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“Try standing in the stirrups just like we practiced,” he instructs, my body reacting immediately.

“Good,” he says with a smile, looking at how high I’m off the saddle all the way down to where my foot is pressing against the stirrup holding me up. Somehow. “Everything looks great here. Are you comfortable?”

His blue eyes find mine. I nod at him, lowering myself to a seated position.

“Would you like me to take Bella for a little walk? We’re staying inside this little corral.”

I look around the enclosure, heart pounding with nerves and excitement. Bella isn’t their largest horse by far, but she feels enormous underneath me. My legs feel her body heat through my jeans already. I can tell when she takes a breath just because of the smooth movement. She seems unbothered by me.

Clearing my throat, which feels right from this stress, before I squeak out a “yes”. There’s something so new and so unique to being on top of a horse. It’s terrifying to be at the mercy of a living creature this big, fast, and powerful, but it’s also empowering and healing. Giving a certain degree of control away like this is freeing.

I must make a sound of surprise when she starts walking because Tommy looks back to see if I’m okay. I give him what must be a slightly-crazed smile instead of one of confidence because he chuckles softly, leading Bella on. The walk jostles me more than I thought and I use the different techniques Tommy mentioned in the stables for steadying myself. It’s not long before I feel the rhythm of her motions. The pattern of how each of her feet touch down and how that shifts me without making me feel like I’m being thrown off. It makes me think that you need to be engaged with the horse for it to be a comfortable ride. There’s a mutual respect, and a way to connect that allows you to flow with the horse’s movements.

It’s easy to see why so many people love this.

“Look at you go, cowgirl.”

“I’m not sure I can be considered one just yet,” I say, looking around this enclosed space and then down at Tommy who is calmly walking while holding a rope connected to Bella’s bridle.

“As someone who grew up around horses, I can officially say the nickname has been well-earned and you’ll be wearing a ten-gallon hat in no time.”

“I could simply borrow yours.”

He stops our first lap and turns to look me in the eyes. “You’re ready for that?” His voice is gravelly and the intensity in the question is palpable.

“To wear a hat?” I ask, confused at the turn this has taken.

Realization washes over his features.

“Ah, city girls might not have the same traditions.” His hand rubs his five o’clock shadow and he shifts his weight to one foot.

“What have I missed?”

“Wear the hat, ride the cowboy.”

Well, that’s news to me.

Chapter 32: Tommy

The shock on Sam’s face is priceless and I’m half expecting her to say pardon.

“Oh,” she says, her mouth holding the shape of the word and I can practically hear her mind buzzing.

“You’re welcome to wear mine and I’ll defend your honor until the cows come home,” I say, trying to pull her out of whatever rabbit hole she’s about to go down.

She frowns and her mouth scrunches up. “Your cows are home. They live here.”

At least she has something new to focus on. I flash her a smile. “Not literally in this case.”

Pulling gently on the rope, I get Bella moving again and turn around.

“But you’d be okay with that?” she asks.

Resisting responding with too much enthusiasm, I settle on saying, “I’d love to see you wear anything of mine, anywhere.”

She gives a thoughtful hm behind me. “Do you have more than one?”

“Hat? I have a straw one for when it’s too hot, but not another one of these.” I tip my hat towards her and touch the brim.