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“Here.” I motion for him to move to the side so he can see what I’m about to do. “You place your foot here, your hands here and here, and lift yourself up in one swift movement.” I demonstrate getting on Jasper, then hop off and step aside for Dalton to try.
He does as I said and practices his push-off a few times before he takes the final plunge and hoists himself up all the way.
When he lands less than gracefully on Jasper’s back and literally holds on to his neck for dear life, I can’thelp but laugh out loud when Jasper begins to jump from side to side.
“Make him stop!” Dalton cries out, making me laugh even harder. “Natalie!”
I try to inhale a deep breath before I place my hand on Jasper’s side. “It’s okay, Jasper. He’s not going to hurt you.”
Jasper calms down long enough for Dalton to adjust his position and sit up like he should.
“You good now?” I ask.
Dalton doesn’t respond, just takes in everything around him and underneath him with this look of fear that he’s obviously trying to hide but doing a horrible job.
I shake my head as I hop up onto Brandy and kick my legs to start her forward.
Jasper is quick on our heels, and within seconds, we’re in a fast trot down the riverside.
“You good back there?” I ask over my shoulder as the wind blows my hair backward.
When he doesn’t respond, I kick my legs again to signal to go faster.
Jasper keeps in line until I hear Dalton say, “Slow … down,” all choppy and bouncy, like the ride is literally shaking the words out of his body.
“What? Too fast for you?” I go a little faster.
“I. Can’t. Hold. On,” he bounces out again.
I decide he’s had enough torture and slow down to a walking pace. When Jasper comes beside me, I see Dalton’s literal white knuckles gripping the reins so tight that I think he’s lost all blood in them.
“You can breathe now,” I tease.
He closes his eyes and inhales, acting like he seriously forgot that breathing is something he needs to do to survive.
I give him a break and decide to walk slowly for a little while, letting him get accustomed to the horse in silence.
Every time I glance to the side, he’s fidgeting with something and looking just about as comfortable as a person would if he were sitting on a porcupine.
“Why do you look like that?” I finally ask.
“Like what?”
“So … I don’t know … afraid?”
“Maybe because I am, okay? This thing has a lot of power, which you showed me right off the bat with no warning—fuck you very much for that—so, yeah, I’m just a little freaked out over here.”
“He won’t hurt you.”
“Yeah, but he can buck me off with one simple movement.” He repositions himself, looking even more uncomfortable.
I sigh and give him some advice. “Come on. You’re too rigid.” I stop Brandy, and Jasper stops as well so we’re side by side. “Take a deep breath in and let it out slowly.”
Surprisingly, Dalton does as he is told.
I watch as his shoulders loosen a little, and he looks slightly more comfortable. I hop off of Brandy and walk to Jasper.
“Here, give me your hand.” I hold my hand out to him.
