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Emma placed her hands on her hips. “And why not? The hat doesn’t belong to me, and I need those glasses. I can’t just…” She swallowed back her confession. He’d think it weird if shecouldn’t walk through town without them. He’d probably ask her why she was wearing them out in the evening when there was barely any light to speak of.
“You can’t what? Because I can tell you what you can’t do. You can’t go traipsing all over these acres looking for a literal needle in a haystack. It’s not going to happen—especially if you’re not willing to get back on that horse.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I need those glasses.”
“Then get some new ones.”
“I can’t.” She swallowed hard. There was a ninety-nine percent chance that someone would recognize her if she walked into a shop in town. Not only that, but she didn’t have enough money to spare for another pair, even a cheap one.
“Why not?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.”
She contemplated telling him a lie—that they held sentimental value to her. But the chances that they’d find the pair broken or missing a lens were pretty high as well. Instead, she opted for nothing. “It’s none of your business. I’m going to look for them with or without you.” She attempted once more to move past him but couldn’t get around him.
“If they’re that important, I’ll give you mine. They’re in my truck, so we’ll have to head back.” His voice was firm, unyielding. He wasn’t going to budge on this front, and a pair of his sunglasses was better than no pair at all.
Emma sighed. “Fine.”
“Good. Now get on that horse.”
“Absolutely not,” she used his words against him.
He groaned. “I’m not walking the whole way.”
“You don’t have to.” She folded her arms with a grin. “I’m happy to walk beside my horse. You can ride yours.”
Caleb threw his head back and groaned. “Why are you being so difficult?”
“Am I? I thought I was just being assertive.”
He set his narrowed gaze on her. “You’re clearly not prepared to ride, and yet you got on one in the first place. You couldn’t stop her. Then you made matters worse by holding on the reins too tight?—”
“It’s not my fault!” she shot back. “No one told me that’s what a horse would do when it saw a snake.”
His brows shot up. “A snake.”
“Yeah. And Sophia definitely didn’t tell me that it would buck me off. I thought I needed to pull back on the reins to get her to…”
He was fighting a smile. She didn’t know what he found so amusing about all of this, especially when he was acting like he didn’t approve of her actions whatsoever.
Emily folded her arms tight across her chest. “Anyway, that’s why I’m not riding her again. I don’t need to. I’d rather stretch my legs anyway.”
“And you’re not going to change your mind.” His voice was a little softer this time—almost kind.
“Nope.”
“Then I guess I’m walking too.”
She was taken aback by his statement. “You don’t have to?—”
“I know.”
Emma smiled. “I see that even the grumpy ones can be chivalrous.”
“No, chivalry would be to put you in the saddle and teach you a thing or two about horses so you don’t break your neck next time.”
