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and sensations his deep voice was causing me to feel.
    What is wrong with me?
    “I don’t know what came over me. Please forgive me, okay?”
    I couldn’t speak if I wanted to. His words exploded all sorts of twinkling shivers down one side of my neck to my shoulder and then my back. Never had his whisper done that to me before.
    “I . . . uh, don’t think I should have . . . I need to go.”
    With a soft shove, Sean disentangled himself from around me and left the room before I could even think to breathe, let alone speak loud enough to tell him to stay.
    I ran my hand gingerly over my mouth, my heart racing at the thought of him almost kissing me . Oh, my gosh.
    It was then that it hit me— I’m in love with Sean Benally.
     I wasn’t sure how long I’d felt that way about him, or how long I was going to be able to hide my attraction, but one thing was for certain—I was scared. I knew there was no way in a million years he’d ever feel the same about me, and I didn’t think I could live next to him knowing I would always be his poor foster sister.
     
     

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Six: New Beginning
    Later that night as I cleaned up the kitchen, and then the next morning as I got ready for my early ride on Princess Buttercup, I was still marveling at the fact that I was in love with Sean. Honestly, how long had this been going on? Did I just realize I loved him, or had it been slowly growing all along? All I really knew for certain was that something had happened last night that I would never have predicted in a million years. Can you fall in love with your best friend just like that? Is it possible? Especially a best friend you’ve been raised with—I wasn’t sure I could.
    I need to ride.
    The morning was colder than normal, but it didn’t bother me. In fact, I reveled in the way the crisp air enhanced my senses. Riding was something that brought me the most joy. I wasn’t sure even Sean or his sisters understood how addicted to it I was, and how much I clung to the solitude, clarity, and peace it provided me.
    Princess Buttercup was such a sweet horse, too. She was so full of love and life and curiosity that I found myself bonding to her more than any animal I’d ever known.
    Or maybe it was because Sean surprised me with her.
    Hmm. With that thought, I pulled on the reins and slowed her canter to a sharp trot while I meditated that reality. It was an odd thing, thinking of my life and realizing that the happy moments I loved might all be connected to Sean Benally. And even weirder was the thought that it always had been that way.
    By the time I made it back to the stable, it was nearly ten o’clock in the morning. I hadn’t meant to be out that long, but thoughts of Sean had kept me occupied far longer than I realized.
    He was waiting for me as I brought Princess Buttercup in for a rubdown. My heart skipped a beat and I couldn’t help the smile that sprang to my face.
    “Good morning, sleepyhead,” I called out as I walked the mare into her stall.
    “Hey, yourself. I’ve been up since seven. Where have you been?”
    I loosened the saddle strap and easily slipped the leather through the buckle before heaving the saddle off the horse’s back. Surprised to find Sean on the other side of the horse, I passed the saddle to him to hang up when he tugged it from my hands.
    “Thanks.” I couldn’t stop my silly smile. I guess it was hard to do when you were happy. I removed Buttercup’s blanket and grabbed a towel to rub her down with before I answered him. “I just went for a ride. I wasn’t planning on staying out that long, but you know how it is—once I get going, it’s hard to come back. Especially on a Saturday. Why?”
    “Oh.” Sean looked a bit sad, but I couldn’t tell for sure. He turned and grabbed a brush and began to stroke the mare’s side. “I was just hoping to talk to you.”
    Uh-oh . Something wasn’t right in his tone of voice. The last thing I wanted to hear from him