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That’s typical Tommy style and it makes my heart melt at his thoughtfulness. I nod, probably looking a little overenthusiastic with nerves coursing through me while determination seems to be winning. This is something I’ve never done and I want to be in this community. I want to know what the ranchers and farmers do. I want to truly understand their attachments to this life, this land. And I want to belong to what has been built here generation after generation and make it more sustainable. To share this with him.

The metallic sound of Tommy removing the tether makes me realize that I’m on my own. It’s just Bella and me. Yes, he’s in the corral with us, but we’re at each other’s mercy.

More like I’m at hers.

She keeps her pace steady, unlike my heart, which is pounding. I peek down at my feet, trying to not off-set my balance to make sure my boots are fully in the stirrups, then remember that I’m steering this horse and look up. I check that my hands have both reins the way they were originally positioned and that I’m not pulling back or too much to one side, except to gently lead her with the curve of the circle.

Tommy steps to the center so he’s next to the step and he turns as we circle him. His smile is wide and he looks proud of me.

“You’re a natural, Samantha Davies,” he says, his voice just loud enough to hear over the crunching of Bella’s steps. “How do you feel?”

“Terrified and free?” I venture.

“Just enjoy the ride, there’s nothing to overthink, you’re doing amazing.”

I grimace. “Easier said than done.”

“Okay then, truth or dare?” he asks, wearing a satisfied smirk.

“Isn’t this practically a dare in itself?” I squeak, realizing that this horse is huge and even though she’s going at a nice, slow pace right now, one wrong move on my part could send me flying off.

“Truth it is then.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see him tap his cheek with one finger as he thinks. I wiggle my feet a little so they’re a little farther into the stirrups and immediately pull them back to where Tommy placed them, wondering if I could get stuck in a stirrup. “What did you want to be when you were little?”

My head pops up, my eyes meet his. “An administrative assistant.”

He doesn’t look surprised or anything, he just asks me what made me want to do that.

“I don’t know,” I say, my gaze returning to Bella’s ears, watching them shift as I speak. “I used to always pretend to welcome people into an office and work at a computer or filling papers or answering phones. I’m sure there were other occupations I pretended to work in, but that was my main one.”

“So, you’ve always enjoyed putting information together and making things happen. That makes sense.”

“I guess so.” I sit up a little taller, feeling proud that those childhood dreams came true in ways I couldn’t have imagined and knowing how much I love what I get to do.

“You ready for another truth?”

“Give me your best shot,” I say, feeling a new sense of confidence.

“How long was your last relationship?”

“Two and a half years.”

“How long ago did it end?”

“Shortly before I did my final interview in Greenstone.” My answers come out naturally, my reflex to be polite and make a good impression outweighing my nerves.

“What’s something you’ve always wanted to do with someone?” Tommy seems to have something ready immediately.

“Watch the sunrise. You’re going to have to work harder than that to stump me, you know.”

“You’ve never watched the sun rise?”

“I have, just not with someone.”

He makes a thoughtful noise and butterflies erupt at the thought of what he could be cooking up. Tommy pays attention to details like this and he’s the type of guy who could make it happen.

“What’s the most ridiculous gift you were given by someone you dated?”

“Okay, I’m a little impressed by this question,” I relent. “Probably a corsage.”