Finding You (By You #3) (10 page)

Emit
 
held the reins and led Sarah around the middle of the corral. She was nervous with the first couple of steps, but soon it felt completely natural to be on top of the massive horse. Sarah was in awe of the animal as she felt its weight, its power, between her legs.

Jeremy watched her with a growing smile on his face. Every time they rounded, she couldn't help but smile back at him--she could barely bring herself to look away. When Emit finally handed her the reins, and Dolly responded to the simple instructions he'd shown her, Sarah knew that she'd never felt more alive in her whole life.

"There you go," Emit said. "Real easy. There you go, you got it."

Dolly started off at a quick trot, now that Emit wasn't walking along with them. Sarah's hair fluttered in the small wind, and she tried not to clamp her legs around Dolly's torso too tightly. Before long, Dolly's pace got even faster, and they were running along at what felt like a full gallop. Sarah's hair blew with the wind, now, and she let out a laugh of pure joy.

With the wind on her face, and with Jeremy watching her from the edge of the corral, life couldn't have been more perfect.

"You're a natural up there," Emit said as Sarah guided Dolly back toward the stable.

It hadn't taken her long to get the hang of things. It was like Dolly could read her mind, and knew exactly what to do without Sarah even having to give her the proper command.

"That was so incredible," she said. "I've never felt so free."

"You've definitely got the talent, kid. I've seen my share of first timers, and I'd be hard pressed to remember any that took to it that fast."

Jeremy came running up along side of the stable, a huge grin on his face. Sarah beamed at him, wanting to throw her arms around him in a huge hug.

"Pretty awesome, wasn't it?" he said.

"Oh my God--I could die happy right now."

"Well dying doesn't sound like a good idea, but I'm glad you had a good time."

They both laughed with each other. Her heart raced even harder with him next to her than it had when she was riding.

"Alright, Remy," Emit began, "Let's see if you still remember how this works." He held Dolly's reins out to Jeremy.

Sarah gave Emit a confused look, but Jeremy responded before she could say anything.

"Oh, no. I wasn't planning on riding. We're just here for Sarah."

She gave him a pleading look. "Come on, you
have
to."

"No, really, it's okay." He cocked a nervous grin at her, his cheeks turning a crimson red.

"You're not getting out of here that easily," Emit said. "Come on--humor an old man one last time."

Jeremy didn't look at him. His eyes stayed locked on Sarah's. She cupped her hands against her chest, giving him her best, pleading look.

"Please," she mouthed.

Finally his face broke into a nervous smile, and he nodded.

"Fine. But only for a few minutes."

He still didn't break eye contact with her, which sent another rush of excitement through her body. He didn't have to say that he was doing it for her, it was obvious.

As Jeremy took the reins and led the horse back out to the corral, Emit followed along. Sarah climbed back over the fence and watched them from the outside. It didn't take long for her to realize that Jeremy was no stranger when it came to riding.

With one swift motion, he had launched himself into Dolly's saddle. He landed sharply, but the huge mare didn't even flinch. Emit didn't give him the same instructions he'd given Sarah--it was clear that Jeremy didn't need them.

Before long, he was galloping in huge laps around the edge of the corral. Every time he circled past where Sarah was standing, he winked at her. She almost couldn't believe how effortless he made it look up--like he'd been born to be on the back of a horse. Why hadn't he told her that he knew how to ride when they talked about it before?

Sarah was so lost in her thoughts while she watched him, that she didn't notice someone was standing next to her, watching along with her. An old lady with thick, shoulder-length white hair. Her skin was the same color as Emit's, but without the hard, leathery look.

"Well, I'll be," she said. "Now ain't that a sight?" She looked at Sarah, giving her a warm smile. "Where are my manners? I'm Jonny Mae--Emit's wife."

Sarah shook her outstretched hand, and returned the warm smile.

"I'm Sarah--Jeremy brought me out here."

"You haven't seen him ride before?" she asked Sarah shook her head. "Oh, then you're in for quite a treat."

When Sarah turned back to watch him, she noticed that Emit had wheeled out two huge barrels and set them up across from each other on either side of the corral. Jeremy took Dolly around each of them with sharp jerks and turns of the reins. They moved like they were one person--not a horse and a rider. His legs were outstretched and braced against the stirrups as Dolly broke into a full gallop between the barrels, his face intent on the next turn in front of them.

"It's been a long time since I've seen him ride," Jonny Mae said. She let out a relieved sigh. "I was starting to think he'd never get back up there."

Sarah frowned at her. "Did he used to ride a lot?"

Jonny Mae let out a small laugh.

"He used to be one of the best riders in the state, for his age."

"He never told me that. Why did he stop?"

The older woman shrugged. "He was just a boy, then. I suppose he just grew out of it, but--" she nodded at him, "--it doesn't look like it grew out of him."

They watched as Jeremy took another few quick laps between the barrels. There seemed to be a lot more to Jeremy than she could have imagined--and she was getting more and more curious to know everything. She couldn't help but laugh when he turned and winked at her again, nearly losing his balance in the process. But as his hands twisted around the reins more tightly, he was all smiles.

"It's good to see him this happy," Jonny Mae said. "After everything that happened, I figured we'd never see him out here again."

"Everything that happened?" Sarah said.

"You know, with the accident and everything. Such a shame, but I'm glad to see him finally living his life again."

Sarah's brow knitted together and she turned to face the older woman.

"What accident?"

Jonny Mae turned and looked at her, an eyebrow cocked up. Her lips pursed together as her almond eyes studied Sarah, curious.

"Oh, dear. I figured you knew," she said, a worried expression on her face.

Sarah shook her head. "He hasn't said anything--we only just met a few weeks ago."

Jonny Mae let out a long sigh, giving her a pained look. She crossed her arms in front of her and shrugged a shoulder.

"Well, it's just nice to see him smiling again."

Sarah wanted to press her to find out what she was talking about, but right then Jeremy and Dolly came strutting up to the fence line. Jonny Mae gave him a warm smile, putting their conversation behind them.

"Mrs. McHorn, it's good to see you're doing well," he said.

"I was just getting to know your friend," she said.

Jeremy grinned between them both before he fixed Sarah with an intent look. "Well, whatever horror stories she told you are probably all true. I'm sure I was a pain in the ass back in the day."

Sarah let out a nervous laugh along with him, but her thoughts were still locked on what Jonny Mae had said. Or, what she had
almost
said. What
accident
was she talking about? It had sounded pretty serious, but Jeremy had certainly never mentioned anything. And what was that name Emit had called him? It seemed like the more she got to know about him, the more questions she had. It was a good and bad thing, because she wanted to know everything, but she didn't want to push too hard right away.

She reminded herself that they were just friends. There was no need to rush anything. No need to dissect his whole past.

But that lingering doubt tugged at the pit of her stomach. If there was something he was keeping from her, she wanted to know. No. She
needed
to know. She wouldn't be played the fool. Never again.

Sarah gave him a warm smile. "You were amazing up out there. You never mentioned that you used to ride competitively."

He shrugged and tilted his head away, grinning. "I haven't ridden in a long time. And besides, I wasn't as stunning as you were."

Her smile widened a bit, but not as much as it would have earlier. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something she was missing, that there was something more to him that she didn't know about. She didn't want it to bother her, especially not when they were having such a nice day, but it did all the same.

After Jeremy finished riding, he helped Emit put Dolly back in the stable, and helped him wheel the barrels back in. It was getting late in the afternoon, and the sun was turning a beautiful shade of orange as it stretched across the sky. The McHorn's invited them to stay for dinner, but Jeremy turned them down, saying they had to get back to town. It was nearly going to be night by the time they made it back, already. Sarah thanked them for teaching her how to ride, and they told her she was welcome anytime she wanted to come out.

Sarah sat quietly for most of the ride back to Houston. She kept her eyes on the road while she still struggled to shake the nagging feeling at the back of her head. Most of all, she was having a hard time shaking the way Jonny Mae had looked at her when she mentioned the accident.
 

You're overthinking the whole thing. Just have a good time--if there's anything important you need to know, he'll tell you.

She tried to stifle a groan, but it still squeaked out.

"Something on your mind?" Jeremy asked.

She smiled at him, and shook her head softly.

"It's nothing."

He gave her quizzical look followed by a soft smile with those soft eyes. She really did like having those eyes on her. They made her forget about everything else, about the things bothering her. She liked being around him--that was the only important thing, right?

"I've had an amazing time today," she said, changing the subject. She wasn't sure how to thank him for taking her riding. It had been something she wanted to do for so long that simple words just couldn't show her appreciation.

"Well, it's still early. If you don't have to get home right away, there's one more thing I wanted to show you."

Her eyebrows rose in curious excitement as she grinned at him.

"I don't have anywhere to be," she said. "I'm all yours."

Her stomach lurched as she said it. She wondered just how true that statement really was.

Jeremy directed her as they made their way back into town. The sun was quickly setting and the city lights of Houston were coming to life. He couldn't help but steal glances at Sarah every time the opportunity presented itself. The day had been amazing so far, but there was one more thing he wanted to show her--a place he'd never taken anyone, before.

It really had been a long time since he'd been riding. It felt good to get back in the saddle. It was a reminder of a simpler time in his life, before he'd grown up and discovered that there were worst things in the world than missing a riding competition because he had school exams.

As they made their way further into town, he directed her toward the Galleria area. He had to carefully direct her on the streets around the mall, otherwise the surprise would be ruined. It had been years since he'd been there, but it all came back to him and he had her park in the Nordstrom's parking lot. They'd have to take a little walk to get to where he wanted to take her, but it was a nice evening, and their last walk together had been enchanting.

"So what are we doing down here?" she asked as they got out of the car.

He grinned at her. "You'll see."

She shook her head, but smiled. "You never do give me a straight answer."

"I want it to be a surprise, is all. Have you not enjoyed my surprises so far?"

She crinkled her nose and snorted at him, her eyes narrowing for a second.

"Fine, we'll play it your way. But you're setting the bar awfully high for yourself."

"Guess I'm going to really spend some time planning our second date, then."

"A second date, huh?" she said, cocking an eyebrow. "And what makes you think I'll let you take me on a second date?"

He frowned for a second, actually worried that she might turn him down, but he composed himself. He had fallen for her little traps enough times to spot them.

"You will because I'm irresistible," he said, giving her a wicked grin.

Sarah ducked her head as her smile spread even wider, and he let out a tiny laugh. He didn't know what made him say that, it wasn't like him to be that forward. He just didn't want to imagine a world where the two of them weren't spending as much time together as possible.

They walked along in silence for a few minutes as he led her down the sidewalk to the street that wrapped around the mall. It was probably the long way to where they were going, but that was fine by him.

"So I have a question," Sarah said, after a while.

"Shoot."

"Back at the McHorn's, Emit called you something before you went riding... Remy, was it?"

His stomach twisted up a little when she said that name. He hadn't had the heart to correct Emit, to tell him that he didn't go by that name anymore, but he wished she hadn't heard it.

"It's a nickname--just short for Jeremy."

"Is that what your friends call you?"

He shrugged. "They used to, but I don't really go by that, anymore."

"You should, I kind of like it."

He gave her a soft smile. "I just kinda grew out of it. I like going by Jeremy--it sounds more adult."

"But Remy is different. It doesn't sound immature, or anything...just different."

He let out a sigh. How was he supposed to tell her that he hated that name? If he told her that, she'd wonder why. And he wasn't prepared to start answering those sorts of questions. There were just too many bad memories associated with the name. Memories that he wanted to leave in the past, where they belonged.