Page 13 of Hiding in Montana

“Are you sure we’re ready for that? It seems like we need to spend more time like this, just petting her.” Her eyes flickered with concern.

“Trust me, we won’t rush a thing, and if you get nervous at any time, we’ll slow it down. But have faith in yourself, too. You can do this.”

She nodded. “It’s just so new to me.” While she ran the brush over Nahla’s neck, Clint watched as the stiffness left her shoulders and her face was bright with a wide smile.

He gave Nahla plenty of time to get used to Polly’s touch and soft voice. When it seemed like they were both ready, he said, “Ready to saddle her?”

Polly set the brush down and nodded. “Yes, what do I do first?”

Clint handed her the saddle blanket. “Place this on her back and rest it on the top part near the base of her neck.”

She quickly put the blanket on and smoothed it out, and when he handed Polly the saddle, she took a step back at its heft. He reached out a hand to steady her.

“I didn’t expect it to be so heavy. But I’ve got it now.” She placed the saddle on her back and moved through cinching the girth belt and finally he handed her the bridle and showed her how to put that on. When she finished, she was beaming.

“Look at me, first time I’ve ever saddled a horse!”

Handing her the reins, he said, “Let’s walk out to the paddock and take one trip around before getting you in the saddle.”

He gave her a side-glance. Her face was a mixture of happiness and excitement, without a hint of nerves.

“You say you’ve never ridden before, not even a pony at a carnival?”

Without looking at him, she said, “I was raised in Chicago.”

Now that made sense. She was a city girl. “How did you end up here? It’s not exactly anything like your hometown or Portland.”

“I lived in Portland for about fifteen years. Until a few years ago, anyway. I decided a change of pace was in order. Things in my life were complicated, and I needed something… different.”

This was about as different as it got, but he didn’t press the matter. Her mouth clamped shut, her lips a straight line, and the sparkle that had been in her eyes dimmed. Why she left wasn’t any of his business.

They made a slow circle around the paddock and Polly was totally in tune with Nahla, to the exclusion of even talking to Clint. He chuckled to himself. They were quite the trio. Nahla plodding along next to Polly and him on the other side of the pretty woman who was fast capturing his heart.

When they made a full circle, Polly stopped walking, and that sparkle was back in her eyes. “How do I get on her?”

“Well, you’ve certainly gotten into the spirit of this adventure.” He pushed the brim of his hat up. “The city girl might just turn into a country gal.”

“I’ll have you know I left the city girl behind a long time ago. I’m just catching up to the real me, whoever she might be.” She tipped her head. “And it’s all going to be thanks to you.” She stood on tiptoes and brushed her lips over his cheek. When she took a step back, her cheeks were slightly pink.

“I’m not doing anything other than teaching you to ride.”

“Never underestimate the power of a kind gesture, Clint.” She averted her eyes and rubbed her hand over Nahla’s muzzle.

The statement hung in the air with so many undercurrents he didn’t understand what she really meant. This woman was a puzzle, and he was willing to put in the time and see if the pieces of their lives might fit together.

7

Polly was sitting in a saddle and she lifted the reins to encourage Nahla to begin the slow journey around the paddock. The rolling motion of her gait was relaxing and exhilarating at the same time. What had ever made her nervous about riding a horse? She glanced at Clint, who was about ten feet from where she was, keeping in line with them.

“If you want to ease into a trot, you can.”

Her heart rate kicked up. Could she? “How do I do that?”

“Apply gentle pressure with your calves to her sides and then relax your body as you absorb her movements. Don’t get tense in your legs trying to stay still; it’s a graceful type of movement. Think of it like walking with a cup of coffee and you don’t want to spill it. Relax and enjoy it.”

His voice was gentle, and his patience seemed to have no end. She did all that he asked and soon they were trotting. It felt awkward as the dickens, but she was doing it!

“Clint, look!” She turned in the saddle and waved. Instead of flowing with the trotting motion, she lost her balance. A vise squeezed her chest. In an instant, she had a memory of that day. She must have lost her footing standing at the top and was sliding down the hill, rocks tumbling around her. She closed her eyes and prepared herself to hit the ground. Her blood thundered in her veins, but not from falling off Nahla, then the memory that flashed was gone. Why couldn’t she remember more?

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