to meet you, Noah. I’m Cassie Lynn.”
“My uncle Riley likes to talk to horses, too.”
“Sounds like a smart man.” She held out her last few apple slices and nodded toward the two mares. “Would you like to feed them?”
The boy smiled, displaying a gap where one of his front teeth should be, and took the slices. He eagerly stepped up on the second-from-the-bottom board of the fence so he could lean over the top rail. Fearlessly holding his hand out just as she had, Noah smiled as the black mare happily took the offering. “What’s her name?” he asked.
“Duchess.” Cassie Lynn moved beside the boy and propped a foot on the bottom board, concerned by his precarious perch. She rubbed the other mare’s neck. “And this here is Scarlett.”
She smiled as the boy stroked the mare’s muzzle. “I see you’ve done this before,” she said.
The boy nodded. “Uncle Riley has a real fine horse—a gray named River. He’s inside right now talking to Mr. Humphries about stabling him here.”
Well, at least she knew the boy wasn’t alone. Cassie Lynn patted Scarlett’s muzzle so the animal wouldn’t feel left out, then she leaned her elbows on the top rail again. “Are you visiting someone here or do you and your folks plan to settle down in Turnabout?”
The boy shook his head. “We don’t know anyone here. And I don’t have folks anymore. It’s just me, Pru and Uncle Riley.”
She absorbed the words, as well as his matter-of-fact tone. Before she could form a response, though, they were interrupted.
“Noah, what are you doing out here?”
At the sharply uttered question, Noah quickly turned, and in the process lost his footing. Cassie Lynn moved swiftly to stop his fall and ended up landing in the dirt on her backside with Noah on her lap.
“Are you all right?”
She looked up to see a man she didn’t know helping Noah stand up. But the concerned frown on his face was focused on her.
“I’m a bit dusty, but otherwise fine,” she said with a rueful smile.
He stooped down, studying her as if he didn’t quite believe her reassurances.
She met his gaze and found herself looking into the deepest, greenest eyes she’d ever seen.
Cassie Lynn found herself entranced by the genuine concern and intelligence reflected in the newcomer’s expression. It made her temporarily forget that she was sitting in the dust and dirt of the livery yard.
“Can I help you up?”
She blinked, coming back to herself, and quickly nodded. “Yes, thank you.” Hoping there was no visible sign of the warmth she felt climbing in her cheeks, Cassie Lynn held out her hand.
He took it in his larger, work-callused one and she had the strangest feeling that she could hold on to that hand forever.
Then he placed his other hand behind her back, and with surprisingly little effort, the green-eyed stranger had her on her feet in no time. He stepped away once he was certain she was steady, and she found herself missing the protective strength of his touch.
He continued to eye her cautiously. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Cassie Lynn nodded as she busied herself dusting off her skirt.
What was wrong with her? It wasn’t often she found herself flustered this way. “Please, don’t worry. I’ve taken worse falls tripping over my own feet.” She quickly turned to Noah. “How about you? Are you all right?”
“Yes, ma’am. Thanks for catching me.”
She ruffled his hair. “Glad to help.” For the first time she noticed a young girl standing slightly behind the man, chewing her lip as if she didn’t want to be here. Before Cassie Lynn could introduce herself, however, the man spoke up again.
“I’ve told you before not to wander off without telling me.” His tone was stern.
Noah’s expression turned defensive. “I just wanted to get out in the sunshine. We’ve been cooped up forever.” The boy scuffed the ground with the toe of his shoe. “Besides, you were right inside, and I didn’t go far.”
The man didn’t seem the least bit appeased. “That’s no excuse.”
Noah’s shoulders slumped. Then he gave his uncle a hopeful look. “But you found me right away. And I knew Pru saw where I was going.”
Watching the interplay between the two of them, Cassie Lynn could detect genuine concern behind the man’s scolding. This, of course, must be the Uncle Riley that Noah had mentioned.
She studied the boy’s uncle while trying not to appear to be nosy. There was something about the man that intrigued her. It wasn’t just his vivid eyes, or his appearance, though that was appealing enough in a rugged, well-muscled sort of way. No, it was something about his bearing that commanded her attention, an air of self-confidence and strength, balanced with a concern for his nephew, which lent just a hint of vulnerability. It all came together in a way that she found compelling.
The man gave his nephew a final exasperated look, then turned to face her.
She quickly schooled her features, hoping she hadn’t given away any hint of her rather inappropriate thoughts. To her relief, his expression was merely polite.
“My apologies, miss, for any trouble Noah might have caused you.”
“No need to apologize.” She gave the boy a companionable smile, then held out her hand to the man beside him. “I’m Cassie Lynn Vickers, by the way.”
He took her hand and gave it a perfunctory shake before releasing it. “Glad to meet you, Miss Vickers. I’m Riley Walker. And I appreciate you coming to Noah’s rescue the way you did.”
She dipped her head in acknowledgment. “Glad to help.” Then she turned to the little girl. “And I assume you are Noah’s sister, Pru?”
The girl, who looked to be no older than ten or eleven, nodded.
Cassie Lynn turned to the children’s uncle. “I understand you folks are new to town. I hope you enjoy your stay here.”
“I’m sure we will.” Mr. Walker touched the brim of his hat, and she thought for a moment he would make his exit. But instead he hesitated a moment and then nodded toward the corral. “Which one of these horses is yours?”
“None, I’m afraid. We’re just good friends.” She rested an arm on the fence. “I understand from Noah you’ve brought your own horse to town with you.”
He nodded. “River goes everywhere I do.” He waved toward the livery end of the corral, where Mr. Humphries was leading what was presumably Mr. Walker’s horse through the gate. “That’s him now.”
