Kris?
He had taken the full impact of my fall from the horse, his arms catching and holding my entire weight. Seeing the worry in his eyes, a pang of guilt twisted in my chest.
He was injured just yesterday! What if this made it worse?
I glanced at his shoulder and noticed a faint swelling, barely visible but enough to heighten my concern. Trying to free myself, I pushed against him to leap out of his embrace, but he held me firmly, his touch as calming as soothing a spooked horse.
The faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air, enveloping me in an unexpected sense of peace.
Finally, he set me gently on the ground, and my racing heart began to steady.
Stella's sharp, dissatisfied voice broke the calm. Her previously relaxed expression tightened as she declared, "This round doesn't
