Page 21 of His Wilde Little (Saddle Up #2)

“Well,” he began with a chuckle. “I’ll be getting them all ready. But to play it safe, you should try Mary.”

Once we reached the fence, the horses approached in their huddle, even Mary who had become part of their small pact, although not quite as integrated. I stepped back as they approached, a natural response to having them so close in my face.

Lorenzo encouraged me with his soft words. “We’re not losing all that progress, stroke one of them.”

They never exhibited any hostile behavior to me, each of them would neigh or huff, but according to Lorenzo, they weren’t doing it out of aggression, more of a way to tell me they wanted feeding, or attention, and they sure loved attention.

I could relate to them a little because I too sometimes made little noises when I needed attention, and since coming into my life, even if only recently, Lorenzo had been giving it to me.

“I think it’s got to be Mary, at least I think she likes me the most,” I said, hesitantly. All of them were still scary in my eyes with those long faces and big eyes that looked like they’d seen too much.

He nodded. “Sure, I know she hasn’t been ridden in a while, but she doesn’t seem to have anything stopping her from it. Unless we find out together today.”

“Don’t say that,” I grumbled playfully giving Lorenzo’s arm a whack.

“It’s gonna be fine,” he said, pulling me into his arms. His hat knocked against mine, pushing it back as he pressed his head forward, his mouth against mine, so soft as he gave me a peck on the lips. “Let’s get her out then. She needs to saddle up.”

Mary knew we were talking about her, and she didn’t seem to mind. I wasn’t completely convinced that Lorenzo couldn’t actually talk to the horses since they seemed to obey him whenever he gave them visual and verbal instructions. In a way, I was the same with him, obeying.

We got Mary back to the stables and as I went through the trunk of helmets, Lorenzo dressed the horse up in the saddle and bridle.

“Good girl,” he said, causing my head to turn, trying not to be jealous that a horse was getting compliments.

“You’re a good boy too,” he said, catching my eye and winking.

“Should I be wearing more protective clothes?” I asked, finding a helmet that fit right, and the strap didn’t tug too tight under my chin.

“You’re a cowboy, ain’t cha,” he said with a chuckle.

“You don’t need that on.”The worry in my eyes must’ve told him another story because he sighed and nodded.

“But if it helps you feel a little bit more comfortable, then sure, you can wear that. But you might also want to break out the knee pads and elbow protectors too.”

“So, you think I’m going to fall.”

“Not at all, and I’ll be right there to catch you.”

It was playful teasing, I knew that much, but I couldn’t help feel a little stressed by the whole idea that perhaps I should have put some protective wear on my elbows or even my knees. “Can I have a kiss for good luck?”

I got my kiss, and it felt a little luckier because of it.

“Now, I’m gonna help you onto Mary, and you’re not going to fuss,” he said, reaching around and giving my ass a squeeze. “Good, nice, thick jeans. That’s just what you’ll need to keep it from hurting.”

“It’s going to hurt?” I mean, I’d seen the way some people had come off horses on the television, so I knew it could absolutely do something crazy to your thighs if you let it. And I’d had a lot of practice with these legs.

My mom arrived just as Lorenzo was showing me the reins. We were still inside the stable and tying to give me a little room to throw myself into a bale of hay if and when required to bail. But there was no bailing, there was only getting through this and getting my reward.

“I knew we should’ve had you on them when you were younger,” my mom said. “Face your fears early and all that.”

“Maybe you should,” I said as Lorenzo guided my foot to meet the stirrup.

“One foot up and a push,” he said.

Once I’d pushed there was no going back.

Up until the moment I mounted a horse, everything else felt like I’d been cosplaying as a cowboy. Now, I was the real deal, riding horses. Or at least, sitting on them uncomfortable as they stayed stationary.

“Ok, good,” I was told by Lorenzo.

My mom applauded. “She looks so happy.”

It had been a while, so much so I figured I’d be bucked right off her like one of those children’s play toys.

“Ok, now what?” It actually wasn’t too scary being on the back of her.

She couldn’t snap her big teeth at me and swallow my hand whole.

In my mind, horses were land sharks with their powerful bodies.

Lorenzo led me, keeping my back straight and my body right as I took the reins and with the right gesturing and lightest of the tugs, I got Mary going forward, right out of the barn, right out into the open where she could gallop away with me.

“You’re a natural,” Lorenzo said, calming the thoughts from getting the better of me. “Just take it slow, forward, forward, and let’s try gesturing left. A little sway with your body and the rein, and she’ll follow.”

“Oh my god, I’m doing it!” I said, trying to contain my screams as internal as possible. “The world looks so small from up here.”

“You’re not that high up,” my mom chuckled. “Let me take a picture.” She backed up a bit, and Lorenzo scooted out of her framing. “Oh no, you’ve got to be in it,” she told him. “If it wasn’t for you, we’d be in a huge mess with four horses.”

It was our first picture together, and I probably looked petrified, and a little silly in the tight helmet. Welp. That was one for the memory book, assuming I could actually dismount and survive to make said book.

“Ok, I think I’m done,” I said.

“Oh no,” Lorenzo said. “I’m sure we can get you to do a walk around the stable before you’re finished. You’ve barely had time to get used to that burn in your thighs.”

I let out a nervous laugh. “You know, there’s probably a cream for that,” I said, but it wasn’t the time for jokes. This was the time for me to finish up all the tricks Lorenzo wanted me performing so I could open up that big, wrapped gift.