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

No, hearing her voice on the other end of the phone, it never once made his heart skip or filled him witha thrill. Definitely one more thing to add to his discussion with Eleanor later that evening or maybe hecould invite her out for another ride.


But first he needed to finish his shift; which was destined to feel like forever, time crawling along ata snail’s pace.


Hours later, he turned his small SUV, trailer in tow, into the driveway of a quaint house set back from the road. As he slowed to a stop, Nathan let his eyes play over the house—two stories with a nice covered porch, painted white with forest green shutters—and the yard that bloomed with late season flowers. Everything was neat and well-tended, thus making him feel worse that Birch had found her way seven miles from the barn into the man’s garden. He planned on paying Lucas Shaw for the damage done as well as for keeping the mare a few hours. It was, he figured, the least he could do.


Chapter 6