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"Yes, it was," Mack said "Are you sure you want a six- up at him, she blinked, and then nodded "I still think that would be best"

Mack could see it was going to be a very long six months

Thirty-Two

Olivia warily eyed the horse, which was saddled and ready to ride "I don’t know about this," she said

They stood just outside the barn Grace walked over to the mare Cliff had chosen for her friend and ran her hand down the ani to worry about," she assured Olivia

Olivia tucked her hands in the back pockets of her jeans "In case you weren’t aware, I’ wildflowers and sewing quilts Riding never interested me I didn’t read The Black Stallion and all those horsey books when I elve"

"Me, neither, although I have since--when I took a course in children’s literature But that’s not the point I didn’t think I was interested at first" Grace refused to listen to excuses "It’ll do us both good to get out in the fresh air"

"Grace, really, you and ly toward the house

"Yes--you and oing to let Olivia talk herself out of this "There’s a lovely path that ret it if you don’t at least try"

Olivia still didn’t seelance in Grace’s direction "This horse has an evil look about her How do you know she won’t take the first opportunity to buck arplum?"

Grace nodded

"What does that prove? The ca Beauty," Olivia said, referring to an unfortunate incident with one of the animals they’d housed for the church nativity scene

"That’s irrelevant Anyway, you proed her way back to Grace "Oh, all right"

"You’ll be glad," Grace said with an encouraging smile She re on a horse Like her friend, she’d balked and ood ones, too When she’d finally run out of ways to avoid the inevitable, she gave in The short ride along their property line to the beach had been…wonderful Afterward, Grace had no idea why it’d taken her so long to agree She enjoyed horseback riding now and, given the opportunity, Olivia would, as well

"You’re used to this," Olivia said as she raised her leg and set her foot in the stirrup She grabbed the po on with both hands

"Not at first, I wasn’t We all have to begin so her up

"I don’t understand why you’re so insistent on this" It took Olivia three tries to heave herself into the saddle, even with Grace’s help, but she ed Olivia was breathless by the time she was firmly settled on the docile mare "I hope you’re happy"

"Ecstatic," Grace joked "As to why I won’t let you out of this, the truth is, I want you to feel alive again" After the che her days holed up inside the house, with only rare treks into town She ventured out to Justine’s new restaurant once a week or so, and occasionally visited her brother’s gallery, but that was about it Even Charlotte had grown concerned

Grace slid into the saddle with a bit more finesse, but then, as Olivia had said, she’d had lanced anxiously around "Are we there yet?" she muttered in a weak attempt at a joke

"We haven’t started," Grace replied

"I was afraid of that"

Olivia looked dohich was a h off the ground am I?" Olivia asked, her brow creased "If Jack finds out about this…"

"He knows"

"Jack knows and he agreed I should do this?"

"Yes Now let iven her in the beginning When she’d finished speaking and de how to use the reins, Grace took the lead

With a few gru words, Olivia followed To Grace’s surprise, once they were under way, her friend didn’t seeinner For one thing, Sugarpluraze whenever she felt like it, co that now

"Hey, you’re a natural," she exclai to look at Olivia