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A petite blonde woman ran up to Rebecca and jumped on her, squealing with delight.
“Bex! When I saw your name on the list of donors, I was enthralled!”
Becca hugged her. “It’s lovely to see you, Elle. I’m glad this worked out!”
“Same. I can’t believe I get to meet the famous Sebastian in the flesh,” Eloise gushed, turning toward me. She wore a beige linen blouse and high-waisted jeans paired with beat-up black boots.
“It’s wonderful to meet you as well,” I said, extending my hand.
“Tim’s grabbing tack for us. Oh, Sebastian, those shoes won’t do,” Eloise looked down at my loafers with disdain. I hesitated.
“What size are you?” she asked.
“Size thirteen?”
“Perfect. That’s Tim’s size. You can borrow a pair of his riding boots.” Eloise said. She unlocked the red iron gate before us and held the gate open so we could enter the barn’s property. Horses lounged around us in lush green paddocks, swishing their tails and munching on grass. I’d never been so close to a horse before. I leaned up against one of the fences. Then, I felt something wet on my elbow.
I looked up, and a large brown horse with a white marking on his nose snuffled at my elbow.
Eloise laughed, “That’s Chester. He’s so friendly. We let him work the hayrides during Fall sometimes.”
“Eloise works at the stables once a week. She’s always been an excellent equestrian,” Rebecca explained.
Eloise shrugged. “I wouldn’t say excellent, but I did place first in Dressage when we were in high school,” Eloise said.
“Your high school had horses?” I exclaimed. When it came to sports, my high school had a gym full of deflated basketballs and wrestling mats caked with decades worth of sweat.
“We were both on the Equestrian team. That’s how we met!” Rebecca exclaimed.
“Oh, Bex. Do you remember camp sophomore year?” Eloise asked.
Rebecca blushed. “How could I forget? I placed first in Show Jumping, and I kissed Eli Meyers! What a summer! And you obliterated dressage and went all the way with Seth from the stables!”
Eloise giggled. “Now that was a roll in the hay I’ll never forget.” Rebecca and Eloise continued to reminisce while I made uncomfortable eye contact with Chester. His large, black eyes seemed skeptical. It was like he knew I was a fraud. From what I gathered, horses were much more intelligent than dogs or cats.
He nudged my elbow once more.
“You can pet him if you want,” Eloise said. I reached out and awkwardly patted his nose. Chester snuffled. His pink lips flapped accusatory.
Rebecca glanced over at me. “Sebastian, you’ve ridden a horse before, right?”
This was my chance to come clean. I’d never been within ten feet of a horse, let alone sat on top of one! But what if I looked like a loser in front of Tim McGuire? Becca was right. This weekend was all about networking. If I wanted to be a part of Rebecca’s world, I would need to play their games.
“Sure, tons of times,” I lied through my teeth. Sensing my dishonesty, Chester nipped at my elbow.
“Ow!”
“He’s probably mad you haven’t given him a treat.” Eloise walked over to me and placed a sugar cube in the palm of my hand. “Here you go,” she said. I turned to Chester, and he licked my palm, coating my hand in saliva before tucking the sugar cube into his gums contentedly.
“Are their tongues supposed to be that long?!”
Eloise and Rebecca laughed.
Eloise shook her head. “Oh, Sebastian. You’re an absolute riot. He’s funny, Bex. I can see why you like him.”
I struggled to find a discreet way to wipe my hand. I settled for clutching the hem of my shirt for a moment too long.
A slender man with dark, coiffed hair emerged from the stables, carrying a saddle over his shoulder. He wore a sage green long-sleeved button-down embellished with golden roses embroidered on the shoulders and a bolo tie. He also wore black straight-legged jeans and matching boots. I could see silver spurs glinting in the sun as he walked. He looked like a real cowboy, while I looked like a woefully out-of-place frat boy. He kissed Eloise’s cheek and handed her a saddle.
