“You okay? You look kind of nervous.”
“I am.”
“No need to be. You will be perfectly safe. I promise. I’m an expert, and Chips knows his way better than any of us. Take a deep breath.”
She exaggeratedly sucked in air.
“Good. Now let it out.”
He took her hand and led her to the left side of Chips. “He’s tied to the hitching post here, so he’s not going anywhere until you’re ready, and then I’ll untie him, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Put your left foot up in the stirrup.”
She lifted her foot, and it was a stretch to get her leg up that high. “He’s a lot taller than I’d realized.”
“He thinks you’re shorter than he remembered.”
“Funny.” She finally got her toe up in the stirrup.
“Now grab the saddle horn, and then you’re going to push yourself up and throw that leg right over him.” She struggled a little, so he gave her a little boost on the seat of her pants, and she sat right in the saddle.
“Wow. This is really high.”
“Just relax and get your bearings.” He helped her get both feet in the stirrups and checked them, adjusting both sides to the right length, then made sure she was seated comfortably in the saddle. “How’s that?”
“That’s better.” She lifted the reins. “What do I do with these?”
He gave her a quick lesson in neck reining. “Here’s the thing. Chips knows what he’s doing. Like any good old trail horse, he’ll take care of you.”
“I don’t want to go fast. I feel like I’m going to fall off.”
“We’ll take it nice and easy. We’re in no hurry. We’re going to stay right here on the property. I know every twist and turn.” He walked his horse, Ricochet, slowly in a circle, giving her time to settle in the saddle. “Are you ready to go?”
“I’m not sure. I mean, yes, let’s do this.”
He led Chips away from the hitching post. Then he walked over and got on Ricochet and gave him a little kick. Ricochet moved next to Chips. Adam reached over and touched Merry Anna’s arm. “Relax. We’re going to just walk side by side for a bit. Here we go.”
And they did. In unison like two horses on a carousel, they walked around the bunkhouse, then down the hill past Tara’s house, through the red pole gate, and back onto Adam’s land.
“How’re you doing?”
“Okay. I think I’ve missed everything so far except the back of my horse’s head. I’ve just been looking at these reins and praying I don’t slip off.”
His laugh made her relax. “Well, that’s no fun. Look up. Look around. Wave at me.”
She gave him a wave and then rolled her eyes. “It’s not as bad as I thought.”
He dropped his reins and raised both his arms above his head. “Look, those reins are not going to hold you on the saddle. They’re just for steering.”
She reached for the saddle horn.
“Lay your reins across the horn and lift your arms in the air.”
Chips continued to lumber forward. Merry Anna took Adam’s advice and hoped for the best. With her hands in the air, she did feel just as steady in the saddle as with her hands damply clutched to those reins.
“See?”
