Page 148 of Her Boss, Her Rancher: Sunrise On The Ranch

“Breathe,” Jared said to her.

“I am breathing. Hard.”

Sienna giggled when the horse twitched and fluttered her mane. Jared’s eyes met with Bella’s. “Are we good here?”

She nodded, biting her lip once again.

“I’m gonna circle the corral with her. Okay?”

“Be extra careful,” she warned.

He tipped his hat, Sienna waving to her as they moseyed off at a slow pace. Bella lifted her hand and wiggled a finger or two, keeping her gaze locked on Sienna, her trembling beginning to disappear as she noted Jared’s obvious expertise on the horse.

By the time they reached the far end of the oval corral, Bella was breathing normally. But just as she let down her guard, a gigantic hawk flew out of the trees and swooped down, winging its way just over Sundae’s head. The startled horse reared up, her front legs circling the air as she balanced on her hind legs. Jared and Sienna were thrown back on the horse and Sienna’s panicked screams pierced the air. Bella shot over the fence and raced toward Sienna. By the time she reached the two of them, she was out of breath. Jared held her crying daughter in his arms, trying to sooth her.

“Give me my baby now,” she demanded. She was spitting mad, but didn’t want to frighten Sienna so she held her anger inside. “She’s scared to death.”

Bella reached up and the second Sienna saw her, she nearly flew out of Jared’s arms to be comforted by her mother. “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay.” She kissed the top of Sienna’s head over and over, holding her close.

“I can’t even talk to you right now,” Bella said to Jared, unable to look at him.

Jared climbed down off the horse and followed her as she began walking away.

“We were never in any real danger. I would’ve never let anything happen to her, Bella.”

“Jared,” she said through clenched teeth. “Please shut up and let me take my baby inside. I don’t want to cause a scene and frighten Sienna any more than she already is.”

She heard Jared let out a big sigh but, thankfully, he stopped following her. The darn man hadn’t even thought about his own injuries and the damage he could’ve sustained.

She’d been a fool to trust Jared Stone. What the heck had she been thinking?

Jared paced in his study, unable to keep his anger in check, unable to get any work done this morning. Did Bella really think he’d put Sienna in danger? The horse had been spooked, but Jared had never lost control. He’d clamped onto Sienna like a vise until Sundae settled down. It was all over in a split second. He was sorry Sienna got frightened, but she’d stopped crying the instant she was back in her mother’s arms.

Yet he’d never wanted to cause Bella any more grief. He’d never wanted to hurt her. She was becoming important to him and this little rift between them wasn’t setting well.

His cell phone rang and he grabbed it off his desk to look at the screen. It was his mom. Veronica Stone Kensey wasn’t one you could put off. She’d been calling every day or so to check on his recovery while on a trip to the Mediterranean.

Pinching his nose, he let the phone ring one more time before answering. “Hi, Mom.”

“Hi, honey. We’re finally back from our vacation. I’m in love with the Italian Riviera. And I think I’ve gained ten pounds. But more about that later. How are you today?”

His mom was sleek and pretty and she never really put on any weight. Her Floridian friends said it was a blessing how she could eat and eat and never gain an ounce. “I’m doing well, Mom. Every day is easier and easier.”

“So, you’re up and about?”

“Pretty much. I’m working, and today I took Sundae out for a ride.” He wouldn’t go into details but his mother deserved to hear his progress. He and Cooper had insisted she not come home from her trip when the accident happened. Things could’ve been a lot worse, but Jared had been lucky and there wasn’t much she could have done to help his broken ribs. So as a compromise, they’d agreed to give her updates every day or two. Cooper and Lauren’s pregnancy was also a subject of these conversations.

“You’re not overdoing it, are you?”

“No, Mom. I know my limitations.”

His mother seemed skeptical. She’d never approved of his daredevil streak.

“Okay.” She sighed. “I guess I’ll be able to see that for myself. I’m coming home for the holiday party at the end of the week.” Even though his mom lived in a ritzy retirement village in Florida, she always referred to Stone Ridge Ranch as home. “I’ll spend a few days with you, if that’s all right?”

His eyes slammed shut. He loved his mother a lot, but her timing wasn’t good. “Sure, Mom. I’d love to see you. You’re welcome here anytime.”

“Thanks, honey. Gosh, it’s always so good to hear your voice.”