“Oh, no,” Ryan replied, nudging Pearl into motion. “But I did manage without a stool.” She waved and led the horse away.
Seth watched as Hayes squared his shoulders, stepped onto the stool, and hoisted himself into the saddle. The horse swayed under his weight, ears flicking back at him. Seth adjusted the stirrups and studied Hayes’ boots hovering uncertainly above the horse’s flanks.
“Alright?” Seth asked.
Hayes nodded as if afraid to speak. Seth grinned then vaulted into his saddle, then he looked at Hayes.
“Just gently nudge her with both knees. She’ll follow. Relax in the saddle. The horse will feel your tension, and it will make her tense. It’s not good for her and trust me, it’s not going to be good for you either.” Seth watched as Hayes did as he said. With a gentle cluck, he urged the horse forward into the golden pasture beyond.
Seth drew Zephyr to a gentle halt on the sunbaked trail. He shifted in his saddle and watched Hayes fidgeting in the seat of his horse. Sparse grass crackled under hooves, and a breeze stirred dust at the edge of the fence line. Hayes had asked only a handful of questions so far; Seth could tell the man was unnerved by the height and the animal beneath him.
“Mr. Hayes,” Seth called, voice calm against the whisper of wind through the oaks, “any more questions for me?”
Hayes swallowed hard, cheeks paling. “Uh, yeah, but they’re on paper in my pocket.”
Seth let Zephyr shift his weight on his haunches. The horse’s coat gleamed in the afternoon sun. “Then get it out.”
Hayes hesitated. “I’m not sure how without spooking the horse. What if she runs?”
“She won’t,” Seth said, low and assured. “We’ll stop at the pond up ahead. Let her drink. You’ll have all the time you need.”
Hayes nodded, shoulders stiff. Seth eased Zephyr forward, leading the way along a winding path. The sun set high above the fenceposts, and the scent of sage drifted around them. At the next bend, Seth reined in again. A sagging section of wire fence lay tangled on the ground.
“I need to fix this,” he said. “If you want to dismount, now’s your chance. It’ll only take a few minutes.”
Hayes’ voice trembled. “I’ll stay up here, if you don’t mind. Once I’m down, I’m not sure I can climb back on.”
“Suit yourself.” Seth slipped from the saddle, boots crunching on dry dirt. He opened a leather saddlebag, retrieved wire cutters and pliers, and set to work. Under his skilled fingers the fence straightened, taut once more against the blue sky.
Hayes cleared his throat. “Why do you carry that rifle?” He nodded toward the long barrel strapped to Seth’s saddle.
Seth paused, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. “Plenty of wild animals out here; bears, mountain lions, and wolves. I don’t go looking to kill them, just to scare them off. Only pull the trigger to kill if I absolutely have to.”
Hayes scanned the sagebrush as though expecting a cougar to leap out. “Trust me,” Seth added, “they’re more afraid of you than you are of them.”
“Yeah, right,” Hayes muttered, and Seth laughed. Tool kit stowed, he swung back into the saddle and beckoned Hayes to follow.
They picked their way down a narrow dip in the land until they could hear the gentle gurgle of water. A small pond lay nestled among cottonwoods, its surface rippling in shifting light. Seth dismounted again, let Zephyr’s reins fall to the ground and approached Hayes.
“Let me lead Clover over to that rock so you can step down,” he offered.
Hayes exhaled, stiff-legged. “Okay.” Seth took Clover’s reins and guided her beside a flat outcropping. With one careful step, Hayes slid from the saddle. Seth watched him steady himself, then led both horses to the water’s edge. The animals lowered their muzzles and drank, nostrils flaring.
Seth removed his hat, ran fingers through his hair, then settled it back in place. The air smelled of sun-heated earth and fresh water. The temperature was rising, which was a good sign. He turned to see Hayes gingerly shifting weight from one foot to the other.
“You weren’t kidding about muscles you didn’t know you had,” Hayes said, voice rough.
Seth nodded. “Ride often enough, or do any physical work, and the soreness goes away.”
“How long have you been riding?”
“Before I could walk, my father put me on a horse with him. Raised me on his ranch. It’s in my blood.”
Hayes cracked a grin. “I’m surprised Ryan got on one.”
Seth’s jaw tightened. “She doesn’t seem like the type to back down from a challenge.”
“She’s not, seen her do some crazy shit for her magazine shots.” Hayes shrugged.
