Five (Continued)

Dell and Diana hurried to the paddock, oblivious to dust and brambles. They found Boeing struggling with a girth strap, his new shirt already smudged and sweaty. "Need help with that?" Diana offered.

Boeing straightened up. "Aren't you pretty? You clean up good, you know?"

Diana ignored him and turned her attention to the horse. "You can pull that cinch at least two notches tighter. She’s bloated her stomach with air."

"I know. I already hit her once, but she puffed back up again."















Diana gathered her long skirt and knotted it above her knees, then scrambled over the fence in a most unladylike way. She pushed Boeing aside, grabbed the girth strap and slammed her body against the mare’s belly, then jerked hard on the strap, using her entire body weight. "That's how you do it."

"I wouldn't mind seeing you climb that fence again," he said, casting a look at her calves.

"Quit looking at my legs." She struggled with the knot, letting her skirt drop back to its proper length, skimming her ankles.

"But you have such nice legs. You should wear a short skirt, like the city girls."

"You mean like a whore? Not on your life. Besides, I couldn't ride a horse in a short skirt. I can barely ride in this stupid thing."

"There's more to life than horses. Maybe it's time to broaden your interests."

Diana turned to Dell. "Is he saying what I think he's saying?"

"Yes. He's a hopeless flirt. And so am I." Dell winked. "Be careful. We've got you surrounded, and you don't have Will here to protect you."

Diana was dismayed for a moment, then laughed. "Okay, you two can quit playing around. Like I need Will, anyway." She cast an eye toward the other animals in the paddock. "Look at this— our horses aren't anywhere near ready. We’re going to be late."