Charlotte watched as Ryan double-checked the saddle the stable boy had buckled onto the. “It’s a really big horse.”

Ryan chuckled. “You sure you want to ride her? The stable hand said this horse was a sweetheart, but still…”

“No. I want to.” The effects of the champagne had been short-lived. But now she was secretly counting the months until she turned twenty one.

Though they had borrowed coats from the lodge staff, Charlotte hopped from one foot to the other in an attempt to stay warm.

“Okay.” Ryan held out his hands. “Are you ready?”

“Let’s do it.” She put her foot in the stirrup and after a quick boost, she gasped as she realized she was sitting on the horses’s back. Ryan handed her the reins. “Just hold these, but wait here.”

As he left her to mount his own horse, she squelched the flash of guilt she felt at having such a good time when her sister was struggling with her health. I’m here to earn money to help with her transplant. Surely it was normal to have some adventures. She would take pictures with her phone to share with Abby.

While she waited for Ryan, she looked at the ground and grasped the saddle horn.

A few seconds later, Ryan was next to her, on his own horse. “You’re gonna wear both yourself and the horse out if you hold on too hard. Just try to relax. It’ll make the horse know you trust her.”

Charlotte attempted to relax. And felt better already. She also felt better that Ryan was at her side. “Just don’t leave me.”

“Not a chance.”

They rode along the trail, the horses surefooted in the snow. Ryan rode alongside her until the path narrowed, then he rode behind her. It didn’t take long to become accustomed to the sway of the horse beneath her. Soon she was confident enough to look up from the ground at the breathtaking scenery all around them.

“What do you think so far?” Ryan asked coming up alongside her and stopping. Her horse stopped automatically.

“It’s amazing.” She grinned as their eyes locked.

“It is, isn’t it? I have a surprise for you.”

“Really? What is it?”

“The kitchen packed us a lunch. To go.”

“A picnic?” She peeked over and saw the basket on the other side of his horse.

“Yeah.”

She wasn’t sure but she thought he blushed. It was probably just the cold. “Wonderful.”

“They said there are some falls up ahead that’s a good place to stop.”

“Okay.” Charlotte would have been happy whether they ate or not. But a picnic sounded unexpectedly romantic. She was content.

While they were stopped, she checked her cell phone. No messages. “How much further?”

“I have no idea.”

She laughed. It didn’t matter. They had the whole day ahead of them.

By the time they got to the falls an hour later, Charlotte was hungry. And cold.

Ryan dismounted, then helped Charlotte from her horse. He stood close and kept his hands around her waist as she slid from the horse. By the time her feet touched the ground, her arms were around his shoulders.

With the cold wind whipping around them, she didn’t move. He pulled her against him into a hug. A hug that lasted what must have been several minutes. She lay her cheek against his chest and he rested his chin on her head. She wondered if he could feel her rapid heart beat. Or maybe it was his heart that she was hearing.

“Hungry?” He asked, pulling back, and grinning at her.

“Always.”