Andrew twisted around in his saddle, pulling a bottle of water from his saddle bag, when he heard his sister say, “Look who’s here.” Only her tone seemed a tinge too surprised to be authentic.

When he looked up and saw Kelly riding toward them on a black-and-white paint, he was even more suspicious of his sister’s innocence. Then again, if Dawn had arranged for Kelly to show up, he wasn’t mad about it. He hadn’t had the guts to make the call himself.

“Hey again,” he said to Kelly.

He wanted to believe that her pulling back before had been because she was feeling those same old feelings too, but was that disappointment on her face now?

“Hi?” It came out more like a question, and from the way Kelly was looking at Dawn, he’d lay good money that his dear sister was behind this little run-in.

“Andrew made lunch,” Dawn said. “Perfect timing.”

Kelly looked confused. “Okay.”

Dawn turned Gabby and took the lead down the creek trail. Kelly fell in right behind her, and Andrew took up the rear.

As Kelly rode along, her ponytail bouncing from the hole in the back of her ball cap, it was as if time had turned back ten years with that first step into the creek.

He couldn’t hear what Dawn was saying to her, but when Kelly laughed, he caught his breath at the familiar sound. Her shoulders lifted, like they always had when she was amused, and he didn’t have to see her to picture her smile.

They rode along quietly for about forty-five minutes, and then Dawn turned up the trail toward the old barn.

He dismounted and tied Doc while Dawn and Kelly chatted next to the barn. He unpacked lunch from his saddlebags. Here behind the barn there was just enough wind block to make it feel like a spring day.

“Oh!” Dawn grabbed for her phone. “That vibration always scares me. Let me take this.” She held up a finger and turned her back from them, walking away as she spoke into her phone.

“Great ride,” Kelly said.

He nodded. “Been a long time since I’ve ridden.”

“You looked comfortable enough.”

They’d just sat down under the tree when Dawn came back over. “You’re not going to believe this. The plumber is at my house. I totally forgot he was coming today. I need to zip back over there and meet him.”

Andrew could read right through that lame excuse. He was sure Kelly could too.

“I’m so sorry.” Dawn was already getting back toward Gabby.

“You’d better run. They charge by the hour,” Kelly said.

“Sorry again.” Dawn made the fastest exit he’d ever seen.

They watched her lope off.

“I have a feeling we’ve been duped.” He offered Kelly some potato salad.

“Thanks.” She scooped some on her plate. “Your sister isn’t that good of an actress.”