Page 14 of No More Secrets
Carter led the way down to the last stall. A spotted gray mare stomped anxiously. “This is Lolly. We just got her a week ago from a neglect situation and she’s still a little shy. Here.” He handed Summer the apple.
“What do you want me to do with this?”
“Give it to Lolly.”
“Do I just put it in her feed thing?” She pointed at the bucket mounted on the door.
He grinned. “No. You hold it out like this.” He gripped her wrist and slowly extended her arm toward the horse. “Go slow. Don’t scare her.”
His heat seeped through the thin layer of her shirt and Summer paused to memorize the moment. Dusty sunlight streamed through windows to lie in pools on the straw covered floor. The unmistakable scents of straw and leather and sawdust mingled in the air. Carter’s strong fingers held her wrist just over her racing pulse.
Lolly took a tentative step to her and then another.
Her soft nose brushed the apple and Summer’s hand.
“Is she going to bite me?” Summer whispered. Lolly dropped her head, snuffling at something on the ground.
“She’s playing hard to get. Just hold your hand flat,” Carter said in her ear. His warm breath tickled her neck.
Summer uncurled her fingers, balancing the apple on her palm. “Come on, pretty girl.”
Lolly lifted her head, tossed it.
“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you,” Summer whispered.
The horse whickered softly as if to ask permission before taking the daintiest bite.
“She’s eating it!” Summer said with wonder.
Carter squeezed her wrist. “Nice job. She doesn’t take food from just anyone.”
“Will she stop once she gets to the bottom or will I lose fingers?”
“Usually she stops,” Carter teased.
When Lolly finished her snack, Carter suggested they look for Joey. They found her in the ring astride a horse so tall Summer couldn’t figure out how she got on it.
The horse didn’t seem inclined to behave. It danced sideways, head tossing and tail swishing. Joey’s face was a mask of determination. She adjusted the reins and dug her heels into its chestnut flanks. The horse’s head bobbed and Summer was sure it would disobey the order. But then it leapt forward. Summer caught Joey’s look of triumph as she and the horse moved as one, galloping around the ring, glossy tails streaming behind them.
She snapped several pictures with her phone and crossed her fingers that one of them would turn out to be good enough for the blog.
After a few laps, Joey slowed the horse and came to a stop inside the fence in front of them.
“Progress,” Carter said, as Joey slid to the ground.
She thumped the horse in the chest. Her beautiful face was impassive again, but her eyes still sparkled.
“Yeah, he’s doing well. Some more work and I think he’ll be a good show horse for some of the more advanced students.”
“Let me know if you want me to take him out this week to see how he does for another rider,” Carter offered.
Joey nodded briskly. “Sure. You two here for a ride?”
Summer’s eyes widened. “Oh, no. Carter’s just giving me the tour.”
“Have you ever been on a horse before?” Joey’s lips curved.
She grew up in New York. She couldn’t just hop on a horse instead of the subway or a taxi. “No, I’ve never ridden before.”
