Page 12 of Hello Handsome
The look of pride in her eyes had me grinning right along with her. “Hell yeah, you are.”
Like all her worries were forgotten, she smiled down at me, eyes shining. “What now?”
I chuckled, my eager girl. “Hang on to the saddle horn, and I’ll lead the horse so you can get used to the feel of riding.”
Her hands reached for the knob at the front of the saddle, and she squeezed it tightly. Smiling to myself, I untied the reins from the hitching post and steered the horse away from thebarn into the corral. Aggie made a little squeaky sound at the movement, making my lips twitch again.
This was a great idea—spending time with her away from the diner, away from the smell of frying food and prying, nosy people who liked to start rumors based on suspicions alone.
I glanced back over my shoulder to see Acres easily moving behind me, and Aggie swaying with his every step. There was focus and determination in her eyes as she squeezed the saddle horn, her lips in a tight line.
“What do you think?” I asked, worried she’d hate riding before we ever really got started.
Her lips spread into a tentative smile. “It’s higher up than I thought it would be.”
That had a low chuckle falling past my lips. “Not a great time to mention you’re afraid of heights.”
“I’m not afraid,” she rebutted too quickly. “Just… commenting on my surroundings.”
“Uh huh.”
She stuck her tongue out at me.
Smiling, I led the horse in a few more circles around the corral, and when it seemed like Aggie was less stiff and nervous, I suggested she try holding the reins herself. Acres stopped, tail slashing back and forth as I extended the worn leather straps to her.
“That’s okay,” she rushed out, looking at the reins like they were a pair of snakes. “You can just walk me around. No need to push it.”
My gut sank because I really wanted to ride through the pasture with her, show her a piece of my life out here. “I believe in you, Aggie,” I encouraged. It was all I’d say, I decided. If she insisted on sticking with this today, it would be okay. We just had more practice to look forward to.
Her chest rose as she took a deep breath, and then she nodded. “I’ll try it. But will you walk with me?”
Pride swelled within me.That’s my girl. “Of course,” I said, passing her the reins. I gave her a quick explanation of how to guide the horse and stepped just to the left of Acres’s shoulder while she gently nudged his sides with her heels.
He slowly started walking, and I kept pace beside them. Then when we got to the end of the corral, she steered him right. He reacted to the leather rein against his neck and turned.
I grinned proudly. “Hell yeah, Aggie!”
There was a blush on her cheeks as she smiled, and then she turned him again.
A few more rounds in the corral and I said, “I think we’re ready to hit the pasture. Are you in?”
It took her a second, but then she nodded with a brave smile. “Let’s do it.”
Half an hour later, we were well into the grassy field adjacent to the house, and Aggie looked right at home on horseback. The easy sway of her curvy body had my mind going places it shouldn’t. And her smile? It warmed me more than the sun could ever hope to.
We explored the pasture side by side, horses walking in the twin ruts formed by hundreds of trips in pickups and thousands of hoofbeats.
“It’s peaceful out here,” Aggie said, glancing my way. “I bet it clears your mind to go on a ride.”
I nodded, feeling seen. Aggie always understood me in a way other people didn’t. “I used to ride a lot after my wife—after Maya passed.” It still hurt to mention her, but I took a breath and continued. “Especially when the kids were struggling with something, I’d come out here to problem solve.”
Aggie smirked. “I’d always pace the living room, but this seems better for the carpet.”
“Whatever works,” I said, surprised by howeasyit felt to be alone with her without the safety blanket of other diners in the restaurant or kids always underfoot. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I wondered what Maya would think about me being out here with Aggie, showing her the place that had beenourhome.
“It’s so beautiful out here,” Aggie commented. “And I’m obsessed with the sunflowers outside of your house. I don’t think I’ve ever been by when they’re blooming. It’s a really nice touch.”
My throat clenched tight, getting lost in a memory.
