Don't Tell Me You Love Me — Helen Conrad

A Destiny Bay Romance Novella~21,000 words
Johnny and Cheyenne had a mystical connection that was severed when Johnny seemed to cause her father's heart attack. But destiny can't be denied and Johnny is back, ready to fight for what belongs to him.

(Excerpt)
Why? What was the matter with her? She didn't know, and she didn't dare analyze it. She only knew she had to ride hard and fast until she left all doubts and fears behind her and raced her way into something else. Her days were spent being careful to say the right thing, to smile enough, to hold back emotion. When she had a chance to get away and ride in the evening, she could shed all that, could let her real feelings surge up and spill over. It happened often. But for some reason, tonight was extra intense. Tonight, she was in another world.
She never heard the hoof beats behind her. How could she? Flamethrower, his hoofs smashing against the rocks, his breath coming hard, was making enough noise to drown out a jet plane, let alone another rider. So she didn't hear him at all.
But she felt him. Suddenly, she knew he was there. Something changed in the air. A new light slanted in against her eyes, making her squint and turn away. The earth, the trees, the very grass beneath their feet -- they all knew. He was there and he was riding up hard behind her and he would catch her if she didn't make tracks.
She gasped and leaned even further down against Flamethrower's neck, crying out encouragement to the gallant horse, her knees pressing in tightly, her fingers clutched in the mane, holding on, urging speed. She cried out the same words over and over, like a prayer.
He couldn't catch her. She couldn't let him. She had to get away. She had to beat him. She had to win.