Page 50 of The Taste of Deceit

I grin to myself. Daddy doesn’t hand out compliments unless someone’s earned them.

We spend the next half hour circling the pasture at a walk. Every lap, Luca grows a little more comfortable in the saddle. His posture relaxes, his hands grow steadier, and before long, he reaches down to stroke Jasper’s neck without even thinking about it. The horse flicks an ear back toward him before continuing on as if they’d been doing this together for years.

I smile.

“I think he likes you.”

Luca looks at the gelding and then back at me.

“I was hoping the feeling would be mutual.”

“It is.”

Daddy glances over his shoulder.

“Horses are good judges of people.”

Luca’s eyes meet mine for a second before he looks back down the trail.

“That’s good to hear, sir.”

Chapter 16

Luca

Ford brings Buck to a stop outside the barn before swinging out of the saddle. I follow a second later, my boots hitting the ground as Jasper lowers his head, already searching for the patches of grass growing along the fence line.

Sarah slides from Daisy’s back and loops the reins over her arm while Ford starts leading Buck inside. The three of us untack the horses together, hanging bridles on their hooks and carrying saddles back into the tack room.

When the last saddle is back on its rack, Ford looks over at Sarah.

“Sweet Girl.”

She turns toward him.

“Go see if your mama needs a hand with lunch.”

She glances between the two of us.

“You sure?”

He nods once.

“I’ve got things here.”

Sarah walks over to me, slipping her hand into mine for a second.

“Good luck,” she whispers.

I let out a quiet breath.

“Thanks.”

She smiles before looking over at her dad.

“Okay, Daddy.”

“Don’t keep your mama waiting.”