Chapter Fourteen

Laura

Laura led as they took the back way home to the ranch. She couldn't stop smiling. This was going better than she'd hoped. It made her glad that she was on her horse in front of Ethan, that way he didn't have to see the goofy smirk that was plastered on her face.

“Slow down there, cowgirl,” Ethan called out.

Laura glanced over her shoulder to see Ethan a little way back on the trail. His smile was just as broad as hers as he held the reins. His horse was carefully navigating the rocky path, but apparently wasn't going fast enough to keep up with her.

“Whoa,” she said, pulling on her reins.

Her horse came to a stop in the middle of the trail, and they waited for Ethan to catch up.

“Come on, slowpoke,” she shouted. “Don't be afraid of a few rocks.”

“If the horse is afraid of them, then so am I,” Ethan called back. “Besides, I'd really rather not fall off. That would be ugly. You don't want to see me cry. I'm a really ugly crier.”

Laura laughed at his comment as she watched Ethan tr