Rance’s laughter told him he might be making an eejit of himself. He swiveled in the saddle and here came that fella, striding toward him, a grin on his puss.
“I see the problem, buddy.”
“I’m an eejit who can’t ride?”
“Nope. This routine is boring. It’s not holding your attention. Take your left foot out of the stirrup. I’m coming up.”
“Where?” But he did as he was told. “I take up the whole saddle, mate.”
“But not the whole horse.” Shoving his boot in the stirrup, Rance swung up behind him. “You can put your foot back in.”
“Where are you putting yours?”
“Don’t need to put them anywhere.”
“You won’t fall off?”
“Not with this horse.” He put his arms around Keiran’s waist. “Give me the reins.”
He handed them over and like magic Pie turned around and pointed toward the ranch road. “How’d you do that?”
“Neck reining. Pie, um, doesn’t respond to hand signals.” His voice sounded funny.
“I learned that, yeah.” He looked for Sara. She had her mobile out pointed at him.
“Grab hold of the horn and grip with your legs. We’re going for a ride.”
Kieran barely had time to do that before Pie took off. His arse left the saddle, smacked down and lifted again. “Feck, mate! Ya out ta b-banjax my s-sex life?”
“Use your thigh muscles and engage your core.”
Ignoring that advice, he stood in the stirrups so his arse didn’t make contact at all. It was a wonder his hat was still on. “Are we g-galloping?”
“Trotting.”
“That’s it? Feels f-faster.”
“It’s a fast trot. Tricky to learn.”
“I b-believe ya.”
“Next one’s more fun. Cantering.”
“Then g-galloping?”
“Not today. Cantering’s enough. There’s a rhythm to it. It’s like sex. Match the horse’s rhythm and you’re golden.”
“How d’ya switch g-gears?”
“I squeeze with my legs and nudge his side with my heels. Ready?”
“If it’s s-smoother than this, I’m m-more than r-ready.”
“Then here we go.”
In an instant, Pie transformed from a jackhammer to a rocking chair. Kieran slowly lowered his arse to the saddle with a happy sigh. He savored the breeze in his face and the scenery flashing by as his body moved with the fluid motions of the horse.
“Like it?”
