The Punishing Ride

David kept his distance during the ride home—or rather, the other women made certain that they kept a nice fence of bodies between us. I tried not to glower at their prim little, easy-riding backs. Ash had heaved me back onto the massive Buzz and we were still giggling a bit about the spotted dick.

I wondered whether David was still smiling when he thought of it, too.

But then Emory came to ride with me again. And for whatever reason, she was full of prickles.

"Lady Preston should have asked for a wider horse. Then her own rump wouldn't have looked quite so… generous."

I almost choked on my own tongue at that one. Emory would shoot me a mischievous look every time she gave a little jab like that.

Every so often I would catch a glimpse of Emory from the corner of my eye and think I recognized her. But whenever I looked, there was nothing.