I can’t stop thinking about him.

All night long, I tossed and turned, just seeing Jackson’s face and remembering how freaked out he was about the fairy houses. It made my day. I couldn’t get enough. When we got back to the stables, I expected him to kiss me, or at least want to go back to my room or something, but he just sent me a grin and took Belle with him. I was a little taken aback, but then, maybe he isn’t interested anymore.

That doesn’t feel right, though.

I see the way he looks at me. The way he holds my hand.

No, he’s interested, so I’m not sure what is going on.

But I’m excited to see him.

Braiding my hair as I head out of my room, I can feel a small smile on my face. I shouldn’t be smiling, though. I have stupid tea with the Fadmish ladies, and then the doctors are coming to see Ma today. We’ll find out if she is having the surgery sooner rather than later. As I head down the second flight of stairs, a door opens and Meredith steps out, an iPad in her hand.

“Miss Lena.”

“What do you want?”

I don’t miss the annoyance on her face as she tries to keep up with me. “Your ma told me to go over your schedule.”

“I know my schedule,” I inform her, trying to get away from her, but she has longer legs than me, and she’s quite quick. “I don’t need to go over it.”

“Nevertheless,” she says, ignoring me. “Franco will be here at nine for hair and makeup, Fadmish ladies are at ten, and you have that ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new music room at the high school at one. Then the doctors will be here at four.”

My heart jumps up in my throat at the thought of being at the school. I know security will be there. I know that if I wanted Declan there, he’d go, but I have to do this. I have to do what I promised my ma. Swallowing hard, I can’t shake the fear.

What if he is there?

What if he sees me?

What if he comes for me?

Shaking my head, I bite out, “I know all of this.”

“Grand. Have a nice day, Miss Lena.”

“Thanks,” I mumble as she stops, and I keep going down the stairs, taking them as fast as I can. I just want to leave. I don’t want to worry about this and that. I want to be free of this. Of all my responsibilities. I want to ride.

And I want to see Jackson.

When I reach the stables, he’s there, the horses ready while he stands in a pair of jeans and pully. “Ya didn’t have to work this morning?”

He shakes his head as he walks toward me. “I thought I did, but I didn’t.”

“But ya came in to ride with me?”

“I told you I would.” He sends me a grin before handing Belle’s reins to me. “You look pretty.”

I take the reins and bite my lip as I look at him. “I look a mess.”

“Perfect to me.” Speechless, I watch as he mounts MaddyLoo before looking over at me. “You know how to get on right?”

I send him a dry look. “I’m not an eejit.”

He laughs as I mount Belle. I haven’t been on her alone in years, but as soon as I am, it feels right. I can feel her lungs expand and contract between my legs, her steady and strong breath. It gives me life, and it calms me immediately.

When I glance over at him, it’s like he knows. “Feels good?”

I exhale in relief as I nod. “I missed this.”

“Right? Let’s go.” Without even a glance back at me, he kicks MaddyLoo to go, and they take off.

“All right, girl, let’s go.” When I nudge her to go, she starts at a slow trot, but then I think she notices that MaddyLoo and Jackson are so far ahead, so she picks up the pace. When I urge her a bit more, she goes faster, and everything disappears. As the air rushes against my face, I can’t help but grin as we gallop toward Jackson and MaddyLoo. We don’t catch up to Jackson since he is riding MaddyLoo hard, and I’m actually okay with that. I want to ride hard and fast, and Belle delivers. I feel like I’m on a high and drunk at the same time. The freedom of being on Belle is unbelievable, and I doubt anyone could catch me if they tried. My hair is blowing behind me, my eyes are watering from the air hitting me in the face, but none of that matters.

I’m having the time of my life.

I know my land. I’ve been here my whole life, but riding with Jackson through the places he has found almost makes it all feel new. I hadn’t realized there were more creeks toward the back or even more fairy homes. I almost fall off my horse laughing when I watch him dodge them, glancing back at me with wide eyes. He is crazy for sure. But of course, I avoid them too.

Ya don’t mess with the fairy homes.

As we go around where Declan and Amberlyn live, I smile. I haven’t seen the cottage since it was built, and it looks just as Declan wanted. A little romantic oasis for them. God, how I envy them. No one has ever not lived in our home when they were married and making babies. But Amberlyn made sure of it. She wanted it to be just them, and I am in awe of her. Or maybe more so with Declan because he went against every tradition to give Amberlyn what she wanted.

When we reach the bottom of the hill, Jackson slows and I do the same, coming to a trot beside him. He glances over at me and grins.

“What?”

“Your hair has come down.”

I wave him off. “I don’t care. This is amazing.”

“Right?” His grin is unstoppable. “See how you’re in control?”

I did see that. Belle listened to me. She went when I wanted her to go. She stopped when I wanted her to stop. I wanted her to go to the left, she went. I was in control. “Yeah, but she’s a beast of an animal. I’m not even a quarter of her weight. She can take over at any time.”

He nods, his eyes tender. “Exactly, and can you control that?”

I am a bit confused as I make a face. “No.”

“Just like in life, some things are out of your control. But when you can control them, you take them by the reins, and you rock that shit, eh?”

I smile, and I’m trying to ignore the Jedi mind tricks he has going as I look to him. “That’s the first time I’ve heard ya sound a bit like a Canadian.”

He laughs, loud and hearty. “It comes out every once in a while.”

Meeting him with a grin, I shrug. “It’s sexy.”

His face warms a little as he shakes his head. Almost like he is trying to resist me, which I find incredibly hot. “You ready?”

I replay everything he had just said. I’m not sure how he knew I needed this. How I needed his words or this ride, but I did. Running my fingers through Belle’s mane, I feel at ease. For the last couple weeks, I’ve been on high alert.

Except for now, when I’m on Belle.

Or when I’m with Jackson.

While the anxiety is there, I’m not worried about the ribbon-cutting thing over at the school. Because I’m in control of my life. I’ve made sure I have security, and that alone should keep me at ease. I doubt I’ll even see him. No one has. Which is grand.

“Yeah. Let’s go!” I exclaim, kicking Belle to go, and she takes off, like the champ she is. As I ride, the wind in my face, my hair falling out of my braid, I feel free. The fear isn’t there, suffocating me. I’m not thinking of anything but my body rocking on this beast of an animal that I love. When I glance at Jackson, he’s riding with gusto, standing as he rides MaddyLoo, looking like one of those western cowboys. His face has more hair on it, and I’m wondering if he’s lost his razor. But that’s not what has me gasping for air. No, it’s his grin. He looks as free as I feel. He’s beyond sexy, and I’m not a hundred percent sure how he’s done it, or if he even realizes he is, but he’s helping me.

When I thought there was nothing that could help at all.

While I sit in the car outside of the high school, my knee is bouncing like mad.

My heart is in my throat.

And I feel like my skin is tingling.

But not in a good way.

Biting my knuckle, I look at the school that looks as safe as a school can. My parents had this school built from the ground up. They keep adding stuff, mainly because Amberlyn pushes for it. She wants the kids of Mayo to have everything they need, and with her help and persistence, it’s happening. It’s a beautiful thing, and I wish I weren’t freakin’ the fuck out, but I am.

“Miss Lena, are ya ready?”

“No, sorry.”

“It’s fine, madam.” I watch as my driver, Phil, picks up his phone, playing on it as I look back out at the school. My security detail is outside the car, standing as tall as Jackson with their arms crossed over their bodies as they wait. People have gathered around the school and my car. I know no one has seen me in a good long while, and they want their look at the whore princess.

That’s my new name, apparently.

Such rubbish.

Swallowing hard, I look down at my cream dress that cuts down in the front but comes to my knees. It’s tight around my waist, fitted along my thighs, while billowing out at the top. My hair is bone-straight down my back, and I’m made-up to the nines. I have more jewels on than needed, but Ma always says, “they show our worth.” Bunch of bollocks, I think, but I do as she wants.

I have no desire to go into that school. The day hasn’t been awful. After the amazing ride with Jackson, I had tea with the Fadmish ladies, which basically consisted of them firing questions at me left and right. I deflected just fine, ignoring them mostly as I sipped my tea. But they had brought my ma some things, which Ma enjoyed immensely. Seeing her face light up was nice, but knowing that we’d know today when her surgery was had me a bit on edge.

Rubbing my hands together, I then lace my fingers as I look back at the school. Ah, how I wish I were on my horse. With Jackson. If I close my eyes, I can almost feel myself on Belle. The air. The sky. Watching Jackson and feeling nothing but perfect.

Take the reins and rock that shit, eh?

A smile pulls at my lips as I take a breath. Opening my eyes, I look around once more. My security is right there, the school is only a twenty-foot walk.

I am fine.

He can’t touch me.

“I’m ready, Phil.”

He drops his phone once I speak, jumping out and opening the door for me. Taking my hand, he helps me out, which I’m thankful for since my heels are sky-high as usual. Once I am upright, the flashes start, and people are talking so loudly I can hardly hear anything but my heart going mad in my chest.

Princess, are the rumors true?

When is the baby due?

When is Micah moving back?

How many men have you really been with?

I ignore them all, though, a smile on my face with my chin high as I walk confidently to the school. I wave to the children; I even shake the hands of the people who reach out to me. Because I am the Whiskey Princess.

And no one can take that away from me.

Not even myself.