Finding You (By You #3) by Kelly Harper Page B

going to take you out for a little run."
    "A run?" Sarah said, her eyes going wide.
    Emit flashed a grin at her.
    "Don't worry...Dolly will take good care of you. Won't you, girl?" He patted the mare on the neck, again, eliciting another bob of her head.
    "But, I've never been riding before. I was thinking it was going to be something slow, at first."
    "At first," he agreed.
    Sarah twisted a finger through her blonde hair as she watched Emit go about saddling the mare. He had an easy way about him, a way that managed to calm some of her nerves, though she still felt uneasy about the whole thing. Was she really going to go through with this? It had been something she'd wanted to do her whole life, and now was her opportunity. A nervous excitement fluttering around in her stomach, and she knew there was no way she could pass up the chance.
    When Emit had finished with the saddle and bridle, he led Dolly out of the stable into the open corral. Sarah followed along side of him, getting more nervous and excited by the second.
    "First thing to do is introduce yourself," he said. He pulled Dolly to a stop, and motioned Sarah around to the front of the mare. "Horses don't like being snuck up on. Just make sure she knows you're there, and be gentle. Go on, put your hand out nice and slow, she'll be alright."
    Sarah held her hand out in front of the Dolly, feeling her hot breath against her palm. Dolly whinnied and arched her head back, and Sarah jumped away.
    "Don't worry," Emit laughed. "She's just saying hello."
    Sarah bit her lip, not sure whether he was addressing her or the horse. She took a deep breath and held her palm up again, slowly walking forward. This time, Dolly didn't move. She looked Sarah straight in the eye, and Sarah pushed even closer, until her hand slid along the mare's muscular neck.
    Dolly's coat was soft, but tough, and as Sarah slid her hand down her neck, a smile crept across her face.
    "There you go," Emit said. "Just like you're old friends."
    Sarah's heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn't help but glance back at the fence where Jeremy had a leg propped up against one of the massive posts. His lips were pulled back in a huge smile, and he nodded at her when their eyes met. She laughed, feeling an excited giddiness in her fingers as they laced through Dolly's mane.
    "You're so beautiful," Sarah said, and Dolly nudged her muzzle against Sarah's cheek.
    "Now that you've been properly introduced, it's time to mount her." Sarah nodded her head quickly, as though what Emit was saying was the most natural thing in the world. "Just put your left foot here in the stirrup, and then kick your right leg up and over...just like in the movies."
    Sarah did as he said, placing her foot in the stirrup. She bobbed her leg a few times, trying to make sure her foot was secure.
    "Go on. One quick motion."
    She nodded, then did as he said. She pushed herself up like she was climbing a huge staircase, then threw her other leg over the back of the horse. Before she knew it, she was seated on the saddle, with her feet locked in the stirrups on either side. Emit grinned up at her.
    "She's bigger than she looks," Sarah said, looking around.
    "You'll get used to it. Just remember to trust her--ol' Dolly's been doing this a lot longer than you have. She'll take care of you."
    Emit   held the reins and led Sarah around the middle of the corral. She was nervous with the first couple of steps, but soon it felt completely natural to be on top of the massive horse. Sarah was in awe of the animal as she felt its weight, its power, between her legs.
    Jeremy watched her with a growing smile on his face. Every time they rounded, she couldn't help but smile back at him--she could barely bring herself to look away. When Emit finally handed her the reins, and Dolly responded to the simple instructions he'd shown her, Sarah knew that she'd never felt more alive in her whole life.
    "There you go," Emit said. "Real easy. There you go, you got