have to admit I like the other seasons much better.” He looked out at the frigid surface of the river. “And I have no desire to try kayaking anywhere in the state of Wyoming until, oh, say, June.”
    “Wimp.”
    He raised his eyebrows. “Wimp, huh? How about you join me for some mountain climbing in the spring and we’ll see who the wimp is.”
    “You’re on.”
    The idea that spring couldn’t come fast enough bounced around in her head as the string of riders crossed the river and started making its way back to the starting point.
    “So, how are you liking living in Cody?” she asked.
    “It’s nice. More choices than Markton, obviously.”
    She laughed. “Hard to be less.” Markton had its own charm and would always be home, but sometimes one wanted more dining options than the Sagebrush. “You don’t miss Denver?”
    “Parts of it, sure. I have friends there. Would definitely be easier to make a living