Grayson Clyde Masterson was being a royal pain in her butt. For one thing, he actually was a skilled rider. It allowed him to constantly maneuver his mount to be closest to hers. For another, he’d appointed himself the assistant ride leader and had pretty much everyone convinced that he and Laura were a charming couple.
At what point do you tell a paying tourist to back off and go to hell? Mom and Grandma had taught her that point came after they paid you. So she slapped on a smile and did her best to stay beside the two newlyweds who were trying hard not to have their first fight during this ride; she was moderately experienced, but he was definitely in the veteran-of-a-single-beach-outing category.
At least the trails on Mount Hood didn’t lend themselves to cantering or galloping over
