Of course, the horse couldn’t answer, but she did dip her head just a bit. He grabbed the reins and led her to the riding ring.
Evie opened the gate and escorted them through, stopping them at a wooden step she had pulled into the ring. “Don’t be nervous, Jake. It’ll be fine. Clementine will take excellent care of you. She’s very patient and forgiving. Both Savannah and Miguellearned to ride on her. I did as well.” She gave him an assuring smile. Too bad he didn’t feel assured. “Do you know how to mount a horse properly?”
“Not really. But I’ve watched all of you” He glanced at the step by his feet. “There was no step when I tried to ride Redeemer all those years ago. There wasn’t a saddle either. I climbed to the top plank of the stall like the older boys at the home told me to and jumped on his back.”
“And Redeemer bucked you off immediately, didn’t he?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He tipped his hat back and laughed, though the remembered pain wasn’t funny at all.
“Well, it’s no wonder. If I was Redeemer, I’d have thrown you off, too.” Her smile widened. “That’s not going to happen here. We’ll start from the beginning. We will be using this step today, but eventually, you’ll be able to do this without one.” She nudged Clementine into the proper position. “One of the most important things is that you never want to hurt your horse by being clumsy or inconsiderate. Your horse is your friend, your companion. He or she has feelings and emotions, just like we do. They feel love and jealousy, happiness and sadness. They can feel pain, too, just like us. Treat them well—always—because out here, your horse can be the difference between life and death.”
“I’ve never looked at it that way.”
“I’ll demonstrate proper mounting while I explain the steps.” She glanced up at him, her beautiful blue-gray eyes a little bluer than normal, her smile firmly in place before she reached for the reins in his hands and climbed the wooden steps. “Start with the reins. You want to hold them just so.” She slid the reins between her fingers until they were at the proper length, close to the horse’s mane. “You’ll be holding the reins in such a way that you can also rest your hand on Clementine’s mane.” Her movements matched her words. “Place your right hand in the middle of the saddle.” She performed the action then lifted herleft foot into the stirrup. “Always point your toe toward her nose. Raise yourself up and swing your leg over. It should be a smooth motion.” The leather creaked as she settled herself in the saddle then looked at him. “That’s it. Do you want me to show you again? Or do you think you’re ready to try?”
She made it look so easy, but he had doubts. Besides, it was such a pleasure to watch her. He could do that all day long. He pressed his lips together so he wouldn’t smile. “Show me again.”
“All right.” She dismounted, her actions the direct opposite, and showed him again…then once more. “Now you try.”
He did exactly as she showed him. Clementine, bless her, didn’t move, but she did look at him, her big eyes round. He could swear she was smiling at him. She probably was.
Once he was settled in the saddle she continued, “Sit up straight and keep your back relaxed.”
How could he sit up straight and be relaxed at the same time?
“This should be enjoyable for both of you. You can’t be as stiff as a fireplace poker. Relax your arms. Rest the reins gently in your hands.”
Her instructions seemed to be such a contradiction. He tried, though. He wasn’t comfortable at all. He was waiting for Clementine to buck him off. But it didn’t happen. Clementine didn’t move.
“To get Clementine to move forward, nudge her a little by squeezing your knees against her sides. It shouldn’t take much. To get her to stop, pull the reins toward yourself. It doesn’t have to be hard. Actually, I prefer that it not be hard. If your horse is well trained, you don’t have to use much force. I’ve seen how others do it and I can’t say I agree with it. There should be no reason to pull that hard.” She rubbed her hand against the horse’s side, and he wished that she was touching him that way. “Are you comfortable?”
“No,” he admitted.
She laughed. “You’ll be fine. Why don’t you take a couple turns around the ring? See how it feels.”
He waited until she moved toward the fence, taking the step with her. She climbed up to the top plank of the fence and made herself comfortable, her focus on him. Now, if that didn’t make him more nervous, he didn’t know what would. He looked down at the horse, and whispered a silent prayer he wouldn’t make a complete and utter fool of himself. He nudged Clementine like he’d been told.
Clementine didn’t move. Instead, she turned her head and just looked at him. After a moment, she showed her big yellow teeth. A thought came to him. “Are you laughing at me?”
The horse blew air from her nostrils, giving a little grunt at the same time.
“Well, stop it. You’re embarrassing me in front of Miss Evie.”
The horse continued to stare at him, then turned her head and looked toward Evie sitting on the fence. He tried again, squeezing his legs against Clementine’s sides. And still, she didn’t move.
“Don’t do this to me.” He tried one more time. Either he wasn’t doing it right or the horse just didn’t want to obey his signal. He assumed it was the latter. Clementine did have a sense of humor. Perhaps, she thought this was amusing. “Please.”
She took one step then stopped, once more turning her head to look at him. Yes, she was doing this on purpose. He glanced toward the fence to see Evie jump down from her perch and approach him.
“What’s the matter?” She peered up at him beneath the shade of her hat, curiosity making her brows dip a little.
Jake let out a sigh of frustration. “She doesn’t seem to want to move. I’ve squeezed my knees against her sides, like you said, but she only takes a step then stops.”
“I have an idea. Give me the reins.”
He did as he was told, silently handing her the reins, his face flushing with embarrassment. Indeed, his entire body felt as if it was on fire. He hated the thought that he’d failed, especially in front of her.
She clicked her tongue and tugged lightly on the reins, leading Clementine toward the step she’d placed by the fence.
