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paper as if keeping up with her racing thoughts. “But walking lacked drama, so I yelled at him and kicked him again. He broke into a trot, although I didn’t understand what that was then. I screamed, and he panicked, I guess. He was a lot younger then.” The pace of her breathing picked up. “I’m not sure what happened after that, but I think he might have started to gallop. We were going pretty fast.”
    Mac closed his eyes in dismay. “You could have been killed.”
    â€œOn some level I knew that. This huge animal was out of control and I was about to die. I was hysterical, which only made him go faster. Then I yelled as loud as I could, and he stopped abruptly. I went right over his head.”
    He sucked in a breath. Even though she was sitting in front of him and obviously fine, the scene was horrific to contemplate. Maybe elves and fairies had been in the meadow watching out for her, after all.
    â€œI could have been seriously hurt, but by some miracle I was only dazed and banged up a little. Prince hung around at first, but in my mind he’d turned into a demon horse and I screamed at him to get away. Eventually he headed for home.”
    â€œAnd you were alone out there.”
    â€œNot for long. It was summer so Georgie had her window open. Later she told me that she’d heard somebody out in the barn. She knows me pretty well, so she must have guessed I’d do something like that. She checked my room, threw on some clothes, and came after me.”
    â€œAnd you were completely traumatized.”
    â€œNot only by that, but I’d defied my mother. I was terrified of what she’d do if she found out. She doesn’t like being disobeyed.”
    â€œSo I gather.”
    â€œGeorgie smuggled me back into the house, cleaned me up, and promised never to tell anyone.” She glanced up from her sketch pad. “Although it probably doesn’t matter anymore, you’re one of three people in the world who know about my stupidity.”
    â€œIt wasn’t stupid. It was creative. Little kids think they’re invincible. Even some big kids.” He wanted to gather her close and comfort her, but that wasn’t a good idea. Besides, she was still working on her second sketch of Jasper. He would never dream of interrupting her while she was working.
    â€œThis was a fabulous idea, Mac. Drawing Jasper and trying to get the right expression in his eyes makes me see him as an individual, a creature with needs and fears just like mine.”
    â€œAs a prey animal, he has more reason to fear you than you have to fear him.”
    She looked up in surprise. “But he’s
huge.
Why would he be afraid of little old me?”
    â€œEver heard that phrase
Eyes in front, born to hunt. Eyes on the side, run and hide
?”
    â€œI have.” She glanced at Jasper. “But I always thought of rabbits and deer versus coyotes and bobcats. Jasper seems much more capable of defending himself.”
    â€œNot necessarily any more than a deer. And we’re definitely in the predator category, yet we expect him to carry us on his back, which puts him at potential risk if we should want to hurt him.”
    Her expression grew thoughtful. “I never considered that.”
    â€œIf you put yourself in his place, and I know you can do that or you wouldn’t be able to draw Ida with that rebellious gleam in her eye, it might change everything.”
    She laughed. “Ida is my second favorite subject.”
    He decided not to ask who her favorite subject was. He had a feeling he already knew. She claimed that her interest was purely artistic. He hoped that was true and Ida was on the wrong track.
    If Anastasia didn’t cross the line, he certainly wouldn’t. He had so many reasons not to make a move. Being alone with her in the barn had demonstrated what he’d been trying to deny. He wanted Anastasia Bickford.
    But he was no longer driven by