Wyoming Sweethearts by Jillian Hart

so-so.”
    “I’m mostly so-so,” he quipped. “Just ask my brother. He’s a decorated Army Ranger and I’m the never-do-well in the family.”
    “The black sheep?”
    “Baaah.” So, he liked to make her laugh. Nothing else felt important right now, just that she was happy. The geldings pranced quickly down the lane and onto the shoulder of the county road. No traffic buzzed by, but when a vehicle did it would be a good way to judge how steady the horses were. “How about you? Let me guess, you are the perfect daughter.”
    “Me? No way. That’s my older sister. Gabby is perfect. She was the A student, I was the B student. She has her own design business in Jackson—she was hired to do the inn, that’s how I met Cady. I’m the slacker living with my parents.”
    “You still live at home?”
    “Guilty as charged.”
    “Honestly? I did, too. I came back after college. Now I live with Uncle Frank and my cousins. Although it will be one less cousin in a few weeks. Autumn is moving out after the wedding.” He pressed Hershey into a trot. “We have a lot in common, Eloise.”
    “I know, it’s scary.” She urged her mount to keep up with him. “Very scary.”
    “I have a question for you.” He nudged Hershey into a smooth canter. Steel shoes rang on the pavement in harmony as they ran along. “You haven’t heard from that blind-date guy again, have you?”
    “Me? Oh, no. George was never interested in me.” She glanced over her shoulder. “We’re in luck. A hay truck is coming up on us.”
    He hadn’t noticed the rumble of the diesel engine closing in. All he could see was Eloise lighting up theworld around him. He shook his head, bringing the landscape into focus. The blue sky, green grass fields and the first glimpse of town up ahead seemed distantly dull next to her. The semi’s engine whined as it downshifted. “I guess we’ll see how the horses take a little distraction.”
    “My guess is nice and steady. Licorice handles like a dream.” Affection and pride for the horse softened her and she’d never looked more awe-inspiring than when she leaned forward to pat the gelding’s neck. “Isn’t that right, boy?”
    The truck rolled by and Sean didn’t notice the hit of the back draft or the tiny bits of hay raining down from the load. All he could see was Eloise’s tender compassion as she spoke to the horse and her caring spirit as she urged Licorice into a gallop, leaving him and Hershey behind in their dust.

Chapter Seven
    “L icorice is really fast.” Eloise turned in her saddle. “I wanted to push him and see what he had. Wow.”
    “Impressive.” Sean pulled a winded Hershey into a slow walk. “Like he’s part Thoroughbred.”
    “He’s a great horse.” She watched the gelding’s ears flicker, taking in every word. His neck arched with a touch of pride and his luxurious black mane rippled in the warm breeze. “My guess is he was ridden often. Someone spent a lot of time with him.”
    “That would explain a lot.” He rocked along with the horse’s gait. He appeared powerful in the saddle, utterly Western and heroic as if he could right wrongs and fight outlaws into submission.
    Eloise shook her head to scatter her thoughts. Highly inappropriate. He was a friend, nothing more. A very handsome friend. Muscles shaped the cut of his T-shirt. He was in incredible shape, but his power was more than physical, it went deeper as if straight to the soul.
    “Hershey keeps glancing back like he’s expecting someone to materialize and his life can go back to the way it was.” Sympathy etched into the hard rugged linesof Sean’s face. “He wants to go back in time, and I can’t do that for him.”
    The man was way too gorgeous for his good and for hers. She drew in a deep breath. Time to stop noticing these things. She looked up to realize they were at the drive-in. How did they get there? She had no idea because she’d been watching Sean and not the scenery.
    She guided