On a Gamble by Rose Lange Page A

shoulders slightly hunched, and looking about as comfortable as a lobster in a tank.
    “Alex, relax. If you’re tense, the horse can feel that.”
    “I’m trying.” And finally looked as though he was making an attempt.
    They rode in companionable silence out into the far open land. This land belonged to her, it was in her blood, and she could never regret leaving the city to come here.
    The gentle sway of the animal lulled her eyes closed. Soothed her. Relaxed her bones. Eased her mind. A fresh morning breeze carried the scent of clean, fresh country air, as it brushed across her face. Her hair blew slightly all around her, and she sighed with satisfaction.
    “You really love it here, don’t you?”
    Charlie opened her eyes to study him. “Oh yes, always have. It’s home.”
    “I can tell.”
    “What about you, where do you call home?”
    “I live in a little condo in town.”
    Charlie nodded. “How long have you been on your own?”
    “Since I was eighteen, my parents told me it was time to leave the nest and be a man, explore the world.” But he didn’t further elaborate.
    She frowned. “And how do you feel about that?”
    He said nothing for a moment, then, “I guess it would have been nice to stay at home for a little while longer, finish college, and get a job. You know, get settled before I was kicked out of the nest.”
    “Yeah, I can only imagine that must have been hard on you.”
    “Both my brother and me were kicked out. Only he decided to go into the Army right away,” he offered, and then got very quiet.
    The expression on his face told her everything, as did the way he stared, stony eyed into the distance. She wanted to change the subject, but before she got the chance, he continued.
    “It’s just too bad he couldn’t reach his full potential. He wanted to come back home, go to school, and become an engineer.” He took a deep breath.
    She listened, understanding his need to talk about it.
    Alex turned toward her, his face still stony, still angry and hard. “I’m still not over it. I don’t think I ever will be.”
    “I know how you feel. Some days I’m still not over what happened to my parents. It never gets easier.” She turned to pet Ginger’s fur as they rode.
    She felt a raindrop on the back of her hand. Charlie looked up at the sky, realizing the weather was about to take a turn for the worst. The sunny blue sky gave way to clouds, and gray skies. The faint rumbling of thunder sounded in the distance.
    Ginger’s ears pricked, sensing the impending bad weather. She turned the horse to go the other way, back to the barn. “We’d better be going home.”
    He nodded, following her.
    Charlie flinched as the raindrops hit her head, and gently prodded her horse to go quicker. Relief flooded her as they entered the enclosure, and just in time. Loud pelts of rain fell, hitting the roof within seconds of reaching the barn, soaking the earth. The sun hid behind the dark, gray clouds, ominous thunder rumbled, but the sounds of Mother Nature were oddly comforting.
    She quickly dismounted. Alex followed suit as they put the horses back in their stalls, making short work of removing, and storing the riding gear.
    Rubbing her hands together, she paused in the doorway. Admiring the thick sheets of rain soaking the earth, thunder pierced her ears, and a spear of lighting cracked the intimidating sky in half. She couldn’t stop staring at the beautiful spectacle. “I just love thunderstorms. Something about them that’s so wild, unpredictable, powerful. Beautiful.” The last word coming out as a sigh, so overcome with emotion, she couldn’t help it.
    “I know what you mean.” The sexy timbre of his voice broke her hypnotic stare. She hadn’t realized she’d spoken her thoughts aloud.
    Her eyes roved toward him, discovering his warm, melt in your mouth gaze already locked on hers. Shivers did the rumba up her back. Prickles ran over her skin, and through her veins. Unfulfilled