Page 32 of Dared By a Lyon
“Truly? This might sound odd, but it’s been my experience that horses acquire their names due to a feeling or image theyinspire in their owner,” she said brightly. “For example, my horse’s name is Piper because of the way she walks. She prances in an almost musical fashion when we trot. I immediately thought of the name.”
“If you say so,” he said with a crooked smile. “Although Piper sounds like a good name for your horse.”
“You’re laughing at me,” she said, good-naturedly.
“No. Well…maybe. But perhaps it’s because I find conversation with you so engaging and refreshing,” he said. After a momentary pause, he added, “Perhaps that sounded too forward, and if it does, I apologize. However, I enjoy spending time with you.”
“Ahem,” she said, with a playful nod toward the horses.
“Yes. Right. The horses.” He cleared his throat. “This large white gelding’s name is Lightning. Don’t let his size fool you. He is very fast,” Gabriel said, and then grimaced. “I suppose the name Lightning goes to your point.”
She smiled.
They moved to the next stall. “This spirited mare is named Zephyr.” They walked to the corner of the stable, and Gabriel pointed out a mottled brown gelding. “This is Spirit.”
“They all sound wonderful, but I immediately liked Lightning,” she decided. “His eyes were so warm and welcoming.”
“He’s fast,” Gabriel added.
“Yes, there’s that. What did you name your horse?” she asked.
He flashed a grin. “Demon.”
Laughter lit her eyes. “I’d imagine he’s fast as well,” she said. “And sly, too, if his name suggests anything more about him.”
“Yes. He is. Are you suggesting a race?”
“No. But I’m suggesting I can keep up with you,” she teased.
“No shy miss here,” he mused. “Lightning it is. I’ll have Mr. Grimes saddle him up.”
“Could I ask one more favor?”
“Certainly,” he replied.
She bit her bottom lip and looked up at him. “Would it be permissible for me to ride astride? I’d prefer it so much to the sidesaddle.”
He didn’t look alarmed at her question.
“I’m not riding out in public, and it’s so much nicer to ride astride.”Why should men have all the advantages?she reasoned.
“I don’t see why not. My sister used to do the same thing,” he said. “I’ll instruct Grimes.”
“Was Lightning her horse?” she asked tentatively.
He looked at her for a moment before giving her his dimpled smile. “He was. How did you know?”
“Just a feeling, I suppose,” she said.
“Undeniably, Lightning hasn’t gotten the attention he used to. He’s still a relatively young gelding with a lot of potential. My sister would love that you chose him. Despite his name, he is a gentle horse, and she loved him tremendously,” Gabriel said. “And he adored Olivia. As it happens, Demon likes Lightning. Olivia and I used to ride—and race—when she visited.” His eyes held an unmistakable fondness for his sister.
Once Ashlyn mounted Lightning and nudged him into a canter, it felt like they became the perfect team. Effortlessly, they took off toward the hillier grounds, following a well-worn path. She gave him his head and let him determine the speed he was comfortable with. There was ample space for the two horses to ride side by side, while the footman followed at a discreet distance behind.
It was a good thing that Alice had secured her hat with extra pins, she thought, or it might have fallen from her head. Theground was bumpy, and they dodged many fallen tree limbs. They rode in companionable silence for about thirty minutes. Ashlyn assumed the pause was to give her a brief break from riding Lightning to allow Gabriel to ask her how she and the horse were getting along. She was pleased with her choice of mount.
The path wound through a small orchard, filled with ripe red apples, where they finally stopped. “I’ve never seen trees this full of apples!” Ashlyn exclaimed. “But then, I’ve never ridden through an apple orchard.”
“Apples have always been Demon’s favorite treat, and this has always been his favorite stop.” Gabriel allowed his black stallion to pick apples from the trees and eat them as they wandered through the trees. “Not too many, Demon,” he scolded the beast. “We still have a ride ahead of us.”
