Her only break came on Fridays when Chase cut her lessons short. His reason was always the same—he had business in town.

Business that she suspected went by the name of Cassie Decker.

At first, it didn’t bother her that he snuck away to spend time with another woman. Gradually, however, she found herself feeling at loose ends whenever he left the ranch. She wasn’t jealous, of course. Jealousy would imply an emotional attachment, and that was out of the question. Her stay on the cattle ranch was temporary, and that was the way she wanted it. Ranch life wasn’t the kind of life she’d bargained for. Not by a long shot.

Still, it was odd the way his absences from the ranch affected her. It felt as if he took the very air with him. But that wasn’t the only change she’d noticed. Something else was afoot. Something she couldn’t put her finger on.

Perhaps it was some sort of physical awareness that required them to keep a certain distance from each other, except in public. Or maybe it was the way their gazes met before one or both quickly looked away. Whatever it was, it kept Emily tense and on edge.

But while she puzzled over her riding instructor, she was surprised to find herself growing increasingly fond of the horse.

With Rusty’s help, she had even taken over Daisy’s grooming and enjoyed brushing the mare’s coat until it was dust-free and shiny. She also liked combing Daisy’s mane and tail and taking her horse treats. Never would she think of going to the stables without a carrot or sugar cube tucked in her pocket.

Saddling the horse was another matter. Mexican saddles weighed a ton, and Emily almost always needed help, though she was getting better at it.

After two weeks of lessons, she actually looked forward to the time spent in the saddle. It helped that Daisy was such a responsive horse and needed little prodding. It also helped that Emily had gained what Chase called her riding muscles, though she was still sore and required long hours in a hot tub to ease the pain.

By the third week, she was ready to do more than just ride around the paddock in circles, and she felt increasingly frustrated at Chase’s restrictions. Something about the wide-open spaces called to her. How she longed to ride the range with the wind in her hair and the sun at her back, but Chase was adamantly opposed.

“As you know, there are snakes out there,” he’d said after she’d brought it up yet again. “Wolves and panthers are out there too. And bars.”

“Bars?”

He looked at her all funny-like before raising curled hands and growling.

“Oh, bayahs,” she said, pronouncing bears the Boston way. She was gradually getting used to the way Texans talked, but every so often, she was stumped.

Chase’s eyebrows rose for a split second before he burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” she asked.