Page 119 of The Lucky Heart (Jamison Valley 3)
“Come on.” Silas grabbed my hand and pulled me to the stock-tank bathtub.
While he got the water going, I eased out of my bra and panties. Then, holding his hand to steady myself, I sank into the hot water. Wincing as the water touched my raw skin, I took a few deep breaths until the pain eased away.
“Better,” I sighed and closed my eyes, resting my head against the cool metal edge.
“What happened?” Silas had pulled up a stool and was sitting by my side, gently stroking the side of my face with his thumb.
“Just too many hours in the saddle. It was a long ride and I kept sliding around in the saddle.”
“That saddle fits you perfectly. Why were you sliding around?”
“Well, I had to use your saddle because your dad said mine wouldn’t fit on Courage.”
His hand froze. “You rode Courage today?”
My eyes opened. Silas’s jaw was clenched tightly as he raked his hands through his hair. “Was that wrong? Your dad said that Lulu was in the pasture.”
“She is, but Dad should have gone to get her. No one rides Courage but me. He doesn’t like strangers and we’re damn lucky he didn’t throw you. Something Dad sure as fuck knows.” His head dropped down. “I should have gone today.”
“You’re sick, Silas.” Even after a day of rest, his skin was pale, and he looked exhausted.
He shook his head. “It still should have been me to go up. I don’t like that you could have gotten hurt, and Dad better brace because he went too far.”
Silas’s temper was on
the rise. He started shifting on the stool and fisting and un-fisting his hands.
“Hey.” I flicked a few drops of water in his face. His eyes snapped to mine as he wiped them away. “I’m fine and today is not the day to fight about this with your dad. For now, let it go.”
His face went from angry to anguished. “You could have gotten hurt, Lis. And then what would I do?”
My heart melted at his concern. “Hey, I’m okay. If you want to get after your dad about it, I’m not going to stop you. He shouldn’t have put me in danger, but baby, you have to keep your temper under control. All of this arguing back and forth isn’t working. Maybe it’s time to try another tactic.”
He thought about my words for a minute. “Maybe.”
“Courage was actually great today. He was gentle and slow. It was like he knew I was struggling and wanted to make it easier on me.”
“Maybe he knows you’re special.”
I smiled. “Maybe.”
“Did you know I named him after you?”
I jerked in surprise. “You did? Why’d you pick Courage?” I could think of many, many more accurate words to describe myself.
“Do you remember that trip we all took out to the lake when we were kids? The cliff-jumping trip? I think it was right before my junior year.”
I closed my eyes again, relaxing to Silas’s calming, deep voice. “Yeah. That was the summer before I started high school.”
“You were the only girl.”
I opened my eyes and flicked more water. “Something you, Wes and my brother failed to mention until we got there and I saw the entire male population of Prescott High.”
He chuckled. “We knew you wouldn’t have come otherwise.”
“You were right about that. Remember how everyone was just standing around? I thought it was so funny that all these big, tough guys came out to jump in, but no one would.”
“Until Jess. He was the first one to go. Then me. Then Wes.”
