26. Travis
CHAPTER 26
Travis
“You still remember how to ride?” I asked Delilah as I led Sable out of his stall. We decided it was finally time to make River’s wish to learn how to ride come true. So today marks his first official lesson.
Delilah ran her hand up Sable’s nose with a smile. “You and Desmond taught me. It’s hard to forget an Adler lesson when two overprotective men are constantly telling you what to do.” I rolled my eyes but chuckled, remembering the time she’d given me and Dad a heart attack when her horse suddenly took off into a run on her second day of riding. She was lucky she stayed on him for as long as she did until Dad caught up to her to grab the reins. “Hey, Sable. Miss me?”
Sable chuffed as if to confirm that he had, in fact, missed her.
He wasn’t the only one.
Silver Hill was known for taking in rescues, and ten years ago Sable showed up. He was found roaming the side of the highway as a colt, all bones and skittish, and in desperate need of a home. The day we brought him to the ranch, I took one look at him and just knew he was meant to come home with us. Our bond grew stronger over time, but it wasn’t an easy road.
Wren’s mare, Nila, was a few stalls away and happily accepted a treat from River’s hand when I took him to her stall to introduce them. After that, River went to Delilah with a big smile as he gently petted Sable. He nuzzled his nose into the kid’s palm, loving the attention.
I showed them how to properly tack Sable. Once he was set, I tacked another mare, this time with Delilah so that she could get the hang of it. I knew Sable was old enough to be easy to ride for her, so I helped her mount him, keeping my hand on her hip a little longer than necessary once she was seated. She gave me a knowing look, but I just shrugged.
“You’ll ride with me, buddy,” I said as I sat River on the saddle and mounted the mare. If I expected River to get spooked once we started riding out onto the field and away from the stables, I was wrong. The kid loved every minute we spent walking along the property, out to the open fields. I could see Delilah petting Sable’s neck every now and then, murmuring things to him that I couldn’t catch. But the brilliant smile on her lips screamed how much she was enjoying herself. When I looked down to River, he had the same giddy expression on his face. “Make sure you keep a hand on that horn, River.”
“What’s his name?” River asked, referring to the mare.
“Her name is Lucy.”
“Lucy. I like it. Good job, Lucy,” he said a little louder to make sure she heard him.
I chuckled. “You’re a natural at this, you know that?”
“I know!” River beamed. Leave it to a kid to always be confident and honest.
My gaze gravitated toward Delilah where she was already watching us with a soft look on her face .
“I hope you’re not teaching River to be a slowpoke like someone else I know,” Wren said as she and Nila galloped over. Finn wasn’t far behind on his Pinto, Ruby.
“Aren’t you supposed to be getting ready for the rodeo tonight? Go away.”
“Touchy today, aren’t you? He’s a grump, isn’t he, River?” Wren pouted.
River continued patting Lucy’s neck as he answered. “He’s not grumpy with me and Lila. He likes us.”
“I wonder why.” Wren grinned, and I reached over to give her a shove, making her laugh as Finn sidled up to us.
“So, are we racing or what?” Finn asked our sister, adjusting his ball cap backward and greeting River with a dimpled smile.
“Last one to that fence is a rotten egg!” Wren and Nila shot forward before I could blink.
Finn laughed as he guided Ruby forward. “No fair!”
They both sprinted past us. Delilah made Sable halt as the twins passed her, hooting and hollering the whole way like a couple of kids. Unsurprised, I shook my head at them until Delilah turned to smile at me, making my heart trip over itself. Her smile was as bright as the sun peeking between the clouds, uninhibited and free as she sat atop Sable. Out in the field with the wind blowing her long hair across her face, I knew I’d do anything to make her smile like that every day for the rest of our lives.
So long as she let me.
So long as she wanted this life with me.