Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 74968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“Excellent.” I was simply happy to be getting another lesson, and Cinder seemed nice enough as she watched us through big brown eyes.
“Let’s see what you remember about getting her ready.” Grayson reached for the stall door.
“Should I start by clipping her to the aisle?” I asked.
“Good call.” Grayson nodded a bit too quickly, like a man who was none too eager to be in close quarters with me. “Remember what I said about a slow approach and keeping where she can see you.”
Following directions, I led Cinder into the aisle. She pranced around, shaking her head from side to side, and didn’t settle even after I started brushing her. Accordingly, I kept stopping to pat the horse and reassure her. Grayson had to prod me into fetching the saddle blanket and saddle.
“Lordy, I don’t know who’s more distractible, you or the horse.” He sighed as I tried to place the saddle on Cinder. The horse neatly sidestepped my efforts, but as soon as Grayson made a sharp clucking noise, she let me saddle her.
“Cinder has more spirit than Magnolia.” I wasn’t about to talk bad about my new best friend, and Grayson wasn’t wrong about me. Part of what I loved about front desk work was the constant stream of questions and small tasks to keep my squirrel brain focused.
“More spirit, less smarts. I’m not sure I agree with Kat on the horse’s suitability for newer riders.”
“Don’t listen to the mean man.” I stroked Cinder’s neck. “You’re a very smart horse. I can tell.”
Grayson snorted, which was almost as good as making him laugh. “Mean man says get a move on to the ring.”
“Sure thing, boss.” I unclipped Cinder so I could lead her into the ring over to the mounting block. Grayson followed, hovering like a spotter at the gym. I could do without his watchful gaze, but I managed to get myself in the saddle without catastrophe.
“Oh wow.” I gazed around the ring from my new vantage point. “I’m up way higher.”
“Eyes forward.” Grayson shook his head as I did the exact opposite, glancing over at him.
“Oops.” I corrected my posture and attempted to get Cinder to walk away. I made the same noise and gave the gentle heel tap that had worked with Magnolia, but nothing happened. I tried again, and Cinder merely snorted, shaking her head, seemingly disinclined to move. “I think my horse is broken.”
“More like stubborn.” Grayson ambled over to pat her rump. “Needs more direction than Magnolia, that’s for sure. Giddyap.”
His encouragement worked for about ten paces, then she stopped, looked around, shuffled. I repeated the command and got another ten paces before she slowed. This time, she didn’t so much as perk up at my encouragement.
“Why do you keep stopping?” I asked the horse as if she might answer, trying not to let frustration seep into my tone.
“Maybe her ears are ringing from your God-awful taste in music earlier.” Grayson laughed at his own joke, the first smile I’d seen from him all day. He gave her another rump pat. “Come on, girl, let’s git going.”
“That worked.” I struggled to hold on as Cinder started a merry trot, something a bit faster than a walk without being a gallop.
“Use both your reins and thighs,” Grayson called out. He leaned against the riding arena gate. “You’re the driver, not the passenger.”
“But I make such a cute passenger princess,” I shot back, remembering at the last second not to turn toward Grayson to see his reaction. Instead, I settled for his answering snort-laugh as I continued to guide Cinder in a circle.
“Want you to practice some wide turns now,” Grayson ordered as we passed back by him. “You’re gonna make a big X across the arena.”
That sounded a bit optimistic given Cinder’s stubborn nature and distractible brain, but I gave it my best shot, focusing hard on my posture and commands. Our first try looked more like a squiggly snake, but our next one was far closer to Grayson’s instructions. Then he set out some barrels and had me practice weaving back and forth down the length of the arena.
“I did it! We did it!” I cheered as we completed the mini-obstacle course. I patted the horse’s neck as we pulled back even with Grayson. “Good girl, Cinder.”
“She might be a keeper after all.” He reached out to give her a pat as well.
“No praise for me?” I prompted, not above demanding what I craved.
“We might make a rider of you by spring if you keep your focus,” Grayson allowed. “Shoulders back.”
Back muscles I hadn’t been aware of owning were tense and sore. I rolled my neck from side to side. “Riding is more intense core work than the Pilates class Maverick dragged me to in LA.”
“This isn’t a gym class.” Grayson’s lips twitched like he was working not to smile before his tone turned more serious. “Ranch work is a physically demanding job. Expect to be exhausted end of most days, especially at first, and eat up at dinner. You burn more calories than you think.”