"Is that why you work with horses instead of people?Less complicated?"
"Horses are honest.They don't have hidden agendas or political motivations.If they don't like you, they let you know immediately.Usually by trying to step on your foot.If they trust you, they'll give you everything they have."
"Unlike people."
"Unlike most people."
She studied my face with those sharp green eyes."You sound like you speak from experience."
I did, but explaining my disillusionment with royal life seemed like poor preparation for her upcoming marriage to royalty."Here, try this.You're getting engaged to him, might as well start practicing your disappointed expressions now."
"Everyone has experience with disappointing people," I said instead.
"True."She set down the brush and stepped back to admire her work."How's that?"
Celeste's coat gleamed under Betty's careful attention, and the mare looked completely relaxed and content.
"Perfect.Ready to actually get on her?"
"As ready as someone can be for their first time, I guess."
I led Celeste to the mounting block and showed Betty how to position herself safely.When she was ready, I held the mare's head while she swung her leg over the saddle.
"Oh," she breathed as she settled into the seat."This is different than I expected."
"Different how?"
"Higher.And she feels so alive underneath me.Like she's just barely containing all this power.Like she could take off running at any second if she wanted to."
I adjusted her stirrups and checked her position, trying to ignore the way her genuine wonder was affecting me.Her hands were shaking slightly, nerves rather than fear, and her face was lit up with the kind of excitement I rarely saw in adults experiencing something new.Most adults tried to look cool.She wasn't even trying.
"How does it feel?"
"Amazing.Terrifying.Like I'm about to fall off, but also like I never want to get down.Is that normal?"
"Completely normal."
I showed her how to hold the reins properly, my hands covering hers to demonstrate the correct grip.The contact sent an unexpected jolt of awareness through me.Her skin was soft, but her hands were stronger than I'd expected, with calluses from actual work rather than recreational activities.
"Easy pressure," I said, standing closer to the horse than strictly necessary."You're not trying to control her, you're communicating with her."
"What am I trying to say?"
"That you're listening.That you respect her.That you're partners in this."
Betty nodded seriously, absorbing the instruction.When I stepped back, she maintained perfect posture and light contact with Celeste's mouth.
"Natural athlete," I observed.
"Hardly.I was always the last person picked for sports teams.I once got hit in the face with a volleyball.While playing soccer."
"This isn't about sports.This is about feeling, and you've got good instincts."
I led them around the arena at a walk, watching Betty's position and how quickly she adapted to the horse's movement.She had good balance and she wasn't fighting the motion, two things that many experienced riders struggled with.
"Can we go faster?"she asked after a few circuits.
"Eventually.Let's master this first."
