Thomas borrowed a horse from Phil the next day and met Sophie in the stables. Sophie was brushing Maddax when he arrived.
"Good morning," he said as kindly as he could.
"Morning Thomas," she smiles. She was much better at pleasantries.
He helped her place the saddle on the horse but she didn't need any help tightening it down. She was obviously very comfortable around the horse. After Thomas saddled Phil's horse Tracker and led them out of the stables. He watches Sophie study the saddle uneasily. He wasn't sure what was bothering her about it, she looked so confident in the stable.
"Do you need help?" Thomas asked finally.
"No," she hesitated. "Well," she stuttered. It was so cute to watch her puzzle and stammer. She is always so graceful and capable. Even when she didn't have a clue what she was doing, she was graceful about it. She was obviously very perplexed.
"It's just," she said finally. "The stirrups are not on the one side. There��s just the one, " she said touching the stirrup.
"Oh!" he said, realization washing over him. "I'm sorry, but that is all we have here. I don't have any woman's saddles. Do you think you can manage?"
"Sure," she stammered. "I mean, it can't be that much different. Right?"
"Well," Thomas shrugged. "I've never ridden a side saddle so I can't really say." He chuckled thinking about himself riding that way. "Do you need help getting up?" he offered.
"Oh no, I can do it."
Thomas watched in awe as she swiftly and easily placed one foot into a stirrup, lifted herself up and swung her other leg onto the other side of the horse. She adjusted herself in the saddle and fluffed her skirts around her legs.
"This actually feels nice," she smiled triumphantly. "I feel like I have a lot more control."
The stirrups hang about two inches too long for her legs.
"Can I help you with those?" he asked hesitantly.
"That would be great," she smiled gratefully and pulled her leg and skirt back to allow him to adjust the straps. His hands brushed her legs sending a little shiver up her spin. He adjusted the stirrup on the other side of the horse and mounted the other horse. He gave her a nod and led her out of the stable.
Sophie pulled out Jeremiah's map she was holding in her pocket. She really wanted to understand the landscape so she could ride on her own. Thomas saw her holding the map in her hand and steered his mustang closer to her. He pointed to the ridge just beyond the trees.
"I will take you up to this ridge and down the west side. That is as far as you should ever go on your own," he instructed. She nodded in understanding.
He led her into the line of trees and up a gradual slope away from the river. It was quiet and peaceful and the sound of the horse's hooves clipping along the dirt and rocks was melodic and comforting to her. It was a sound she associated not just with home but with joy. She inhaled and closed her eyes trying to savor the moment.
Maddox was a smooth ride. She felt him move in a way she never had felt a horse before. Having a leg on either side of the horse surprisingly made her feel so much more Intune with the animal. She exhaled slowly and let her eyes close.
When she opened her eyes she saw Thomas watching her.
"Mr. Donaland," she said in her most sophisticated English voice. "I don't believe I can permit you to gaze upon me in such a manor. You have already made your intentions, or rather, lack of intentions for me, quite clear."
Thomas laughed heartily. "Don't try your fancy pants stuff with me," he chuckled. "You aint home no more miss. We do things differently here."
She laughed too. Truthfully, she was still mortified about her ridiculous proposal and his refusal but joking about it was the only way she knew how to cope.
"You know I jest," she laughed. He was still staring at her. "What?" she said with a shrug. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
He shrugged nonchalantly. "It's just," he searched for the right word. "You finally look like you are comfortable. I haven't seen you look so at peace since you've gotten it. It's nice to see," he smiled kindly.
"Well thank you. I finally feel comfortable. Maddox is just the best gift I have ever been given." She patted Maddox's neck. "I can't thank you enough."
"It wasn't my gift to give. It was from Jeremiah."
She sighed. He was way too modest. She wondered if he was always this kind of person or only to her? Why did he behave like he liked her but refused her when she mentioned the possibility of him marrying her? She shook her head in embarrassment again. She was such an idiot. In all her life she would never get over that embarrassment.
'Give him time,' Jeremiah's voice said again, startling her. She couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face. Luckily Thomas had already moved his attention back to the path.
"Jeremiah," she said softly. "I've missed you. Where have you been?"
'I have to give you some space.' The voice explained.
"Then why now?" she breathed.
'Over there,' the voice said.
She looked in the direction she felt Jeremiah prompting her to. An image flashed into her mind and it was horrific. She saw a dead body sprawled out on the ground, arms and legs splayed unnaturally in the dirt and the neck was split open. A pool of blood circled around the body.
She gasped out loud as recognition dawned on her.
It was Jeremiah.