Spring Blossom by Jill Metcalf

preparing
for school,” she added, frowning because he had spoken so softly
she had not heard his comments. She was, however, certain he had
not complimented her. “I'll meet you at the barns in a few
moments.”
    As she walked toward the door, Hunter looked
out the window; the sun was barely up! “Surely it’s too early for
school?” he asked.
    “And girls will dawdle away the hours if
they are not reminded of their responsibilities,” she said over her
shoulder.
    He merely shook his head, wondering if she
ever dawdled away an hour or two. Somehow, he thought not.
    *
    “That is Passion’s Pride,” Margaret
announced as she joined Hunter at the corral gate. “The beast,” she
added fondly.
    Hunter noticed she continued to frown. “He’s
a magnificent animal, Maggie.” He turned his attention back to the
center paddock. Passion’s Pride pawed the ground and snorted before
throwing his head high and racing to the far fence. He was a
magnificent specimen of muscle, sinew, and spirit all drawn up
tight as a drum in a sleek black package. “He needs to run,” Hunter
murmured, keeping his eyes on the horse. “He might treat his ladies
a little more gently if he had the freedom to run often enough.” He
turned to Margaret. “Was he bred here?”
    Keeping her manner crisp, Margaret nodded
her head. “Sired by my stallion, Eclipse, out of a mare called
Desert Passion. Two of our finest animals.”
    “Truly outstanding,” Hunter murmured as he
returned his attention to the horse. “He is fine to breed for good,
strong saddle stock and that is where the best money lies for me.
And he has me intrigued.”
    “If you’re feeling up to a challenge,” she
said, nodding toward the prancing beast, “be my guest,” she added
with a false smile.
    Hunter cast his gaze briefly toward the
clear blue summer sky. “And I thought the sun would shine all day,”
he said softly.
    So, she thought, he expected turbulence.
Well, she wasn’t above providing a little if need be. The truth was
Margaret had thought twice about facing Hunter this morning, but
the horses were her domain and she had her pride. She had dressed
plainly for the second part of her plan, and for the third, she’d
decided to ignore him for the better part, keeping their
relationship strictly business. By now he must be thoroughly
disillusioned as to any other possible relationship between them so
she would survive the few remaining days of his visit.
    Then life would return to normal.
    She was glad her father had promised to join
them at the stables. Alastair had long claimed that Hunter was a
master horseman and Margaret saw this as an opportunity to put the
man to the test.
    And so, she ignored Hunter’s comments and
smiled a greeting as her father walked up to the paddock to join
them. She hoped he was about to see his friend land on his rump in
the dust.
    Pride was a valuable animal; one they could
not afford to lose. And, since her father would not listen to
reason on the matter, her only choice was to dissuade Hunter from
purchasing the stallion.
    Smiling sweetly at her parent, she said, “I
shall have the boys get Pride saddled, Papa.”
    Alastair nodded absently as she left, but he
was more concerned when she returned moments later, smiling
smugly.
    “This should only take a moment,” she said
and Alastair’s frowned deepened.
    She did not give her father an opportunity
to question her as she watched two lanky youths enter the paddock.
One hefted a saddle onto the fence railing then followed the other
boy who clutched a bridle. It took some time and quick maneuvering
to corner the proud black animal, but they eventually managed to
catch hold of the horse’s halter and deftly got bit and bridle into
place, carefully avoiding the hind legs. With the horse prancing
between them, they started toward the gate, but Hunter had already
entered the large enclosure and was upon them.
    “Leave the saddle,” he said, reaching for
the reins. “If