Page 68 of Fix Me Up, Cowboy
We head to the stable, where he removes the two halters from the wall and hands me the one for Lady. We then walk to the pasture. My body trembles the entire time. Out of excitement? Possibly. Nervousness? More likely.
Lady and Scoundrel spot us and plod over. Lady nudges Noah from behind with her head.
“Is she flirting with you?” My tone holds a note of mocked exasperation. “Is there any female who doesn’t flirt with you?”
A devilish grin appears on his face. “Jealous?”
“Ha! You wish.” To Lady I say, “Don’t worry, I’m not trying to steal him from you.” She snickers—or whatever the sound is that horses make when they’re amused.
While Noah is putting the halter on Scoundrel, I do the same to Lady. “We’re not returning you to the stable yet. Noah has convinced me to actually climb on your back so we can go sightseeing. That sounds like fun, doesn’t it?” I stroke her nose.
Once their halters are on, Noah and I walk toward the gate, the horses sandwiching us from either side.
“Do you think she’ll mind that I’m a rookie when it comes to riding horses?” I ask Noah.
“I doubt either of them will care. They’re both used to newbies riding them. Until a few years ago, Charlotte was teaching riding lessons with them.”
Does that make me feel better? Slightly.
At the stable, Noah shows me how to saddle Lady; then he does the same for Scoundrel. He gets me to tighten the cinch around her belly and gives me a brief lesson on mounting her, getting her to start walking, steering her, and most important of all…convincing her to stop.
He takes one of the riding hats Charlotte kept in the stable and pops it on my head. I give him my best pouty face. “How come you get to wear a cowboy hat and I don’t?”
Never mind the part where I don’t have a cowboy hat.
Or is it a cowgirl hat when a female wears it?
“Because I’ve been riding since pretty much the day I was born. I don’t need to protect my head like you do.”
“So your head won’t crack open if you fall off the horse?” I flash him my best Sure-it-won’t expression.
He laughs, the sound low and sexy, and my girlie parts sigh. “Sure it will, but the odds of that happening are a lot lower because I know what I’m doing.”
“You’re really not helping me build my confidence,” I halfheartedly grumble.
“It’s also because the horses will only be walking—trotting at the very most.”
Noah double-checks Lady’s saddle to ensure it’s still tight. “Remember, with riding, it’s all about the legs. The inner thighs are what will keep you on the horse.”
“I thought that’s what the saddle handle is for.”
“You mean the horn?”
“Horn? Like a car horn? I get to honk it if another horse is in the way?”
He chuckles. “Not that kind of horn. This one doesn’t make any sound. Its purpose also isn’t to keep you from falling off. That’s what your legs are for. It’s not only the horse who gets exercise when you ride.” He looks me over. “But tell me if your leg starts hurting.”
I nod, even though that’s the last thing I plan to do. My injury has defined me enough as it is. I’m not letting it take this from me, too.
“There’s a trail down to the river the horses are familiar with. Do you want to go there?” Noah asks.
“That would be great. I haven’t had a chance to see anything beyond the house and the drive into town.”
What I’ve witnessed is impressive enough, especially with the mountains in the background. I’m beginning to understand why Charlotte chose to live here.
But the mountains still don’t make up for the lack of Rodeo Drive.
I study Lady and the saddle. “So, how do I get up onto her?”
