Chapter Three
The next morning, Eden walked out of the food barn with a smile. The man, Cain, hadn’t been there, so she was able to enjoy her food and talk with Mary.
She headed toward the arena in one of the shorter, wider barns. She saw several horses tied inside and people milling around.
Eden looked at the group of students. Three younger women were dressed to kill in new shirts, jeans, and boots, and two men in their late twenties looked like they were ready to jump out of their skins when a horse moved. Eden guessed the women would be feeling some pain with the new boots and tight jeans. They might not even be able to get on the horses.
She stood at the end of the line. Her heart dropped when Cain, the man she wanted to avoid, came to stand in front of them. Damn, she should have known it wouldn’t be that easy. Now, she had to spend the next two weeks and too many hours to count a day with him. Hell, she’d do the best she could. She didn’t want to leave or act like an idiot.
“Guys, my name is Cain Crawford. I own the ranch and teach the lessons. In the next seven days, I’ll get you used to the horses and how to care for them. Those of you who are staying for the last week will learn equine therapy.”
“What’s that?” one of the girls asked.
“After they are certified and I feel they are okay to deal with an animal on their own, they will be able to work with special needs children and military vets with PTSD,” Cain said.
The girl made a face. “I wouldn’t be able to do that.”
“Then I’m glad you’re just going to learn about the horses. It takes a special person to want to help others.”
She could hear the finely veiled disappointment in Cain’s tone, but the girl seemed oblivious to it.
Eden had to hide her smile when the girls flirted outrageously with Cain. They were most likely more than half his age, and he showed no interest at all.
“Who here has never touched a horse?” Cain asked.
Everyone but her raised their hands.
His gaze zeroed in on her. “Eden, would you be able to demonstrate how to saddle a horse?”
Her mouth dropped open. “Oh, yeah, sure.”
“Come here,” he said.
She walked and stood a few feet from him. She giggled when one of the horses came up behind her, nuzzled her hair, and nudged her.
Cain smiled.
“I guess you don’t have to choose a horse. Raider here chose you.”
She scratched the horse’s neck. “That’s fine by me. Which saddle is his?”
Cain pointed to a saddle on the ground with the blanket on top.
Eden walked to it and gripped both before carrying them over to the horse. She saw the group’s rapt attention and maybe a bit of disgust from one of the women.
She set the saddle pad on top of the horse’s back and then had to throw the saddle up because the horse was big. She felt Cain come up behind her and grab the saddle.
“Sorry about that. I should have brought the steps over.”
Eden smiled over her shoulder. “It’s heck being short sometimes.”
He chuckled and turned back to the class. “Now, watch what she does.”
She was a bit nervous since she’d never been stared at. Cain described what she did, step by step.
One of the men burst out, “Should she be walking that close to the back of the horse? She’s going to be kicked.”
Eden looked at Cain and waited for him to answer, but instead, he raised a brow.
Eden turned to the man. “I put my hand on him as I moved behind him to tell him I was there. I’ve never gotten kicked by one. I’ve also never startled a horse enough for them to react.”
Cain nodded. “The horse can see to the sides and behind them a bit. Their line of sight is limited in the front because their eyes are wide apart and on the side of the face.”
Eden tightened the cinch on the horse and turned to see Cain with a bridle in his hands. She took the halter off and set it on the horse’s neck so she could grab the lead rope and control the animal until its bridle was on.
“Ewww, she stuck her fingers into its mouth,” one of the girls said.
“Yes. If the horse doesn’t automatically open when the bit is placed by its mouth, the person must stick a finger or two in to separate the teeth.”
“I won’t be able to do that,” she said and shivered in disgust.
Cain nodded. “That’s fine.”
Eden had the horse ready with the halter in her empty hand.
He reached for it and then tossed it to the side. “Would you show them how to mount a horse?”
“Oh, yes. I’ll need the step or a boost.”
Cain grinned. “I figured.”
He walked over, cupped his hands together, and bent down. She put her foot in it, and he lifted her. She settled onto the horse’s back with her feet in the stirrups.
Cain patted her thigh before turning to the group. “What side did she mount?”
The group looked confused.
“Always get on and off a horse from the left side.”
“Why?” one of the guys asked.
“That’s the way they were trained, but it’s also easier for people to swing their right legs over the saddle, even if you’re left-handed.”
He looked at Eden. “I can tell you’re experienced. Do you think about how to mount a horse anymore?”
She shook her head. “No, it’s kind of ingrained in me now.”
Cain nodded. “That’s right.”
“What happens if we mess up and get on the right side?” one of the women asked.
“I would say most of the horses I use for the classes are so tame and used to people that it doesn’t affect them. But others will be startled.”
He looked at Eden. “Can we try getting on the other side?”
“Sure.” Eden slipped off the horse and walked around to the other side. Cain looked down at her. “Raider is a bit picky, so he might get frisky.”
Eden grinned. “Bring it on.”
Cain chuckled and lifted her onto the horse. Her first move was to get her feet into the stirrups before controlling the horse. Raider immediately started moving, prancing, and even backing up.
Cain stood close to help if needed but let her deal with the horse.
She rubbed his neck and talked to him, which settled Raider down.
“I would have peed my pants,” one of the guys said.
The rest of the people smiled.
“You’ll get used to it,” Cain said. He turned to Eden. “Do you feel comfortable demonstrating walking, trotting, and cantering?”
“Sure.” She guided the horse to the side of the barn and started walking.
“Go ahead and trot when you’re ready,” Cain called out.
Eden kicked the horse’s sides and clicked her tongue. Raider immediately moved faster. Fortunately, she was used to it, so she knew how to move with the horse instead of bouncing uncomfortably.
She could hear Cain talking but not the words.
He turned to her and nodded. She clicked her tongue, making the horse lunge into a canter. She couldn’t keep the smile off her face.
She kept looking at Cain to see what he wanted her to do, but he kept his back to her and talked to the rest of the group. When she finally heard a whistle, she slowed the horse and headed for Cain, stopping abruptly next to him.
“You’re having way too much fun, little girl.”
She smiled. “I can’t help it. I’m in my happy place.”
Cain laughed. “I hear you. Am I going to have a problem getting you off Raider?”
Eden frowned dramatically. “No, I guess not.”
He just laughed.
She went to dismount, but Cain’s hands went around her waist and gently set her on the ground.
She looked over her shoulder at him. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome, Pet.”
Her eyes widened, and then she could feel a blush covering her face, making his grin grow.
Cain turned his back to her to face the group and went on to explain some things.
She went to hand him the reins, but he just shook his head and pointed to the end of the line, where she was before.
“Take him with you,” Cain said.
Eden nodded and walked to the line. The two men standing next to her shied away from the animal. She kept herself between them and Raider to make them comfortable.
“I’ve got him, guys. He’s not going to hurt you.”
They both nodded but still kept a few feet between them.
A few of the ranch men walked in.
“Good. Let’s work on just getting used to the horse today. Can you men each take a person, and Eden and I will take the last two.”
“I’d feel more comfortable with you supervising me,” the girl said.
“All right, Melani,” Cain said.
Eden had to bite her bottom lip to keep from laughing at the dread on his face.
She ended up with one of the guys. She taught him how to pet the animal and did that for an hour before Cain brought a stop to it.
“Let’s stop for lunch, but we’ll come back and work on bridles,” Cain said.
He tipped his head at me. “You can leave Raider with one of the guys.”
She nodded, handed the reins to the closest guy, and started walking away. She heard something behind her, turned, and saw Raider had jerked the reins from the guy and was headed toward her.
She caught him and then hugged him. “I’ll be back, big guy.”
The man came up with a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that. He needed another second of your time, I guess.”
“Well, he can have it,” Eden said and chuckled.