“I would for sure!” Charlotte raised her hand and bounced on her tippy-toes.
“Hell, yeah, I want to take a ride!” Calliope rubbed her hands together. “I’ve only been on a horse a couple of times, but I should be okay.”
“I’m willing to give it a try.” Marigold looked up at Viking. “Will you ride with me?”
“Absolutely.” He tucked a strand of her curly hair over her ear.
“I figured you guys could take a quick ride up to the ridge, then I’ll fire up the grill.” Everyone agreed that was a great idea. “Perfect, let me get them saddled up.”
Hawk jogged back, holding a very large bag of carrots. “I’ll put these in the barn.”
Everyone, including Remy, followed Boone to the corral, where the horses happily munched on apples.
Fortunately, the horses weren’t bothered by Remy, and he had a healthy respect for the horses, too.
“You can just set it next to that bucket of carrots in there.” Boone ducked between the poles of the fence and stepped into the paddock. He got ahold of Patience’s reins, led her to the fence, and stroked his hand down the side of her big neck.
“Patience is just like her name implies—she’s gentle and puts up with a lot. Very little upsets her.” He grabbed the saddle off the fence, swung it onto her back, and adjusted it so it was in the right spot. “She’s great with new riders, too.”
Once the girth strap was secured under her belly, he gave a good strong tug on one of the stirrups to ensure the saddle wouldn’t slide off.
Luna scratched between Remy’s ears and stepped up onto the bottom rail. She leaned against the fence and stroked her hand down Patience’s long face. She didn’t seem the least bit intimidated by the horse’s size.
“Her nose is so soft.” Her gaze traveled over Patience’s face. “And her eyes are so soulful.”
She cupped the horse’s snout in her hands and rubbed her thumbs over the downy-soft fur. Patience’s nose twitched at her touch.
“You’re such a pretty girl.” She leaned close, rested her forehead against the horse’s, and closed her eyes.
Having grown up on a ranch, Boone understood the importance of the relationship between humans and animals. He was enthralled watching Luna establish a connection with his horse.
“She likes you.” And so did Boone.
A lot.
“She’s very sweet.” Luna stepped up to the next rail, swung one leg over, and perched herself on the top rail. She looked down at Charlotte and Calliope. “Maybe someone else should go first, and I’ll watch and learn.”
“You’ve never been on a horse before?” Boone assumed she had, since she was so comfortable with Patience.
“One time, a very long time ago.” She tugged a hair rubber band from her wrist, gathered up her long hair, and secured it into a ponytail. “Dawn and I went to a fair when I was about six, I think, and I got to ride a pony around this big circle, twice.” She reached out and scratched Patience’s jaw. “That horse was a lot smaller than this pretty girl.”
Sassy, jealous of the attention Patience was receiving, whinnied, abandoned the apples, and trotted over to them. She tossed her head up and down and showed off by doing a quick three-sixty turn to the right, then another one to the left.
They laughed at her antics.
“Yes, Sassy, we’re all very impressed.” Boone looped her reins over the top of the fence, lifted his big western saddle, and swung it up onto her back. He adjusted it before fastening the buckle on the girth strap, then tugged on the stirrup.
“Luna, why don’t you go first,” Charlotte said. “I’d like to try out that beautiful cornhole set.”
“We officially challenge you to a game.” Hawk called out to where Lucas, Calliope, Marigold, and Viking were already tossing beanbags back and forth.
“Bring it on,” Calliope said.
“Have fun.” Charlotte took her fiancé’s hand, and they headed off toward the pavilion.
Hawk whistled, and Remy bounded after them.
Boone noticed Luna chewing her bottom lip as he checked all of the fittings on the saddles.
