Finding You (By You #3) (9 page)

Jeremy watched out the window as they drove along Highway 290 out toward Brenham. Houston was quickly disappearing behind them, but the stretch of highway went through a number of small towns before they would get to where they were going.

He didn't dare look over at Sarah right then. If he did, he wasn't sure that he would be able to look away from her. She made him feel things that he'd guarded himself against for a long time, things he wasn't sure he was ready to share with anyone. He couldn't stop thinking about the way she'd felt when he had his arms around her outside her dorm room. He'd kicked himself all the way home for not holding on to her just a little while longer, for not taking the opportunity she'd given him to kiss her, to feel her lips against his. It would have been a mistake, but possibly the sweetest mistake of his life.
 

He'd thought about kissing her at least a million times so far that day. He wanted to tell her to pull over right there so he could lay one on her. He knew that would make things more awkward and tense than anything else, but that didn't stop him from thinking how nice it would have been.

Sarah was already something special to him, and he wanted to make sure he did everything right. He didn't want to mess anything up by rushing into it. Especially not after what happened last time...

"So why don't you drive?" Sarah asked, breaking the silence.

"What do you mean?"

"It's just that, I don't know...everyone drives."

Jeremy shrugged a shoulder, trying to hide the moment of panic that he was feeling.

"I used to, but I just don't anymore."

"Is there any particular reason?"

He let out a sigh. She was asking a harmless question, but she didn't realize just how personal a thing it was. He hated not opening up to her, not telling her the truth, but he wasn't ready to lay everything on her, not while they were still getting to know each other. She'd probably turn the car around right there and head back to campus, if he told her everything.

"I just never really had a need for it, so I let my license expire," he said. "I got used to riding my bike everywhere, and now I kind of prefer that. It's cheaper, it's better for the environment, it keeps me in shape."

A small grin crept across Sarah's face. "You're definitely in shape." He flashed a smile at her. Hearing her say stuff like that made him feel on top of the world. "But what if you have to go somewhere far? Or even just to the grocery store or something? Isn't it a hassle to try and find a ride?"

"It's nothing I can't handle. You get used to it, and then you don't even really think about it."

She turned and flashed him a wicked smile. "But what about our date? What if I had said that I couldn't drive?"

His heart leapt in his chest when she looked at him that way.

"Then I guess we would have had to stay in," he said, eyeing her intensely.

"Oh..." Her eyes bulged as she looked at him, and he could tell she was blushing. He let out a deep laugh, one that started in his belly and worked its way up. "What's so funny?"

"You should see the look on your face right now," he said. "I'm just teasing you. I never really considered it. I guess I just assumed everything would work out."

She flashed him a tiny smile from the corner of her mouth before focusing back on the road.
 

"Things don't always work out the way you expect," she said, her voice distant.

He turned his head and focused on the mile markers as they zipped by.

"Tell me about it," he said, his voice trailing off.

Jeremy was all too familiar with the fact that life didn't always turn out the way you thought it was going to. He had never thought he'd be starting college at the age of twenty-one, and he never thought he'd have to go through everything that happened a few years earlier.

He gritted his teeth, trying to push those thoughts away. He'd spent enough time living in the past, and now wasn't the time to revisit those memories. He was on a nice date with the most amazing girl he'd met in a long time, and dredging up things he'd put behind him wasn't going to end well.

"Is there something wrong?" Sarah asked, after they'd driven in silence for a while.

He shook his head. "No, not at all." He hoped she didn't see through the lie. "I was just thinking that I haven't been out this way in a while. Seems like everything has changed so much."

"Did you used to come out here a lot?"

"When I was a boy, I did." He let out a small laugh. "Seems like forever ago. It's funny how things that are so important in your life one moment can slowly fade into distant memories without you realizing it."

She gave him a curious look. "What is it exactly that we're doing?"

He waggled a finger back and forth, shaking his head. "Nah, ah. I'm not telling--you'll find out soon enough."

Her eyes narrowed at him suspiciously, and her nose scrunched into that cute little way, but she didn't say anything. He was happy that she was such a good sport about all of this. For a first date--wow, he really was on a date with her--she had been very trusting. Knowing that she trusted him like that made him feel good.

When they came on their exit, a ton of those old memories came back to Jeremy. He hadn't been out this way since he was a young teen. It was going to be nice getting to share this with Sarah, and he couldn't wait to see the look on her face when she found out what they were doing.

Sarah turned down the tiny road that led away from the highway. They followed that road as it cut through luscious green hills of south Texas. The dense trees gave way to open farmland, and after another fifteen minutes, or so, Jeremy had her take one final turn onto a narrow, dirt road. Sarah gave him a curious look, but he just gave her a big smile, still not giving her any hints about what they were doing.

They took one final turn onto a narrow driveway and passed a gated fence that had been left open for them. When they pulled up to a row of tiny buildings, Jeremy had her park next to an old, Chevy pickup truck that belonged to someone he hadn't seen in years. As Sarah looked out over the fields in front of them, her eyes were wide with amazement.

"Are we doing what I think we're doing?"

He grinned at her, his heart threatening to pound straight through his chest just from how excited she looked.

"Sure is," he said. "You're in for one hell of a time."

As they climbed out of the car, looked around in wide-eyed excitement. She breathed in all of the smells that came along with being out in the open fields, away from the city. Horses grazed out in the pasture, and the only thing that separated them from where Jeremy and Sarah stood was a fence made of thick lumber. She watched them in amazement for a few moments as Jeremy walked around the car to stand next to her.

"They're beautiful," she said, her face stretched in a wide smile.

"You mentioned that you had always wanted to go riding, so I made some calls."

Sarah gave him a quizzical look as an old leathery man came strolling up to them from one of the buildings next to the corral. He had bronze, tanned skin and despite the wear and tear brought on by age, it was obvious he was still in good shape. His shoulders were wide and broad, despite his slouch, and the cowboy hat he wore had plenty of miles on it.

"Howdy," he called out.

"Emit," Jeremy said, grinning. "You're looking good."

The two men clasped hands so hard Sarah thought she would have been knocked over if they'd tried it with her.

"You too, my boy," he grinned, taking all of Jeremy in. "The years have been good to me."

"And how's Jonny Mae doing?"

"She'll outlive us all," Emit chuckled. "Though I suppose she still doesn't believe that you called yesterday. She insisted I'm finally losing my mind."

Jeremy cheeks flushed and he gave Emit a bashful look. "I know it's been a while. I appreciate you helping me out though."

"Of course, my boy. You know we'd do anything for you."

Jeremy turned to Sarah, his smile taking her in. "This is the girl I was telling you about, Sarah."

Emit pushed past him before he could finish his introduction. The cowboy scooped the hat off his head in one motion, revealing a mostly bald head with little tufts of gray hairs sticking up, as he held his other hand out to her.

"Well you didn't mention she was such a pretty thing," he said, grinning. "I'm Emit McHorn, it's good to meet you, Ms..."

"Miller," Sarah grinned, placing her hand in his. "Sarah Miller."

"Ms. Miller," he finished, shaking her hand, gently. Then the smile on his face faded, and he gave her a serious look. "Now, don't you let that boy give you any guff. If he does you let us know and ol' Jonny Mae and I will set him straight."

Sarah let out a little laugh. "He's been a perfect gentleman so far, but I'll keep that in mind."

She tried her best to give Jeremy a feisty little snarl, but he just laughed along with her.

"The McHorn's are old friends of my family," Jeremy explained.

Emit nodded at Jeremy as though to confirm what he said before turning back to Sarah.

"Now, I heard a rumor that you've always wanted to go riding," he said. Her stomach erupted in nervous jitters as she nodded. "Well, then you're in luck. Ol' Dolly been itching to get out and run around a little." He tilted his head toward the fence and waved her her to follow along. "Come on."

Sarah shot Jeremy a wide-eyed look, her mouth open with excitement. He grinned back at her, tilting his head for her to follow Emit.

Was she really about to do this? Was she really about to get to go riding? She hurried after Emit, struggling to believe that she was actually going to do it. She glanced back at Jeremy one more time and saw him leaning up against the wooden fence, grinning after her. She was so ecstatic that she could barely concentrate. And it was all because of him. She could just run over and kiss him right there.

"Now, watch your step," Emit said, drawing her attention back.

He was already on the other side of the wooden fence, and he held his hand down below the top piece of lumber, indicating for her to crawl between it and the middle piece. She slid herself easily through it, and then followed him as he walked around to the stable.

"Now, ol' Dolly hasn't been out for a couple of days. Boy is she going to be happy to see you."

"Dolly?" Sarah asked, but she had the answer before she'd even finished saying it.

As she followed him into the stable, Sarah saw the most beautiful, golden brown mare she'd ever seen. It whinnied when it saw Emit, and he had a grin on his face to match.

"Miss me?" he asked, patting the mare on the neck. It whinnied, again, an irritated sound. "I know, I know. But Sarah here is going to take you out for a little run."

"A run?" Sarah said, her eyes going wide.

Emit flashed a grin at her.

"Don't worry...Dolly will take good care of you. Won't you, girl?" He patted the mare on the neck, again, eliciting another bob of her head.

"But, I've never been riding before. I was thinking it was going to be something slow, at first."

"At first," he agreed.

Sarah twisted a finger through her blonde hair as she watched Emit go about saddling the mare. He had an easy way about him, a way that managed to calm some of her nerves, though she still felt uneasy about the whole thing. Was she really going to go through with this? It had been something she'd wanted to do her whole life, and now was her opportunity. A nervous excitement fluttering around in her stomach, and she knew there was no way she could pass up the chance.

When Emit had finished with the saddle and bridle, he led Dolly out of the stable into the open corral. Sarah followed along side of him, getting more nervous and excited by the second.

"First thing to do is introduce yourself," he said. He pulled Dolly to a stop, and motioned Sarah around to the front of the mare. "Horses don't like being snuck up on. Just make sure she knows you're there, and be gentle. Go on, put your hand out nice and slow, she'll be alright."

Sarah held her hand out in front of the Dolly, feeling her hot breath against her palm. Dolly whinnied and arched her head back, and Sarah jumped away.

"Don't worry," Emit laughed. "She's just saying hello."

Sarah bit her lip, not sure whether he was addressing her or the horse. She took a deep breath and held her palm up again, slowly walking forward. This time, Dolly didn't move. She looked Sarah straight in the eye, and Sarah pushed even closer, until her hand slid along the mare's muscular neck.

Dolly's coat was soft, but tough, and as Sarah slid her hand down her neck, a smile crept across her face.

"There you go," Emit said. "Just like you're old friends."

Sarah's heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn't help but glance back at the fence where Jeremy had a leg propped up against one of the massive posts. His lips were pulled back in a huge smile, and he nodded at her when their eyes met. She laughed, feeling an excited giddiness in her fingers as they laced through Dolly's mane.

"You're so beautiful," Sarah said, and Dolly nudged her muzzle against Sarah's cheek.

"Now that you've been properly introduced, it's time to mount her." Sarah nodded her head quickly, as though what Emit was saying was the most natural thing in the world. "Just put your left foot here in the stirrup, and then kick your right leg up and over...just like in the movies."

Sarah did as he said, placing her foot in the stirrup. She bobbed her leg a few times, trying to make sure her foot was secure.

"Go on. One quick motion."

She nodded, then did as he said. She pushed herself up like she was climbing a huge staircase, then threw her other leg over the back of the horse. Before she knew it, she was seated on the saddle, with her feet locked in the stirrups on either side. Emit grinned up at her.

"She's bigger than she looks," Sarah said, looking around.

"You'll get used to it. Just remember to trust her--ol' Dolly's been doing this a lot longer than you have. She'll take care of you."