Alexander had a determined look in his eye as he used the mounting block to get up on his own brown gelding. Once there, he grinned proudly and let out a loud, “Yee-haw!”
“You're up next, Grayson,” Laura told him as she fixed the stirrups to better fit Alexander's long legs.
Grayson had the apprehensive look again from the other day. He kept looking up at his horse like she might step on him. Mia patted her horse and started to go to him, but Carter beat her there.
“You ready?” Carter asked, kneeling in front to the boy. He took Grayson's small hand in his and walked the boy over to the horse that he was going to ride. She was the smallest horse there, more of a pony than a horse, but Mia could see how Grayson might still feel intimidated by her size. Her dark gray features were kind and friendly.
“I don't know,” Grayson replied slowly. He stopped short of touching the horse. “She's awfully big.”
Carter handed him a sugar cube and leaned over to whisper in Grayson's ear.
“Don't tell the others, but she's my favorite,” he told the boy. “There's a reason she's named Sweetness.”
Grayson held out the sugar cube, giggling as the horse daintily took it from him. She crunched it happily as she let him pet her. Grayson ran his small hand along her gray coat, watching her eat the sugar and steeling his nerve.
“Will you help me up?” Grayson finally asked, looking up at Carter.
In one smooth motion, Carter had him up in the saddle. Grayson laughed with delight.
“Now, use your legs to hold on to her,” Carter advised, patting Grayson's legs. “It's all about your legs. The reins are for steering, but even if you drop them, she'll listen to what you tell her to do with your legs.”
Grayson nodded nervously. He had the reins in one hand and the saddle pommel in the other, and a death grip on both, but he was smiling. Mia's heart swelled with pride at his bravery. This was hard for him and he was doing a good job.
Carter slowly led him around the arena, giving him pointers on what to do with his legs and his hands. Laura had Lily and Alexander who were already getting their horses to walk, stop and turn around the arena without help.
Mia turned to see Grayson laugh as Carter started to jog with the horse leads. Sweetness was living up to her name, giving as gentle a ride as she could. Grayson's fear had evaporated.
“You're doing great,” Carter told Grayson as he slowed to a stop next to Laura. Laura guided the pony over behind the other two children. Laura would lead the ride, with Lily and Alexander behind her, then Grayson, then Mia, and followed up in the rear by Carter.
Mia turned back to her horse. Now that the children were ready, it was time to mount up and get going.
“You ready?” Carter asked, coming up beside her. He wasn't even winded from jogging with Grayson.
“I was born ready,” Mia informed him. She put her foot in the stirrup and confidently swung herself up on the horse. She remembered it being a lot harder when she was little, but that was probably due to her size. She went up smoothly and settled into the saddle like an old pro.
Carter raised an impressed eyebrow and pride warmed Mia's chest. She kept her head up, sending a huge thank you for the childhood lessons, and nudged her horse to join the kids. She let
out a small sigh of relief when the horse did exactly as she asked. The last thing she wanted was to look foolish in front of Carter. She rather liked that impressed look on him.
“Okay, we ready to go?” Laura asked from her own horse. When everyone nodded, she moved to the front of the line. “Then I think we're ready for our ride.”
Alexander let out a loud whoop that made Mia wince, but none of the horses even flicked an ear. It made Mia less anxious about their ride. These horses were steady and calm.
Laura led the line of horses out to a path alongside one of the paddocks. It was a perfect early September day. The sky was so blue that it hurt Mia's eyes to look at it for too long. The aspens were still green, but the grass was starting to yellow. Mia was glad she'd worn a light jacket. The breeze coming down the mountains and across the big open meadow was cool and fresh.
The horses walked at a comfortable, sedate pace that was perfect for the children. All three of them had smiles on their faces and were having a fantastic time. Alexander kept talking with what she assumed was a cowboy accent. He kept calling everyone “y'all” and “pardner” but the rest of the accent sounded more like he was having a stroke than a drawl.
Mia took a deep breath of clean air into her lungs. This was a little piece of heaven. The horse moved smoothly under her. She could feel the gelding's power, but it was contained and calm. It was incredibly zen and Mia slowed her breathing to match the horse's strides. Her legs were going to be sore tomorrow, but today, it was worth it.
“Having fun?” Carter asked, coming up beside her.
She grinned. “The best. Thank you.”
“You look like you never left the saddle,” he commented. She felt a blush of pride cross her cheeks.
“I bet you say that to all the girls you take out on horseback,” she replied.
He thought for a moment and then nodded. “You're right, I do.” She looked over at him surprised that he would admit such a thing and he grinned. “Because you're the only girl I've ever taken out on horseback.”