Page 16 of The Royal Governess
Rudolfo handed Cara’s reins to Lexi. The horse seemed ready to go along with this. Lexi led her out into the cobblestone corridor between the two rows of stalls.
Worry quickened my heart. “What if you fall off? What then? There is no doctor to take care of you.”
Lexi’s lips tightened. Rudolfo may not understand what we were saying, but he knew panic when he heard it. Was I sounding like a crazed mother?
Lexi laid a hand on my arm. “Mom, it's all right. I'm a big girl now.”
“Barely fourteen,” I sputtered.
For a change, she didn’t whine or scream. Instead, she turned those cool green eyes to me accusingly. “What do you expect me to do all summer? You told me about the horses. Was that just a teaser?”
Now it was my turn to bite my tongue. Yes, I’d dangled that possibility to make this trip to a foreign land more acceptable. Now I had to deal with the consequences. I'd watched her ride in the beginner’s competition last year. Tom VanMeter, her riding coach, had said she was remarkably skilled for her age. As a child, her favorite book wasMisty of Chincoteague. Riding made sense for her and now I had to trust her.
I had to cut her loose and it was killing me.
While I stood there agonizing, Gregorio appeared. He gave Lexi a quick wave. Slouching as usual, he looked so much younger than my tall, confident daughter. My heart went out to him. The boy needed more than a little exercise. Now he exchanged a few words with Rudolfo and disappeared into a stall. The conversation Gregorio had with the horse was more than I’d heard him say since we'd arrived.
When Lexi walked Cara outside. I scurried after her. “Did you bring any sunblock?” I glanced up at the unforgiving sun.
Lexi laughed. Rudolfo threw me a questioning glance. After Lexi translated my comment, he ran a gnarled hand over a weathered cheek. Okay, maybe he didn’t realize that the incidence of melanoma was off the charts and climbing.
Give it a rest, Christina. I could almost hear my friend Reena’s voice in my head.
When Lexi mounted the horse with an elastic grace, I felt a rush of pride.She is competent. She can do this.Gregorio came up behind us with a caramel-colored horse with a corn silk mane. Shifting from one hoof to the other, this horse was ready to go. Lexi launched into a stilted but determined conversation with Rudolfo and Gregorio.
Bending from the saddle, Lexi said, “Rudolfo will give you a lesson, if you like.”
Did she know that was the reason for my early morning visit? “All right, fine. But I want you back here in an hour.” I stabbed a finger at my watch, which seemed to have stopped. I shook my wrist. I had to get my phone back.
While I stood there fussing, Lexi and Gregorio took off, heading toward the edges of the field. My breath froze in my throat as they entered the forest and disappeared.
A soft nose nudged my elbow and I jumped. But it was just another horse with Rudolfo, who handed me the reins. “Tesoro,” he said, patting the horse’s neck fondly. She was a beauty.
“Are we going to be buddies?” I murmured. Okay, those huge teeth were a little frightening. Standing there inhaling the horse, hay and other things I didn't want to name, I worked up my courage. Didn’t I want some adventure in my life?
Heck no. Not right now.
But Reena was in my head again.Aren’t you glad to have some time to yourself?
Yes, of course I was. I kept drawing deep breaths. The year before I’d taken yoga with Reena and Maddie. What mantra might work here?
May I be one with the horse.
May I be one with the horse.
Tesoro stamped an impatient hoof and I jumped. Rudolfo, who’d been saddling another horse, turned around with more soothing words for Tesoro.
I went back to work on my state of mind. Back home, I would have to pay plenty for these lessons. The summer Lexi learned to ride, almost all of my summer school salary went for the lessons. This would be free. Wasn’t I lucky?
Rudolfo had returned and I turned to him. “Are we ready?” I glanced out to where Gregorio and my daughter had disappeared.
Edging closer, Rudolfo patted Tesoro’s flanks and set a small step stool below me.Oh mercy.A crook of his thumb in an upward motion was all I needed. Grabbing the pommel with my left hand, I stumbled onto the stool. Once I had my balance, I somehow got my left boot into the stirrup and lifted myself into the saddle. The ground seemed very far away but I was up.
With an appreciative smile, Rudolfo led me out to the enclosed area. So we wouldn’t be riding through the fields? Relief flooded through me. I couldn't tell if Rudolfo was more worried about the horse or me. It would probably look bad if the governess killed herself while riding one of His Majesty’s horses. The sun beat down and perspiration trickled along my forehead.
While I sat there, sweating in the blazing sun on a horse that was way too smelly, Rudolfo returned with his own mount. The old man had probably grown up riding a horse. A few clucks under his breath and we took off at a measured pace around the corral. My body settled into the slow, rocking motion.
This dear old man had taken pity on me. And he might help me fulfill part of my contract––the part where I’d presented myself as an expert equestrian. Who had a son. Well, Rudolfo couldn’t help me with that last part.
