Read Taking the Reins for Free Online

had known he was also the horse trader, she would not have come here today. She saw the surprise in his eyes and knew Mr. Roberts recognized her. He would be furious! This man had refused payment for Nugget because of Susan, and now here she was, trying to sell the very same horse back to him. He had every right to be angry.
    Something else occurred to her then. Something that made her toes curl inside her boots. Mr. Roberts would tell Madame Landvoight about Katherine’s visit to his store with William as her guide. Madame Landvoight would tell her husband and her husband would tell...well, it did not bear thinking about.
    â€œI believe we have met before,” Mr. Roberts said, extending his hand. “It’s a great pleasure to see you again, Miss Harris. And your beautiful horse as well,” he glanced down at Katherine’s boot, “even if she is a trifle messy at times.”
    Katherine shook his hand and attempted a smile, not a gracious one perhaps, but any semblance of a smile would do. Mr. Roberts was being kind enough to keep her secret. She tried to come up with something ladylike to say in exchange but could only think, Please don’t mention William. My father never approved of our friendship. If Father finds out William was with me for part of my trip north, he’ll be furious at me. Even worse, he will be angry at William, and for no good reason.
    Mr. Roberts pulled at his thick brown mustache with a finger and thumb. “I assume you had a safe trip and were able to find your brother?”
    â€œI, uh, yes, thank you.” She felt the need to keep talking, anything to prevent him from mentioning her visit to his store last month. “George is safe at home and he’s actually working hard for once in his life. He’s digging the well now and will build a small barn for Duke and Genevieve – that’s our horse and cow. It seems George works much better when Father doesn’t hang over him and tell him what he’s doing wrong every minute of the day.”
    Mr. Roberts threw back his head and laughed. He had a pleasant enough laugh, one that revealed a row of straight teeth below his mustache. Katherine was surprised to realize that this man was younger than she first thought. At a guess he was not more than three or four years older than her brother. “Ah, yes,” he said, “that is a common behavior in young men. I remember my own father...” He paused and studied Katherine.
    She shifted from one foot to the other, twisting Nugget’s reins around her fingers.
    â€œBut that is not important now.”
    â€œI must go,” Madame Landvoight told them. “I will leave you both to make the deal.”
    Katherine watched the storekeeper walk away. Make the deal. Her stomach collapsed. Nugget stepped closer and pressed her soft muzzle against Katherine’s shoulder. The warmth and trust in that gentle touch made Katherine’s eyes sting. She turned away from Mr. Roberts to run her fingers through the long black hair of Nugget’s mane. She wanted to bury her face in it. She needed a means of escape. How could she possibly go through with this?
    Time slowed down. Why was the man so quiet? Katherine was afraid to look. She never should have come here. She could never ask him to buy this horse, this gift. If only she had known.
    â€œI understand you want to sell your horse.”
    â€œOh.” There. He said it for her. Katherine felt a sharp pain in her chest. She could not breathe. Could not answer. What to say? Yes, thank you very much for giving me this beautiful horse but now I’d like to sell her, so how much will you pay me?
    Silence closed in around them. What now? Katherine wanted to speak, needed to look. What was he doing? She stole a sideways glance, hoping he would not notice. But he was watching her. She could scarcely believe it when he smiled.
    â€œIt’s not that I want to sell her,” she said,