I help him since it can be confusing for new riders, and then I check the stirrups, adjusting them so his legs sit naturally. “Sit tall, but not stiff. Let your hips move with her, but try not to squeeze her sides because that’ll tell her it’s time to go.”
He’s got a death grip on the saddle horn, but he’s doing great for a first-timer. “Easy for you to say,” he grumbles. “I bet you’ve been doing this since you could walk.”
I wink at him. “Pretty close to it. Just turn your brain off and let her lead you.”
Taking the reins, I start walking her forward, letting him get used to the feel of her under him. Theo makes a small squeaking noise, so I turn to look at him. “You good up there?”
He’s staring down at Molls in awe. “Yeah. Holy fuck, I’m riding a horse.”
“You sure are.” I shake my head with a laugh. “Give it some time, and you’ll be a regular ol’ country boy too.”
The smile on his face is damn near enough to stop my heart.
I clear my throat and step back, making my way to Lucky. “Alright, let’s go check on the cows.”
Theo makes a sputtering sound. “You’re leaving me?”
“No.” I gesture toward Lucky. “I’m just getting Lucky.”
Lucky’s ears flick back and forth as I lead him to the mounting block, and I run my hand along his neck. “I know, bud, I miss Dad too.”
I swing into the saddle, and when I turn to glance at Theo, he’s staring at me, wide-eyed.
“You made that look easy.”
“I have been doing it for a long time. Stick around and you’ll be a pro in no time.”
Something passes across his face, there and gone so quickly, I could almost say I imagined it. “Not sure that I have… however many years old you are to learn.”
“I’m twenty-five.” He makes a face that has me laughing. “What’s that face about?”
“You don’t seem twenty-five.”
I put my hand over my chest in mock outrage. “What, am I aging poorly?”
He shakes his head. “Not at all. You just carry yourself like someone with more life experience, is all.”
That makes me grin. “Are you ready to go check on the cows?”
He nods slowly. “What do I need to do?” Glancing down at Molls, his eyebrows draw together. “I’ve never done this before, you know.”
“I know.” I make a clicking sound with my tongue, and Lucky starts walking. “Molls is good. She knows where to go. She’ll follow.”
Just like I said, she does, keeping pace right behind me. Theo gasps when we’re out of the barn, so I glance over my shoulder at him. “You okay?”
He nods, hands tight as hell on the saddle horn. “Yeah, we’re just… moving.”
“We are.” He’s so stiff, so I chuckle. “Relax, Theo. Let your hips move with her. Quit fighting her.”
“I’m not fighting her.” I snort, and he laughs too. “Okay, maybe I am.”
“Youare. Relax into it. Move with her.”
He finally seems to get the hang of it, and we make our way across the field. Molls does this every morning with me, and we’re usually moving much faster than this, but just like I knew she would, she’s taking good care of Theo.
The barns slip into the distance as we head into rolling pastures. I don’t have to do much with the cows. Just check on them and make sure they’re alright. It’s funny that I thought I’d take a nap today. Part of me just wants to hang out with Theo all day instead.
“This is peaceful,” Theo says, pulling me from my thoughts.
