Amelia went back to Adam’s farm for the tour he had promised. He had dressed for the occasion in jeans, flannel shirt, gumboots and a heavy canvas jacket. It just happened to be Christmas Day.

“Sheep or horses first?” he asked, grinning at her. The tension of the previous meeting was gone, and Amelia smiled warmly back. “Horses,” she said, and Adam gestured ahead.

“This way then.”

The horse barn was small, consisting of four stalls and all were filled. One horse had his head hanging out over the edge of the stall, a tall bay with a blaze down the front of his face. He made a nickering sound as Amelia walked towards him, and she held her hand out, letting him sniff her.

“You’re comfortable around horses,” Adam observed.

“I used to ride them as a child. I stopped when I left home for school.”

“Would you want to go riding sometime?”

Amelia turned, her eyes widening. “I would love to,” she said enthusiastically.

Adam grinned. “Alright then. We’ll plan on it.”

The other horses began to pop their heads out of their stalls—first a dark grey, then a black, then another bay. The latter snorted impatiently, and Adam fished carrots out of his pockets, walking from one to the next, doling out treats. Amelia watched him, trying, with some difficulty, to keep her thoughts on the task at hand. He looked so at home, his gait loose and relaxed as he walked from one stall to the other.

“You look like you’re so at ease here,” she said before she could stop herself.

Adam paused, turning to look at her. He was quiet for several seconds, and Amelia mentally kicked herself for saying anything. “I grew up here,” he said finally. “Guess it’s just what I’m used to.”

Amelia couldn’t help wondering why he was so sensitive about living on the farm. She followed him, hoping that she hadn’t put him on edge.

They exited the barn. “These are the pens,” he said. There were several sheep, fluffy and short-legged, milling about. He pointed to a large building attached to the pens. “That’s their shelter in case of bad weather. They tend to like to be outside though, even in the worst of the cold.”

Adam turned to her suddenly. “What do you say we go on that ride now?”

Amelia blinked, hesitating, but she couldn’t think of any reason not to. She had no other visits scheduled for the day. “Sure,” she managed, suddenly nervous at the prospect.

“I’ll put you on Jacob, the bay,” Adam said. “He’s pretty easygoing.”

Amelia let out a breath of relief as she followed Adam back into the barn and into the tack room. Following his lead, she gathered up saddle, pad and bridle, and headed to fetch her horse.

Fifteen minutes later, they were tacked and ready to go. Amelia mounted up first, and Adam checked her girth for her one last time, tightening it another notch. He mounted his horse then, a dark grey named Bonnie, who was already stomping impatiently.

“Follow me,” he said, nudging his horse. She hopped forwards, kicking a little as he urged her out. “She’s got some energy,” he explained. “She’ll be good in a bit. Just don’t get right behind me.”

Amelia nudged Jacob, and the horse moved smoothly forward without complaint. She was careful to stay to the side of Bonnie, not wanting to be kicked. The mare still seemed fractious, tossing her head and mouthing at the bit. Adam stayed motionless atop her, his long, legs gripping her sides as he maneuvered her out of the barn and out into the field. Amelia glanced up at the threatening sky nervously. She heard Adam laugh, and she glanced over to see him looking at her. “Don’t worry, lassie,” he said, deliberately exaggerating his accent. “I’ll see you home safe and sound.” He turned Bonnie to the right, and then pressed his heels into her sides. She snorted and then leapt forwards, taking off in a smooth gallop.

Amelia felt a surge of adrenaline which was quickly followed by a newfound determination. She knew how to ride a horse and Adam was going to find that out. She gave Jacob more rein, dug her heels into his sides, and he responded, launching into a smooth gallop as she leaned forward over his neck, urging him on. She saw Adam glance over his shoulder, grinning as he saw her racing to catch up.

She was just barely able to take in the scenery as it swept by. They galloped across the fields, hooves kicking up the light covering of windswept snow as they swept through it. Her heart was racing, and blood was pounding in her ears as Jacob picked up the pace. He clearly wasn’t about to lose this race without a fight. She laughed at Adam’s expression as they passed him.

Adam pulled ahead of her again, and she heard his strained shout for her to follow him as he veered to the left. Somewhat reluctantly, she slowed Jacob a fraction to fall behind. A few minutes later, Adam began to slow Bonnie. They were heading for a thin silvery line that ran through the meadow up ahead.

Adam trotted up to the edge of it, and Amelia followed, reining Jacob to a stop next to Bonnie. It was a wide frozen stream. “This is usually where we stop,” Adam explained. “I thought you might like to see it.”

“It’s stunning,” Amelia said. It was dull glass under the cloudy sky, reflecting the grey above it, but she could imagine how it might look if the sun came out, a glittering mirror in the sky. Even in the gloom, it was beautiful. The wind skimmed over it, brushing the foliage on either side, and Amelia shivered atop Jacob.

“Are you cold?” Adam asked, concerned.

“No,” Amelia said. “I just didn’t realize how utterly gorgeous the landscape was going to be here.”

She turned to glance at Adam. “Damn, this is a great way to spend Christmas Day,”

“Christmas Day? So it is,” Adam murmured. “I’d forgotten all about it.”

They sat in silence for a few moments, the horses snorting and stamping impatiently as they looked at the frozen stream.

“Well,” Adam finally said, breaking the silence. “You’ll just have to stay for dinner, then.”

Amelia smiled. “Are you sure?”

“Can’t have you eating alone on Christmas Day, now can we?”

“I usually try to get home before dark.”

“I can give you a ride back, if you like.” He paused. “Or you could stay.”

Amelia looked up, catching his eyes. His face was perfectly still, not betraying any emotion. “I’d really like you to,” he said quietly.

“But, you said…”

“I know what I said.” His voice was gruff. “And I realized I shouldn’t have said it. I like your company. I’d like to enjoy it before you,” he cleared his throat. “Before you leave.”

Amelia looked at him for a long moment. A part of her thought she should say no, that she should go home and make her own dinner, and go to bed alone. But the memory of that first night was still fresh in her mind, the heat of his body pressed against her in the firelight, the soft thickness of his hair in her hands, the hard thickness of him buried inside her body. The thought was enough to make her shiver with desire, and she knew if she said no she’d regret it. How could she not?

“Alright,” she said softly. “I’ll stay.”

Adam maneuvered Bonnie alongside Jacob, and he reached out with one hand, holding the reins firmly in the other. His fingers ran down Amelia’s jaw, turning her face to him, and then he leaned forwards, capturing her mouth in a heated kiss.

The wind sprang up, catching her hair and tossing it around her face, but she barely noticed as she returned the kiss, leaning forward and letting her lips part as his tongue swept along them, urging her mouth open. She gasped softly, and when she pulled back, his eyes were dark with lust.

“Home?” he said softly.

“Let’s go,” Amelia said, smiling mischievously as him as she heeled Jacob, and he leapt forwards. “See you there!” she shouted, and she just barely heard Adam’s laugh, and then Bonnie’s hoofbeats as he followed in her wake.

Jacob knew the way home, and although she knew it was a bad idea to let a horse run home, she guessed it wouldn’t hurt just this once. She just barely beat Adam and Bonnie back to the stable, reining Jacob to a halt in the yard just as Adam came pounding up behind her, Bonnie snorting with frustration at being stopped.

Adam was off his mount in a flash and next to her, reaching for her waist as she swung her leg over Jacob’s back. He gripped her as she slid down, her body making solid contact with his as she slipped to the ground. She turned in the circle of his arms, her breath coming a little faster as he looked down at her, his hair tousled around his face from the wind. She reached forward, brushing a lock of it behind his ear, just as he’d done before that first kiss in her kitchen. He bent then, pressing his mouth to hers, and she wrapped her arms around his neck then, her body arching forward, giving herself up to the sensations. She was only here for a little while. Shouldn’t she enjoy it while it lasted? Life was too short to worry about what would happen when she had to leave.

The kiss went on until the stamping of the horses interrupted them, and Adam pulled back, a sheepish grin on his face. “Let’s get these guys untacked and fed,” he said. “Then I’ll make you dinner.”

“And then?” Amelia asked, grinning at him.

“Well, you’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you?” He patted her lightly on the ass as he walked past her.

Amelia followed behind him with Jacob, her heart pounding. Something felt different about tonight, different from the spontaneous passion of the first night.