“Yeah, they are. You ever ridden one?”
I laugh nervously. “No. Never.”
She giggles, and I giggle back, already feeling completely out of my element.
She pulls open the barn door. “In here, we’ve got our chickens. They lay more eggs in the spring and summer, so we check every day.”
“Wow,” I say, peering in. “Do they have names?”
She laughs. “Lord, no. Can’t name ’em all. And it’s probably best not to.”
“Oh,” I say slowly, finally catching on. “Ooooh.”
Dinner. Okay. Never been this personally connected to my dinner before, but I get it. No judgment. I respect the chicken.
“I know it’s an adjustment,” Maggie says. “But if you grew up the way I did, you’d understand it more.”
“Oh yeah, no judgment from me at all,” I say quickly. “I love my chicken fingers.”
She snorts, giving me a look. “Alright, next—we’ve got a couple goats.”
“And they’re so cute,” I interrupt.
“They are, the cows are in a couple pastures down. They get moved a lot.” she says.
As we keep walking, she gestures wide. “We’ve got about twenty-five to thirty horses on this ranch. Sometimes more if there are shows or classes.”
Oh. Damn.
We pass through another pasture gate, and I stop short when I see two horses standing together. Something about them—about this—hits me right in the chest. I feel so grounded like I’ve stepped into another person's life.
“You okay?” Maggie asks.
I smile, letting out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “I’ve never been this close to a horse before.”
She grins. “Come here.” She rubs the nose of a beautiful black horse. “This one’s Shadow. Come say hello.”
I step closer, heart pounding, and press my palm to his neck, rubbing gently. He’s warm, solid and real. This is so calming.
“Holy shit,” I whisper. “He’s stunning. And so sweet.”
She winks. “He is. And he’s saddled. Hop on. I’ll help you up.”
“Oh no,” I say quickly. “I’m too heavy. I’ll hurt—”
I can’t believe I just said that out loud.
“These horses can hold up to three hundred pounds,” she says calmly. “Are you over three hundred?”
“…Two twenty-eight.”
“Then get your ass up there, city girl.”
I laugh and grab the saddle, grunting as I haul myself up. Once I’m settled, she hands me the reins.
“Look at you, Layla. A natural.”
I smile down at her just as she whistles sharply. Another horse comes running, and she grabs its mane and swings up, no saddle, no hesitation.
