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I let out a long breath. I was officially on a horse.

Now what?

I glanced down at Wells, who was standing way too confidently beside me, arms crossed like he was admiring his work. “Alright. What now?”

“Now, you take the reins and give him a little nudge with your heels.”

I blinked at him. “A nudge?”

“Yeah, just a little tap so he knows to move.” Wells clarified poorly.

I looked at Bandit. Bandit looked at me. We had an understanding—he knew I had no business being up here, and I knew he could end me in one wrong step.

“Okay,” I muttered, gripping the reins like they were my last lifeline. I took a deep breath and—

Nothing.

Bandit didn’t move.

I tried again, this time tapping my heels against his side a little firmer.

Still nothing.

I shot Wells a look. “I think he’s broken.”

Wells pressed his lips together, fighting a smile. “He’s not broken. You just have to be a little more assertive.”

Assertive. Right.

I gave it one last go, pressing my heels in with as much confidence as I could muster.

And that was apparently the magic touch.

Because Bandit took off.

Not fast, but definitely faster than I had anticipated. I let out a startled shriek and immediately grabbed onto the saddle horn for dear life. “Nope! I hate this! Get me down now!”

Wells was laughing. Laughing.

“You’re fine!” He called after me, casually walking beside the horse like this was all a big joke. “Just sit up straight and relax!”

Relax? Was he insane? I was on a moving beast with a mind of its own.

“Easy for you to say when you’re not about to meet your demise via farm animal!” I shouted, clinging tighter as Bandit kept his steady trot.

“You’re not gonna die,” Wells said, still way too amused. “Just pull back on the reins a little to slow him down.”

Oh. Right. I had reins.

I yanked them like I was stopping a runaway train.

Bandit skidded to a halt so fast I nearly flew forward.

I let out a strangled noise, regaining my balance while my heart tried to climb out of my throat. “This is it. This is how I go. Tell my family I love them.”

Wells leaned against the fence, shaking his head as he tried—and failed—to hide his laughter. “You’re so dramatic.”

I shot him a glare. “Dramatic? I have never been on a horse before in my life, and you just threw me into the equestrian deep end!”