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wasn’t looking at Pete. Something about the way the leather—
    “Who’s first?” Erik asked.
    That won’t be me. Jasper set his jaw. He had a list of excuses to avoid climbing over the fence. A need to retrieve something from his room, a stone in his boot, a coughing fit, an urge to take a leak, to get a drink, spontaneous combustion, alien abduction—oh, he could be very inventive.
    Melissa climbed over the fence. “Yaaaay. Me first.”
    Jasper watched as Pete spoke quietly to Melissa and then signaled to a stocky wrangler who led a gray horse into the corral. Melissa looked like she’d been born in the saddle.
    One by one, each guest showed what they could do and the line of horses grew smaller as they rode away. They all looked enthusiastic and competent. Great. When Jasper had filled in the details of his riding experience on the booking form, that he’d ridden for several years, he’d neglected to mention something rather important. His stomach roiled. The only good news was that as a guest met with Erik’s approval, they left with a wrangler so in the end, only Pete, Calum and Erik remained to witness Jasper’s humiliation.
    Not sure my feet are going to move. I really need to piss. Oh Christ. Is that a spaceship?
    “Your turn.” Erik smirked at Jasper’s knee-high black boots. “Show jumper?”
    “No,” Jasper muttered, though once upon a time he had been.
    His fingers clenched around the helmet. He slammed it onto his head and clipped it in place before he could change his mind. Jasper averted his gaze so he didn’t catch anyone’s eye, particularly Calum’s, but anxiety ballooned in his chest, making it hard to swallow the bile surging up his throat. He sensed he was fighting a losing battle to control his nerves. Even the thought of taking the apple bribe from his pocket made him feel sick.
    “Climb over and show us what you can do,” Erik said.
    Oh God, shit, fuck, crap. As if he could read Jasper’s mind, the horse gave him a look of disdain, flaring his nostrils.
    Erik gave an impatient sigh. “When you’re ready.”
    “One minute,” Jasper mumbled, turned and threw up. Oh fuck, fuck, fuck.
    “Shit,” Pete muttered.
    Jasper didn’t think he had that much in his stomach but he’d been mistaken. Oh God. He dragged a tissue from his pocket and wiped his mouth. “I’m sorry. I’ll clean it up if you’d point me in the—”
    “Don’t worry about it,” Erik said.
    “You okay?” Calum asked.
    “Must have eaten something that disagreed with me.” Jasper backed away. “Sorry.”
    He practically ran back to the ranch, tearing off his helmet as he went. Why the hell had he thought forcing himself to confront this was the way to go? There were plenty of other things to do in life, why throw himself over this particular cliff?
    Note to self: Look more carefully before I leap. I might land in quicksand.

Chapter Three
    Calum stared after Jasper’s retreating back and sighed. A guy with issues was not what he needed to be hot for because he had enough of his own. Fuck.
    “Looks like you’re not going to be riding today, Pete,” Erik said. “You can see to those damaged boards on the barn. Put Bonny back in the pasture and get Gunner to deal with that mess. Calum, go see if the guy needs a doctor. At least we know it’s nothing he’s eaten here. He didn’t touch his breakfast.”
    “He had that sandwich Angie made,” Calum said.
    “How do you know?” his father snapped.
    Calum thought quickly. “Because it’s gone from the fridge. I assume he ate it.”
    “Oh Christ. Get after him.”
    Calum didn’t rush. Jasper had to be embarrassed. He’d give him a chance to compose himself. He’d watched the English guy as one by one the guests went through their paces, proving they knew how to mount and hold the reins correctly, to cue the horse to walk, stop, turn and canter and most important—they didn’t yank at the animal’s mouth. With every passing minute, Jasper’s