“Come say hello to him,” she said, putting a sugar cube in his palm. “Heartbreaker is a big softie. He's one of the horses we put newbies on. He's big, but he's a total sweetheart.”
Ethan held out his hand with the sugar cube displayed in the center. Heartbreaker's ears perked up, and he opened his mouth to reveal lots of slobbery teeth. Ethan did his best not to move as the horse used its slobbery lips to take the cube from him.
He didn't know if horses could smile, but he swore Heartbreaker was laughing at him. Ethan wiped his hands on his pants. He needed to remember to wash his hands before he ate anything. Before he did anything, really. Who knew what was in horse drool?
“You're doing great,” Laura told him. “Come on over here to his left side.”
Carter followed her lead, going to the horse's left. Heartbreaker watched him but didn't seem too concerned. The horse seemed happy enough just munching on his sugar.
“Now, put your foot in the stirrup here,” she said, demonstrating and then moving her foot out of the way. “Then, you just lift and swing your leg up and over. Hold on to the saddle horn for balance, not the reins. I'll hold those for you.”
She moved to the front of the horse and Heartbreaker rubbed his head against her. Ethan felt a little jealous of the horse, but he didn't say anything as he put his foot in the stirrup and tried to do as she instructed.
It took two attempts, and he felt utterly ridiculous both times. It wasn't the strength of it that was hard, it was getting his leg up high enough to clear the big animal's butt.
“Good,” Laura praised him. “Now, the rest is easy. You just use your legs. Hug the horse with your legs, keeping your knees in.”
He did as she instructed. It felt a little odd, but he definitely felt more secure than when his knees pointed out. “How to I make him move? Where's the steering wheel?”
Laura chuckled and handed him the reins. “Hold these with your left hand like you're holding an ice cream cone,” she instructed. “Be gentle because it's attached to his mouth. No big rein flips like you see in the movies.”
He took them in his hand, and she nodded.
“Now, to make him go forward, you just squeeze your knees. If he doesn't move, or you want to go faster, kick your heels a little,” she said, stepping out of the way.
Ethan did exactly as she instructed and the horse moved forward. He nearly fell over backward. He was not expecting so much movement, but he caught himself and used his core to stabilize. The further the horse walked, the more comfortable he became with the gentle rocking motion.
“Perfect,” Laura said, watching him. “Now, to turn, just pull the reins in the direction you want to go. Just remember, it's attached to his mouth, so be gentle.”
Ethan pressed the reins to the right side of the horse's neck, and Heartbreaker dutifully turned. It's surprisingly easy and a little bit fun.
“This isn't nearly as hard as Carter makes it out to be,” he commented, turning Heartbreaker to the other side.
She laughed and jumped up into the saddle in a smooth motion. She grinned at him as she urged her horse to run circles around him with effo
rtless grace. There was no way he would be able to pull off what she was doing.
“Show off,” he muttered, turning his horse toward the open door. She just chuckled and fell into step beside him.
Outside, it was a perfect spring day in the Rockies. A crisp chill still filled the air, but the leaves were starting to come out on the aspen trees, and the world smelled of pine. The snow from the last time he was up here was gone, and wildflowers were replacing it. Birds sang as they passed by a big pine tree on their way.
“The weather is certainly better than last time,” he tells her, earning him a smile.
She shook her head. “I'd rather not repeat that ever again,” she replied. He had to agree.
Two months before, he'd come up to the ranch for a fundraiser. Mia was currently building a camp to give foster kids a chance at fun. She had some amazing plans to give them life skills and an experience they would never forget. She was determined to help kids, so he had come up to support her and to help fundraise.
He thought he would be able to avoid Laura and their awkward history, but that hadn't worked out quite the way he'd planned. When Laura’s brother and another boy disappeared into a snowstorm, he had been put with her to help with the search.
The two of them had walked all over the ranch looking for Dallas. It wasn't much fun given that it was snowing and that she hated him. To say the conversation was quiet was an understatement.
Luckily, her brother and the other boy were found safe and sound. When the news had come in over their shared walkie-talkie, she had been so excited that she'd kissed him.
That kiss had thrown him for a complete loop. It was part of the reason he had even considered coming back. There was unfinished business in that kiss.
“I'm tired of the snow,” Laura said, bringing him back to reality. “I'm glad it's spring.”
“Me too,” he agreed, shifting his weight to a more comfortable position on his horse.