Nathan Pratchett’s last relationship ended because he spends too much time at the barn with his mare, Birch. But he finds peace in the saddle.<br><br>However, Birch seems to have other plans.<br><br>After losing a shoe while out on a trail ride, Nathan is forced to use a new ferrier. After that, it seems like Birch is a different horse. She’s gone from well-behaved to running loose! And, for some reason, she keeps winding up at the home of a dreamy fella named Lucas Shaw. Is it possible the mare knows something Nathan doesn’t?

A New Pair of Steel Shoes

Why couldn’t he find the same utter devotion? Someone who encouraged and supported him, someone with which he could return the favor? Why did he keep finding the duds, the ones who never stuck around but spoke sweet enough lies to make him think they might just be it? Nathan sighed, placing his helmet on his head. Maybe one of these days, preferably before he was an old man, he might get lucky. Then again, with the way his streak was going he found that highly unlikely.


“Sure,” he said, snapping out of it.


Side by side they left the barn, Eleanor in her jeans and T-shirt, him in his typical riding breeches and polo. She wore cowboy boots. He wore paddock boots. They were like polar opposites and yet the best of friends. He could think of no other person he wanted to share his grief with, feeling blessed that she’d made time for him. Nathan waited patiently for her to mount up, then followed suit.


Chapter 3