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and at the moment, he wasn’t sure he was up to it.
    As he drove the last of the cattle into the corral for the night, Nick forced Satan to a halt and the black gelding snorted with annoyance. If it wasn’t the ranch hands testing him, it was the horse. At least the horse finally knew who was boss.
    Pushing his hat off his forehead, Nick wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand . . . and saw Jenny sitting on the top rail of the corral fence.
    She waved to him, an eager expression upon her face, almost as if she’d been anticipating his arrival. He must be mistaken. He turned and looked behind him but no one else was around.
    He slid out of the saddle as she approached, and fed Satan another of the special apple and molasses horse treats he’d used as bribery to keep him under control.
    â€œCome to check on me?” he asked, managing a grin as he closed the corral gate and secured the lock.
    â€œHeck no. I came to check on the horse.” Jenny took the reins from his hands and ran her fingers down one of the animal’s front legs. But contrary to her claim, her eyes were on him and not Satan.
    â€œCare to go on that ride with me?” he asked, knowing full well she’d refuse.
    â€œYes, I would.”
    â€œYou would ?” He swallowed hard. When he’d dismounted, his legs had nearly buckled beneath him. Climbing back up into the saddle would be like climbing N.L.C. Industries’ New York office tower—without any superhero strength.
    Jenny fed Satan a carrot and then turned to look at him, her bright blue eyes sparkling with mischief. What was she up to? Then a brilliant smile escaped her lips and he found it didn’t matter. It was the first real smile he’d seen on her, other than the one she wore in the newspaper photo. And in person, it was even more enticing.
    His heart rate doubled, and his resolve renewed. This was the chance he’d been waiting for, the chance to spend time alone with her, and for that he would hoist himself back into that saddle or die trying.
    A few minutes later, Jenny led two fresh horses from the stable and handed him the reins of a feisty chestnut that had its ears pinned back and its teeth fully exposed.
    â€œDon’t you have any horses with a calm disposition?” he asked, unable to keep the irritation out of his voice.
    â€œOf course.” Another smile parted her lips. “I just thought an expert wrangler, such as yourself, would prefer to ride a horse with a little more spirit.”
    â€œSpirit?” He pointed to the animal’s threatening stance. “Is that what you call this?”
    Jenny laughed and he suddenly had a pretty good idea why she’d agreed to ride with him. Torture.
    Rounding the upper loop trail, Jenny frowned as Nick Chandler coaxed the wild chestnut into an easy lope. How did he do it? She had never been able to control that horse, but she wasn’t going to let him know that.
    Jenny sensed Chandler gaining speed behind her.
    â€œRace you!” she called, and pushed Starfire forward with a slight squeeze of her legs.
    She rode parallel to the river and couldn’t help but scan the embankment. Parts of it were steep where the water had washed away the dirt under a mass of overhanging tree roots. Other areas held large boulders tightly locked within the river walls. But she didn’t see any caves or indentations filled with mineral deposits. If her great-great-grandfather had found a gold mine, where could it be?
    Ahead, the logjam jump came into view. Leaning forward, Jenny adjusted her weight in the English saddle and prepared to soar into the air. Except once again, Starfire didn’t get the height he normally achieved. They made it over but his back hoof scraped the top of the barrier.
    Seconds later, a startled whinny pierced the air, and when Jenny looked back, Chandler was lying on the ground. He wasn’t fool enough to try to go over the jump