Page 29 of Second Chance Saloon

“They’ll laugh their heads off seeing me on a horse you’re leading, like I’m a child.”

Jackie glared at him.

“Not that I care in the slightest what they think,” he added, avoiding looking at her.

“I’m glad to hear. Because no one’s going to laugh. You know what they’d laugh at? If you tried to be a hero and went out on your own when it’s your first time. Diamond might’ve thrown you off and that’d be hilarious to them.”

He met her gaze. “You’re right. That does sound stupid.”

Jackie grasped the reins under Diamond’s chin with her right hand. “Hold on tight. Focus on keeping yourself in the saddle with your thighs, but also feel the way Diamond moves and move with him, not against him.”

Mitch nodded. “Roger that.”

Jackie smiled at him and tugged the reins.

CHAPTER TWELVE

October, fourteen years ago

Mitch

The muscles in his thighs ached. Apparently, no matter how many hours he’d clocked in the pool, in the gym and out on a running trail, riding forced his body to move in a brand-new way.

Jackie sure was determined. After she’d led Diamond round the paddock five times, she handed the reins back to Mitch and told him to try.

So, he tried. He’d expected panic to throw a curtain over his mind the moment Jackie stepped away, but instead a strange calm settled in his gut.

Diamond was gentle, just as Jackie had promised him. He either wasn’t bothered or took a liking to Mitch. Either way, slowly, they made their way, to the sound of Jackie’s encouragements and later delight.

Mitch wasn’t even deterred when several people approached the fence, resting over it or keeping their arms crossed as they watched Mitch and Diamond. He heard their voices and some laughter, and an inner voice teased him: “They’re laughing at you”; Mitch ignored it, concentrating on keeping himself in the saddle.

From time to time, he looked up, long enough to catch a glimpse of late afternoon sun dancing in Jackie’s black hair. Her hat shielded her face from the rays, her blue eyes appearing almost navy, but there was no masking her smile. Damn, whenever she smiled, his heart flipped. Funny how he’d spent eighteen years of his life largely unaffected by the opposite sex, only to have dived into the ocean of feelings from a cliff the moment they met.

Jackie glanced at her wristwatch. “We should wrap up for the day. Mimi’s going to kill me if dinner gets cold.”

Mitch drew in a deep breath. “Remind me, how do I stop?”

“Tighten your abdominal muscles, like you want to suck in your stomach to look slimmer.”

He threw her an affronted look because he’d never done something like that.

She laughed. “It’s to counteract the previous smooth movement with Diamond, so he picks up on the cue it’s time to stop. Then, press your knees and thighs against the saddle.”

Mitch performed both actions and swallowed a satisfied grin when Diamond slowed down. Increasing his grip on the reins, he held them in place, resisting Diamond’s head movement, and squeezed the horse’s sides with his legs.

“Whoa,” he eventually said, seven or so paces from where Jackie stood, watching him intently.

Diamond came to a halt and Mitch beamed at Jackie. “I did it!”

She walked up to them, extending her hand to stroke Diamond’s neck. “Good boy,” she cooed. “You did very well.”

With a degree of difficulty, when the stirrup wouldn’t release his foot, Mitch dismounted. His boots hit the ground, kicking up some dust in the air.

Jackie turned to him, a smile and a visible hint of pride illuminating her face. “You didn’t do too badly either. Next time, try to equalize the pressure with your legs so that you put the same amount of it on both sides. Your halt was a bit crooked because you pushed harder from the right.”

He dipped his chin in concession. Damn it, the muscles in his legs burned. His hand moved down to the inside of his thigh, rubbing a sore spot over the scratchy denim.

Jackie’s eyes softened. “But overall, you did great! You should be proud.”