SEVENTEEN. #2
“Uh, I don’t—” she starts, but I press the rope into her hands anyway. Her fingers fumble around it. “What if he runs?”
“He won’t,” I say simply, already walking toward the cooler at the far end of the barn. I pull out a few carrots and apples, then head back. “Here. Hold this out to him.”
She takes the carrot slowly, her eyes darting from me to Tiago and back again.
I don’t rush her. I’ve seen this hesitation plenty of times—people who’ve only ever seen horses on TV or from a safe distance suddenly realizing how big they actually are.
Tiago’s patient, though. He’s one of the steadiest we’ve got.
“Will he bite?” she asks, voice barely above a whisper.
“He’s very friendly,” I tell her. To prove it, I hold out an apple. Tiago takes it from my palm and crunches happily. Marissa watches every second of it, still not convinced. “I’m the jerk,” I tell her. “The horses aren’t.”
That earns me a small laugh. She takes a deep breath, squares her shoulders, and extends the carrot, her body angled as far back as her arm will allow. Tiago stretches his neck gently, takes the treat, then pulls back to chew.
“I honestly didn’t realize how huge horses are,” she murmurs, eyes wide.
I step closer to Tiago and run my hand smoothly up the length of his nose. When I glance toward June, Ever’s watching me—finally. There’s something softer in her expression now, less guarded, almost fond. I give her a small grin, then unhook Tiago’s lead from the post.
“You want to lead him out?” I ask Marissa.
She shakes her head fast, and thrusts the rope back toward me. I push it back, but keep a loose grip on the bridle. “You’ve got it. All you have to do is walk. He’ll follow.”
“I don’t think I’m cut out for this.”
“Sure you are,” I say, keeping my tone easy. “You just haven’t tried yet to find out.”
She looks at me for a long moment, then up at Tiago. A long sigh escapes her, and her fingers tighten around the lead rope.
“Okay,” she says finally.
I click my tongue softly and give the slightest tug on the bridle. Tiago steps forward, calm and steady. Marissa jolts at the sudden movement and stumbles back a step. Her knuckles are white, her breath quick, but she’s still holding on—and that’s more than enough for a start.
“We train all our horses to stay calm no matter what.” I keep my voice calm and even as I explain the basics to Marissa, wanting her to feel as steady as possible.
“You could sneeze, pop open an umbrella, yell, trip, laugh—doesn’t matter.
They won’t spook. June’s the only one who isn’t fully finished with that training, but she only listens to Ever anyway, so she shouldn’t give you any trouble. ”
Marissa nods slowly, absorbing it. “When you’re ready to get on you’ll put your foot in the stirrup, grab the horn—that handle right there—and swing your other leg over. Keep the reins in one hand and hold the horn with the other. You probably won’t want to let go of either for a while.”
“How do I steer?” she asks, voice small but curious.
I reach up and lift the reins where they drape along Tiago’s neck so she can see.
“Left to go left, right to go right. Pull back gently to stop. A light kick to ask him to move forward. But honestly, he’ll just follow Ever and June without much direction from you. You won’t have to worry about much.”
I give Tiago’s bridle a soft pull to bring him to a halt just as Ever walks June up beside us.
“We’re not going fast,” Ever says, glancing at Marissa, then at me.
I raise an eyebrow at her. She’s never met a slow pace she didn’t try to turn into a gallop, but she just gives me a look that dares me to call her out.
Marissa takes a breath, then turns to me. “Can you just… make sure I don’t fall off when I get on?”
“As long as you don’t fall on purpose so I have to catch you,” I tease.
“That’s not a bad idea.” Her face lights up with a wide, nervous smile, cheeks flushing pink. Then draws in another steadying breath.
I step to her side, take the lead rope from her, and point to the stirrup. “Foot here, hand here on the horn. Use your momentum to swing up.”
“Easy,” she mutters, more to herself than anyone else.
I hold Tiago perfectly still while she places her foot, grips the saddle, and launches herself upward—maybe with a little too much force.
She overshoots, tipping dangerously toward the far side.
I reach out to catch her thigh and pull her back toward me.
She yelps in surprise, then settles into the seat, hands flying to the horn for balance.
I adjust the reins in her palm the right way and close her fingers around them firmly. “There. Don’t let go.”
She looks down at me, grinning so wide her eyes crinkle at the corners. “You should do lessons here at the ranch. I’d sign up and fly in every weekend just to have you teach me.”
“Don’t inflate his ego,” Ever cuts in quickly.
I glance over to find her already mounted on June, feet in the stirrups, reins loose in her hands, looking ready to go.
“We used to offer private rides a few years back, but we had to cut back on some expenses. I’d love to start them up again, but it doesn’t make financial sense right now.” I run my hands over Tiago’s saddle one last time, checking every buckle, then tap the reins. “Seriously—don’t let go.”
“I’ll try,” she promises, her voice a little shaky.
I step back and release my hold on the bridle and the lead. For a second, pure panic flashes across her face—eyes wide, breath catching—but then she exhales long and slow, shoulders dropping as she finds her balance.
I circle around to June and run the same quick check on Ever’s saddle even though I know it’s perfect. She watches every movement I make. I brace myself for her to snap at me—tell me she knows what she’s doing, ask if I don’t trust her—but she doesn’t.
“You got your walkie?” I ask. She nods once. “Call me if you need rescuing.”
“Thanks…” she says softly, tipping her head toward Marissa in a small gesture of acknowledgment.
“Mhm.” I give her thigh a gentle squeeze before stepping back.
A slow grin cracks across her lips as her gaze slides down my face, lingers on my lips, then travels back up. The look is intentional, a little dangerous.
“You shouldn’t look at me like that,” I murmur.
“Can’t help it,” she replies, sly and unapologetic with a wink. They she clicks her tongue and June steps forward.
I coil the lead rope in my hand and watch them move out—Tiago plodding faithfully at June’s side. Then Marissa leans toward Ever.
“I think I might be in love with him,” she whispers, her voice carrying just far enough for me to catch it. Ever laughs bright, shaking her head. “You’re just gonna have to marry him for both of us.”
“Stop,” Ever says through her laughter, shoulders shaking, but she doesn’t argue.
Yeah. This is gonna be a fun week.