Montana Hearts by Charlotte Carter Page A

I’m going to talk to her this evening about volunteering at the Shelby hospital.”
    He did a mental double take. “Volunteering?”
    â€œWell, me and Dr. Zoom volunteering. In Seattle I try to visit pediatric patients once a week to entertain them.”
    A generous thing for her to do with her time, though it didn’t surprise Kurt. She had that kind of giving heart. What did surprise him was that she didn’t have kids of her own. Or a husband.
    That thought gave him pause. Had she ever been married? If so, what had happened?
    â€œI’m going to go change and then I’ll fix you some lunch.”
    â€œDon’t worry about me. I’ll grab something myself.” Feeling awkward and strangely adolescent, he tucked his fingertips in his hip pockets. “How ’bout after you eat, I give you a riding lesson?”
    Her blue eyes rounded to the size of saucers. “Riding? As in on a…horse?” Her voice cracked.
    â€œSure, you’ve been teaching the kids ventriloquism. Now it’s my turn to teach you something. Can’t have you living on the Rocking R all summer without ever getting on a horse.”
    â€œOh, no.” She shook her head, which made her blonde hair shimmer at her jawline. “No need for you to teach me to ride. Besides, I have to make a macaroni-and-ham salad for the church potluck tonight.”
    She turned to go inside, and he caught her hand, her fingers slender and soft in his work-roughened palm. She halted abruptly.
    â€œYou aren’t afraid, are you?”
    Her head came up, a frown tugging her brows together as her eyes locked onto his. “A little, maybe. It’s silly, I know.”
    â€œTell you what. We’ll stay inside the corral. I’ll walk you around on Peaches so you can get the feel for sitting on a horse. It’s not scary at all. We won’t leave the corral and we can stop anytime you give the word.”
    Without breaking eye contact, she pursed her lips, then licked them. They glistened the lightest shade of pink in the sunlight. “You promise?”
    â€œI promise. Scout’s honor.” He held up three fingers.
    â€œWere you ever really a Scout?”
    The corners of his mouth twitched with the threat of a smile. “Nope. 4-H. But they’ve got the same sort of rules about honor and doing one’s duty. Besides, you don’t want Toby to think you’re chicken.”
    Her eyes narrowed, and she withdrew her hand. “All right, I’ll try. But you’d better keep your promise or you’ll be eating charcoal steaks the rest of the summer.”
    Laughter rose up in his chest like a bubbling spring in a sun-parched prairie, refreshing and lifting his spirits.
    UPS had delivered Sarah’s package of jeans and boots the previous day. Now she pulled the pants on and snapped the waist closed. Definitely a snugger fit than her usual slacks. The lace-up boots made her feet look two sizes larger than usual.
    â€œYou’re not vying for a beauty-queen title, so don’t worry about it,” she reminded herself. Instead she was going to climb onto the back of an animal that outweighed her by eight-hundred pounds. Terrific .
    She should’ve told Kurt no, thanks. But the burning intensity of his eyes, the purr of his masculine voice, and the feel of her hand in his, had made her a little dizzy. She’d agreed before she could stop herself.
    Then his husky laughter had totally undone her.
    Foolish woman.
    Her heart beat hard against her rib cage as she walked toward Kurt, who already had Peaches saddled and ready to go in the corral. Zoe had no doubt been an excellent rider. Sarah couldn’t compete with her. She had no reason to.
    But she hated the thought of looking like a fool.
    Kurt eyed her up and down as she reached the corral fence. His lips quirked into a half smile.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” she asked.
    His smile broadened. “Not a thing.