Page 15 of No More Secrets
Joey and Carter exchanged a look.
“Oh, no.” She shook her head vehemently. “I’m writing an article, I don’t need to —”
“If you’re scared you don’t have to do it,” Carter said sweetly.
“Yeah, not everyone can handle riding.” Joey’s voice was laced with what Summer recognized to be mock sympathy.
She knew when she was being played. “Fine,” she sighed. “But do you have one smaller than him?”
Carter laid a hand on her shoulder. “I think we can find someone more your speed.”
Ten minutes later she was wearing a helmet and sitting astride a pretty little mare named Charcoal. Summer’s knees were glued to the horse’s sides, her knuckles white on the reins.
“Loosen up on the reins,” Joey called from the end of the lead rope she was holding.
Summer let some reins out, but kept her grip tight.
“Okay, we’re gonna walk now,” Joey said.
“Wait! What if she runs? What if I fall off?”
“Keep your heels down, grip with your knees, and let your hips rock when she moves.”
“I don’t know what that means,” Summer called out, trying to keep the panic out of her tone.
“You will in a second,” Joey said, and signaled Charcoal forward.
Summer clutched at the horn of the saddle as she was lurched into motion.
“Keep your back straight,” Joey ordered. Charcoal moved slowly, making a wide circle around her.
“Get a grip,” Summer whispered to herself. She released the horn and sat lower in the saddle. Her knees were locked on the mare’s sides so hard her thighs trembled. She straightened her spine and tried to look confident.
“Better,” Joey told her as Charcoal ambled past the fence.
Summer forced her heels down and felt her hips start to move with the horse. Charcoal’s ears twitched as if congratulating her.
“You got it now!” Carter grinned from his perch on the fence.
Summer couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across her face if she wanted to. “Can we go a little faster?” she called out to Joey.
“Next pace is a trot. It’s harder to sit than a walk. Sit deep in the saddle and give her a squeeze with your legs,” Joey instructed.
Summer did as she was told and was delighted when the mare pranced into a trot. She was jostled about for the first few steps before regaining her seat. She followed Joey’s instructions to refine her form and felt braver and more confident with every circle.
“Okay, now let’s try stopping,” Joey called. “Take the reins and pull back very gently.”
Summer did as she was told and was delighted when Charcoal came to a neat stop in front of Carter. He slid down from the fence into the ring.
“Take your right foot out of the stirrup and swing your leg over,” he told her.
“Okay, but how do I get down —”
He plucked her off Charcoal’s back like a child and set her on the ground.
“I did it! I rode a horse! My mother is never going to believe this,” she said, turning to face him. She lost her train of thought. He was inches away. She was trapped between him and the horse. Charcoal shifted and hip-checked Summer into Carter. Her palms splayed across his chest and she tilted her head back, the weight of the riding helmet made the strap dig into her chin.
“Nice job,” Carter said with a half smile that did nothing to soften the intensity of his gaze. He tugged the end of her ponytail.
