“Will Red be joining us?” She blurted out.
“Red doesn’t need a horse, does he mom? Red runs faster than everybody. Even Uncle Pay.” Misty wiggled and squirmed in her chair. “You grownups done eating yet? Can we go now? Please? Please?”
Laughing, they finally gave in, but not before cleaning up. Stella was a little surprised to learn that they hadn’t all gone riding together since last summer. Corinne and Misty went out as often as they could, but Peyton rarely came along. This felt like something of a special occasion.
Even though it was still morning, the sun shone hotly as they trekked to the barn. Misty grasped both Stella and Corinne’s hands, skipping all the way. “You get to ride Pickles.” Misty giggled. “She’s old and slow. Like you.”
Stella pretended outrage while Corinne shushed her daughter. “Pickles was my horse when I was younger,” Corinne explained. “She’s a sweetheart, unlike my child.”
Stella was surprised upon entering the barn. She’d expected a few wooden corrals and a bunch of hay but instead the bright walkway reflected modern amenities: cement floors for easy maintenance and high windows to let the light fill the cavernous interior. The stalls seemed almost ornate, consisting of smooth wooden slats along the bottom half and iron bars intermittently spaced along the top. Archways along the upper rail made for window like openings and a few horses peeked out at them.
“This is gorgeous.” Stella stepped into the cooler air, impressed.
“Peyton built them.” Corinne sounded proud of her brother. “He did all the cupboards in the kitchen too.”
“And the table, Mom.” Misty added.
Peyton ignored them as he flipped a few switches to further illuminate the area. Corinne approached a tall chestnut colored horse who had stuck its head through the opening. She rubbed his face and cooed as the horse nuzzled her. “Stella, this is my baby, my other baby, Taco. Misty, you wanna just ride with me today? Go grab the blanket sweetie and we’ll get him saddled up.”
Stella stepped backwards, suddenly quite out of her depths. “Come with me.” Peyton’s breath warmed her neck. She’d not realized he stood so close behind her.
She allowed him to lead her a few stalls down to where a white and grey horse, considerably smaller than Taco, waited patiently. Peyton stepped away and slid the door open.
“Pickles?” Stella guessed.
“Yep. Hand me that blanket over there.” He’d stepped into the stall and was rubbing the horse’s back and head. “Morning, sweetheart, you ready to go for a ride today?” He spoke to the horse with an abundance of affection.
Stella turned around and seeing a thick blanket draped over a half wall, lifted it and crept closer to the open stall.
“Walk slowly, Stella. Talk to her. Let her know you’re here. You don’t want to startle a horse– ever.” He took the covering from her and draped it along Pickles’ back– all the while seeming to sooth the horse with his hands and his voice.
“The blanket– It goes under the saddle?” She felt foolish, but genuinely wanted to learn how to do this.
“Yep.” He flashed a grin over his shoulder at her. “That’s why we call it a saddle blanket.”
“Har har.” She stepped into the stall. “Can she feel if I’m afraid, like how Red could?” Not that Pickles looked dangerous, but even as a small horse she seemed so… big.
And then the warmth of Peyton’s body pressed against her back. He’d taken hold of her from behind and eased her closer to the horse. “Pickles, meet Stella, Stella, say hello to Pickles.” Peyton’s chest vibrated as he spoke.
Taking hold of Stella’s hand, he lifted it to the horse’s neck. She could have done this herself but for now she kind of just enjoyed Peyton’s touch. “Hey Pickles.” She brushed her hand along the coarse hair of the horse’s mane. “You and I are gonna be great friends.”
“That’s the way. Just like how you were with Red.” Warmth filled her at his simple praise. She continued rubbing Pickles while Peyton turned to lift a saddle off one of the side enclosures. “Look here, Pickles. Let’s get you saddled up.”
Peyton explained the cinch to her, and then the breast collar and the stirrups. “I’m never gonna remember all of this.”
He then tightened what she thought must be the last strap before standing up again. “That’s all right. Gotta start somewhere.”
“Is that it?” Stella stepped away and hugged herself. Even when she’d participated in the trail rides, she’d found mounting the horse to be daunting.
After storing a few water bottles, and part of their lunch in one of the saddlebags, Peyton studied her critically. “One more thing.” He disappeared for a minute and then popped back in. Before she could see what he held, he’d dropped something on top of her head.
“A cowboy hat?” She felt a little ridiculous. She’d slathered on the sunscreen before leaving the house.
Peyton adjusted the brim and snugged it down a little more. “That sun can be brutal out there. And besides,” he tucked some stray hairs behind her ear. “You look cute wearing my hat.”
CHAPTER SIX
They cut behindthe house to a well beaten path through the meadow. Corinne lead the way, with Misty sitting in front of her, Stella was next, and Peyton brought up the rear. As they set out, Peyton called instructions to Stella and she settled into the saddle down the trail with more confidence. Pickles turned when she eased the reins to one side or another and she stopped when she pulled back and said whoa. Stella tugged on her hat to hide her smile when Pickles responded to her commands.
