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

“I sure hope you know where you’re going.”


Sometime later, he couldn’t exactly be sure but it had probably been about two hours, Birch led him into a familiar backyard behind a house he’d visited days earlier. Of all the places she thought to bring him…She went right for the remains of the garden, nosing around at the few pieces of greenery that remained. Nathan merely shook his head, too tired to figure out how they could have left the barn for a simple trail ride, gotten lost in the woods, and end the adventure in the backyard of Lucas’s house.


The idea of riding another seven miles just to get back to the barn sounded unappealing.


Nathan attempted to dismount, landing on his butt in the disturbed earth. He was surprised to find his legs shaky, the muscles of his thighs aching.


“Are you okay?” Lucas’s voice drew his gaze toward the back porch where he spotted the photographer coming down the wooden steps.


Foolishly, Nathan made no attempt to stand.


Chapter 10