Chapter 8 #2
“That means she likes you,” Finn says. “She’s being friendly. Try again.”
I extend my hand a third time. When she pushes back, I don’t flinch.
“Do you want to try riding her?” Finn asks. “We can start out nice and easy. I’ll hold on to her reins while you sit on the
saddle, and we’ll just walk around a little.”
“You promise you’ll keep hold of her?” I ask, my voice wavering. “You promise we’ll just walk around slowly and the second I get scared I can get off?”
“I promise. So are you in?”
To my own surprise and before I can even properly think about it, I nod. Yes.
“Brilliant.” Finn ducks into Rosie’s stall, slips a halter over her head, and leads her into the aisle. “These are called
crossties,” he explains, hooking two rope things to her halter.
Rosie really does seem gentle. Beyond that, Finn is being gentle. With the two of them, I might feel safe. Possibly. Hopefully.
I watch as Finn runs a brush over her already-shining coat. There’s something soothing about it, like an ASMR video. The soft
sounds, the repetitive motion. A groom scurries over and offers to help, but Finn politely turns him away. “Granny’s policy,”
Finn explains. “You can’t just show up for the fun bits. If you’re going to ride, you have to take care of the horse as well.”
He disappears for a moment, then returns with a saddle in his arms and a bridle draped over his shoulder. He looks more handsome
than he has all day, like he’s stepped out of a Ralph Lauren ad. I try not to stare as he finishes tacking Rosie up, but I
can’t help but be impressed by his smooth confidence.
Finn leads Rosie outside and motions for me to follow by his side. “Never walk behind a horse. Even one as sweet as Rosie.” He gestures at a set of steps a few yards ahead. “Go stand on the mounting block, and I’ll bring her round.”
My legs tremble as I climb the steps, and it’s almost a relief to have something to hold on to when Finn leads Rosie around.
“Hold on to the saddle here,” Finn says, “then place your left food in the stirrup and swing your right leg over.”
It takes me a few tries, but then I’m on. I’ve done it. I’m on a horse!
“Just take a few deep breaths,” Finn instructs. “All you need to do is stay relaxed. I’ll handle the rest.” He clucks to Rosie,
who begins to walk slowly at his side, like a dog who’s been trained to heel. I do as I’m told, and after a few breaths, feel
my hips begin to sway in time with Rosie’s steps. “You’re doing well,” Finn says.
The sun is just starting to set. The clouds are highlighted with pinks and oranges, the trees and grass turning different
shades of green. It’s so beautiful, I almost forget to be nervous.
Finn leads Rosie down a dirt path that runs parallel to the paddock, then veers off toward a meadow bordered with trees. For
a moment, I wonder what it’d feel like to go faster. To trot or even gallop, feeling the wind stream past my face as Rosie’s
hooves fly across the ground.
“You don’t have much of a poker face,” Finn says after a few minutes.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“I can tell you’re enjoying yourself.”
“Rosie and I have bonded,” I say. “You and I, on the other hand?”
“Yes, I know,” he says with a smile. “No bonding between you and me. I’m a rapscallion, after all.”
“Exactly.”
We walk on in companionable silence for a bit until the sky darkens, and we agree it’s time to head back.
“Next time we’ll both be on horses,” Finn says. “Then you’ll get to see a lot more of the grounds.”
“Next time?” I raise my eyebrows.
“Next time.” Finn raises his eyebrows back at me. “Don’t pretend you don’t want to go riding again.”
“Fine. But I swear to god, if you say, ‘I told you so,’ I’ll push you in a pile of hay.”
“Now, that could be fun. Nothing I love more than a roll in the hay.” Damn, I think. Walked right into that one. “But for now, why don’t you focus on holding the reins?” He flips the leather straps over Rosie’s head and shows me how to
grasp them between my middle finger and ring finger, placing my thumb on top. “Now give her a little squeeze with your calves.”
“She won’t run away with me?”
“Definitely not. I’ll be right here the whole time.”
I trust him, I realize. “Okay.” I squeeze my calves and Rosie walks forward. . . . I squeal. “I’m riding a horse in Scotland!”
“That you are, American Hannah.”
When we arrive back at the stable, Rose stops without my telling her to. I guess she knows the drill. But I have no idea how
to get off. Suddenly, I no longer feel safe. I’m way too high up. I’m certain that this is how I die: trying to get off a
horse.
“Just swing your leg back over,” Finn says patiently.
I shake my head. “That’s okay. I’ll just stay up here. Rosie and I will have a sleepover.”
“Lucky Rosie.” Finn comes over next to the horse, his hand on my leg. “Lean forward and swing your right leg over. I promise
I’ll catch you.”
Obviously sleeping here isn’t really an option. Besides, Finn’s hand is so warm on my thigh, the feeling is spreading low
in my belly. There are goose bumps forming on my arms I don’t want him to clock, or he’ll never let me hear the end of it.
As he instructed, I swing my leg over, and just as he said he would, he catches me.
His hands go from my hips to my waist to under my arms as I dismount. My feet touch the ground, but neither one of us lets
go. My back is pressed against his chest, and I can feel his breath on my neck. Every molecule I’m made of is buzzing. . . .
“Ahem.” An abrasive throat clear pours cold water on whatever was happening between us, and we leap apart.
Standing in the entryway of the stables is a severe-looking woman with gray-streaked hair that’s pulled back from her face. The expression of disapproval she’s giving us immediately makes me blush.
“Tina,” Finn says, taking the saddle off Rosie. “What a lovely surprise. How’s your day been?”
“I’m about to ring the king and queen to give them my nightly report,” she says curtly. She eyes me and I swear the temperature
in here drops twenty degrees. “Shall I tell them about our new guest?”
“This is Hannah,” Finn says. Once Rosie’s back in her stable, Finn puts a hand on my lower back to guide me toward a woman
who scares me more than every horse in here. “Hannah, this is my prison warden—sorry, the deputy chief of staff—Tina.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I curtsy because, I don’t know, I’m a terrified idiot, which makes Finn choke on a small laugh
and Tina regard me with even more derision.
“Hannah is working at the gift shop with Caro for the summer. Beverly has given her rave reviews thus far.”
“I see,” Tina replies coolly, clearly irritated this is the first she’s hearing about me.
I’m expecting Tina to leave, to go have her phone call with the king and queen, but she stays put. It occurs to me that I’m
supposed to be the one who leaves.
It’s probably for the best. That moment Finn and I just had felt flammable, and my life is already on fire in so many ways.
“It’s a pleasure,” I say to Tina, repeating myself, and much to my horror, I curtsy again. This time, Finn doesn’t laugh.
“Good night,” Tina says, effectively excusing me.
“Good night,” I reply. I turn back to Finn. He’s surprising me in so many ways, I don’t know what to say or how to feel about
him anymore. I settle on, “Thanks for the riding lesson.”
As soon as I’m sure I’m out of sight, the grin I’ve been holding back spreads across my face.