Wild Fire by Linda I. Shands Page A

look at Dad.
    To her relief he actually got the message. “Uh, hold on, Tiger, I think Colin and Kara can handle it. Come on, I’ll help you dig out the barbecue pit.”
    She didn’t have any trouble reading the look Dad flashed her as he led Ryan out the door. It said “Behave yourself,” loud and clear. Any other time she might have been insulted. Right now she was too excited to care .
    She wasn’t the only one excited. Lily pranced and jigged the whole time Kara was trying to saddle her. She finally had to resort to crossties to get the job done.
    Colin laughed. “Dakota’s not much better. They’ve been cooped up too long, and they’re telling us about it. I think we’d better give them a workout in the meadow before we try the trail.”
    She kept a tight rein until they reached the meadow. The ground had absorbed most of the rain, leaving only a few muddy spots. “If we avoid these holes, we’ll be fine,” she called to Colin. “Let’s jog them in a circle.”
    He nodded, and Kara took the lead, putting Lily into a slow jog, then a canter. They went around twice in each direction, then she gave Lily her head. The mare needed little encouragement to run, and Dakota was all too happy to follow her .
    Colin moved alongside her, and they rode together. The wind on her face, the rhythm of hooves like drumbeats on the hard-packed ground, Lily’s muscles bunching and unfolding beneath her—for one wild moment Kara wished they could go on like this forever.
    Too soon, Colin slowed Dakota to a canter, then a trot. Kara took the cue and followed. When they finally brought the horses to a walk, she sighed and gave the command to stop .
    â€œWhooee,” Colin shouted, “that was some ride!” Sweat made muddy rivulets down his face, and his hat had fallen over one ear. He looked like he’d just wrestled a bull.
    Kara grinned. “It sure was, but you almost lost your hat.”
    â€œAt least I didn’t lose my hair.”
    â€œWhat?” Kara felt herself redden at his teasing laughter, then realized the hair she had braided and coiled on top of her head had slipped to one side. She tried to straighten it but couldn’t find the plastic clip she’d used to fasten it that morning.
    Colin leaned over and brushed a speck of dirt from her face, then reached up and pulled out the final pin. The braid tumbled down her back, coming half undone. “Let it fall, Indian Princess. Your hair’s too beautiful to hide.”
    He smiled, then turned Dakota’s head toward the trail.
    For a few seconds, Kara couldn’t move. Did he think she was beautiful, or just her hair? She shook her head and loosened the rest of the braid. Cut it out, Wako, he didn’t mean anything by it .
    She clicked to Lily and followed Colin up the trail. Except for one steep, muddy slope, the path was clear all the way to the Pine Creek trail junction.
    Back at the barn, they brushed the horses down. Kara gave them each a flake of hay, while Colin filled the five-gallon buckets with fresh water. As they were leaving he asked, “See you tonight?”
    She fumbled with the latch on Lily’s stall. “What’s tonight?”
    â€œSquare dance. A last minute thing. Laura Anderson’s father is a caller.” He swept his hat across his chest and gave a mock bow. “I’d be mighty pleased, Miz Sheridan, if you’d save a round for me.”
    â€œMaybe.”
    â€œKeep ’em guessing,” Tia had said. “It’s the only way to survive the boyfriend zone.”
    Kara steeled herself against the confusion on Colin’s face. “Thanks for the ride.” She turned away and forced herself to walk casually toward the lodge.
    Had she hurt his feelings? Of course she had hurt his feelings. He’d probably never ask her to do anything with him again. So what? So, I like him . At least, she liked him