At least the trails on Mount Hood didn’t lend themselves to cantering or galloping over grassy fields. The trails here crossed small streams, wandered through forests so silent that sunlight almost made a sound of its own—the horses’ heavy hooves dropped almost silent upon the duff of moss and decaying needles.
Laura brought them to a standstill at the edge of a clearing she knew well. Grayson tried to ride forward anyway, but thankfully Exeter knew to pay more attention to Laura than to her rider. The others gathered close beside her. The new groom unintentionally driving his mount between her and Grayson. She snagged Mickey Brown Eye’s bridle to stop his forward progress close beside her and the boy let out a huge sigh of relief.
Boy. He was maybe three years younger than she was, yet
