Read Pleasing the Colonel for Free Online Page B

to be. When everyone was settled in, he walked out to the stables, eager to see the horses he hadn't seen since he left the country. He was surprised to see that he was not the first member of the household to visit the stables.
    “Miss Downy!”
    She gasped and whirled around, looking uncomfortable.
    “Are you fond of riding?”
    “Yes, of course,” she said, a bit flustered. “Your horses are beautiful.”
    He smiled. He liked the way she'd said the word “beautiful”—she had a breathy quality to her voice that made his blood rush. And when she spoke French… he brought himself back to focus on the horses. “Yes, I'm quite proud of all of them.” He considered her. She probably could ride as well as she could do anything. She certain had had an excellent upbringing. “How well do you ride?”
    “Well enough,” she said modestly. “Quite well, I suppose. Will you permit me to ride?” She was always cautious with him and on one hand, he appreciated the respect, while on the other, he'd love to see more of that natural charm he had glimpsed at the ball, before he'd angered her. She glanced up at him and their gazes locked—her unusual gray eyes holding his captive so that heat flooded his senses.
    He took a step closer to her. “Of course, you are welcome to ride anytime.”
    She smiled at him—a slow, sweet, grateful smile that lit up her face. “Thank you, Colonel. Do the children ride?”
    He shook his head. “Regretfully, no. I haven't been around to teach them myself, and I haven't trusted it to anyone else.”
    “Perhaps you will find I am trustworthy,” she said.
    “Perhaps so. Though I am happily not leaving them again.”
    “Right, of course,” she said quickly. “Quite so.”
    “Would you care to go for a ride now?”
    “Now?” she was surprised. “Well… yes, I'd love to!” Her smile was breathtaking. He felt suddenly that there was nothing he wouldn't do to see that look on her face more often. Pleasing Miss Downy had just jumped to the top of his priorities.
    He gave the stable boy orders about which horses to saddle, and soon they were trotting off. Miss Downy rode side saddle on Pina, the pinto mare, and he on Banto, a large brown steed. She followed as he led slowly at first, pointing out landmarks, giving her a tour of his family property. He'd grown up here and loved it deeply. He found he wanted to show her all of it—the small stream that gurgled through, the outskirts of the dense wooded area to one side. The lush meadow, speckled with wildflowers. He was gratified by her appreciation of everything, her periodic murmurs of “how lovely!” or “look at that!” and the way her thick waves of hair bounced as she rode.
    He breathed in the country air and relaxed into the gentle lope of his horse. Even Miss Downy was relaxing into the ride. He had never seen her look so comfortable and content… not that he'd known her for long.
    He picked up the pace to a gallop on the way back, and asked her to lead because he liked to watch her ride. She cantered off, tossing her thick glossy hair, a natural smile of joy stretching her face. His pleasure turned to fear, though, when she urged the mare over a series of jumps. Though she took them expertly, his veins had filled with ice and it was not until she had executed them all flawlessly that he relaxed in the saddle again.
    Back at the stables she dismounted, a healthy glow in her cheeks and a happy expression on her face.
    He dismounted and grasped her by the shoulders. “Miss Downy, if you ever scare me like that again, I will bend you over my knee and spank you raw!”
    Miss Downy stared at him in amazement. Her cheeks colored but her mouth twitched as if she were hiding a smile.
    “Colonel Watson, did you think I was in danger?”
    He shook his head grudgingly. “No. Clearly you're an excellent rider. But warn me next time before you go showing off like that!”
    Her face broke into a broad, beautiful smile and her eyes