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“Come on. Let’s get you in the saddle.” I reach out, grip his hand, and pull him along with me. Moments later, I realize I’m still holding it even though he’s walking right beside me. I move to let go, but his grip tightens as does the grip around my heart. His hands aren’t what I expected of a Formula One racer. I thought they’d be calloused, but his are soft and tender. After another second, he lets go, and we keep walking to the big barn where most of the horses are kept.
When we enter, Hudson and Harley are there at the reception desk. At the same time, they both stand, eyebrows raised, and they both look as though they’ve just caught me with my hand in the cookie jar. My cheeks heat, but I push that embarrassment aside and move toward them.
“Hey, are there two horses we can borrow for a little while? I’m teaching Sebastian to ride. I think he should learn how hard it is before he puts his daughter on one.”
They both chuckle. Hudson runs his hand through his hair while Harley still stares at me, then Sebastian. They glance at each other and then back at Sebastian and me. “Holly and Dolly are free.”
“We’ve got a horse called Dolly now?”
“Yes,” they answer in unison.
“Well, okay then. Is she with Holly?” I jerk a thumb over my shoulder. I know where Holly’s stall is, but I’ve never met this Dolly.
“Come on. We’ll show you,” Hud says. I don’t miss his mischievous grin.
What game are these two playing at? They’re up to something.
Coming around the corner, I see why. Holly and a horse, I’m guessing is Dolly, are saddled up and ready to go as if they knew I’d come looking for a horse or two. “How did you know?” I ask dryly. Sebastian stares between us, looking slightly confused.
“Mabel gave us a heads up this morning,” Harley offers. “They’re ready to go.”
“What’s going on?” Sebastian asks.
“Sebastian, these two clowns are my brothers, Hudson and Harley.” I gesture to them. They extend their hands, and Sebastian shakes them. “It seems my sister, Mabel, who has the kids, must have told these two that we might need some horses.
“Oh, well, it’s worked out well then. Now let’s see if I can even get on one, let alone ride it.”
“You’re not afraid of a little horse, are you, considering you race at some of the most dangerous speeds?”
He laughs. “That’s different.”
“No, it’s not. It’s worse than riding.” I turn back to my brothers and roll my eyes at them. I’ll be having a silent word with Mabel and these two later. “Are the same tracks open?”
“Yeah,” Harley answers, and he and Hudson turn away, fist-bumping each other. I could kill them.
Sebastian stops in front of a tall, chestnut Arabian beauty. “I’m supposed to ride that? She’s so tall.”
Biting my bottom lip, I grin. “She’s the same height as Holly. You’ll be fine. These horses have to have some level of patience, especially when working with special needs children. They sense your fear, so pretend you’re about to race. Do you get nervous?”
He casts me a sideways glance. “All the time. Every race is different, and you don’t know what’s around the next corner. Your body is so tense the entire time. It’s very challenging.”
“Then this should be easy for you.” I clap him on the shoulder. “Come on. Take up her lead, and we’ll take them to the beginning of the horse trails we have around here.”
I step up to Holly. She throws her head in the air and then steps forward and headbutts my chest. “Ow, I get it. You’re mad at me.” I rub down her neck and then along her nose. She moves her head and then nips at my shirt. “Don’t do that, Holly. I’m sorry I was gone so long. Let’s go for a ride like old times. How does that sound?”
She neighs a little and starts walking away. I reach and grab her reins and turn to find Sebastian giving me one of his devilish grins I see plastered over the television when he wins a race. This one is slightly different, though—more meaningful in a way. “You ready to go?” I nod in the direction of the open barn door.
“She understands you?”
“Who? Holly?”
He nods.
I rub Holly’s nose, and she tugs on the lead, indicating she wants to keep going. “Yeah, she does. They’re pretty smart animals once you get to know them. Come on, before she yanks off my arm, and I’ll tell you our story.”
“Sounds interesting.” He keeps turning to check Dolly.
I shake my head and lead the way out.
