Page 44 of Arranged Silverfox

“We’re all set in the barn if you’re ready,” he said.

He turned to me. “Tim McGuire. Sebastian Steele, I presume?”

I nodded.

“It’s great to meet you,” I said dumbly.

“Likewise. When Eloise told me about Becca’s idea, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. I’ve been meaning to get in touch with you. Especially when I heard you and Becca here are engaged. Congratulations.”

“Thank you, I’m excited for today.”

“Agreed. There’s no better way to get to know someone than in the great outdoors. Now, if you’ll follow me.” Tim led us to the stables. We followed him into a large room with dirt floors beside the stables where four horses stood saddled up.

“Go on, Tim said. “Pick one.” He walked up to a large, black horse who looked like he was made of velvet. “Except for Titan here. He’s mine.”

Becca walked up to a spotted brown and white horse and carefully ran her hand along its nose, then proceeded to scratch the horse’s neck — it whinnied in delight, nudging her shoulder with its nose.

“That’s Daisy. She’s one of mine,” Eloise explained.

Becca grinned. “It’s so cool that they let you board your horses here during the year.”

Eloise nodded. “It’s a better environment for them than Boston ever was, but I sure do miss them during the winter. They’re practically my babies.” She turned to a russet-colored horse with a white diamond pattern on its face and hopped up into the saddle with ease. Becca followed suit and hopped onto Daisy.

I studied the last horse left, a large white horse with gray spots and a white mane. The tip of its nose was pink. I approached it slowly, “Hey,” I said weakly. The horse shook his head. I grabbed the reins.

“That’s Buster. He’s a little wily. You know, you can take Penny here if you want. I’ll swap with you. She’s a bit better for beginners.” Eloise made a motion to dismount, but I waved her away.

“I’ll be fine with Buster. We’ll be friends by the end of the ride,” I insisted. I tried to get a grip on the saddle and hoist myself up onto Buster’s back, but I couldn’t get the leverage right. I tried a speed-walking approach, but Buster whipped his head around and stomped his hoof.

“Here, I’ll help you,” Tim offered. I was about to say no, but Buster glared in my direction. Could horses hold grudges? Probably.

Tim helped me hoist myself onto the horse by stepping into the stirrup and using the leverage to hoist myself up, “Now swing your other leg around,” Tim instructed. I did as he instructed, and suddenly, I was on top of a horse.

“Great job, you’re a natural!” Tim said as he hopped onto Titan. Becca, Tim, and Eloise leaned forward and unhooked their horses from the rope leads. I tried to follow suit and somehow unhook Buster from his rope. But now he was on the loose.

Becca and Eloise guided their horses out of the doorway and into the trail behind the barn with the ease of walking a small dog. Buster glanced up at me. I grabbed his reins and urged him forward with a yank, which did nothing.

“You have to go like this,” Tim demonstrated, tapping his heels against Titan’s sides. I whacked my heel against Buster, and he charged forward with a start. The door was coming up, I yanked to the left where I’d seen Eloise and Becca trot off, and by some miracle, Buster followed my lead.

I came up on Becca, who was laughing with Eloise and stroking Daisy’s mane as she observed the trail leisurely.

“There you are! We were starting to think you gotten lost,” Becca said. Daisy stopped to nibble at a piece of foliage, and Becca yanked her reins. “Daisy, no,” she chastised. Daisy listened, blinking her large gentle eyes.

“I had no idea you like horses so much,” I said.

Becca shrugged. “I told you there were a lot of things you don’t know about me. I started riding when I was five years old, and I kept at it until I went to college.”

“Becca! Let’s trot!” Eloise called up ahead. Becca clicked her heels against Daisy’s side and sped up. I watched Becca bobbing off into the distance, expertly dodging a fallen tree branch. I decided to try and catch up with her. I kicked my heels against Buster’s sides again, and he jolted, somehow moving faster than a trot. I didn’t know what to do; I raced past Becca and Eloise. I clutched the reins for dear life and yanked back, hoping to slow him down. Instead, he leaped over the fallen branch, and I fell forward, onto his neck, practically off the saddle. I tried to situate myself back onto the saddle. I was sweating profusely. Buster was done with my shit. He decided to nibble on some dead leaves and take a shit in the middle of the trail as I caught my breath.

Becca, Eloise, and Tim glided up to my side. Becca was laughing so hard that her shoulders were shaking.

Eloise looked sheepish. “I told you Buster’s a wild card. He gets a bit too adventurous for new riders,” she explained.

“Well, that’s fine because I ride all the time,” I panted.

Becca laughed so hard tears streamed down her face, “Keep telling yourself that,” she said.

I sighed, frustrated. “Okay, fine! I don’t ride horses! Why would I? My high school had one musty gym! I had zero access to equestrian arts! I rode a horse once on Spring Break, and it was terrible!” I sputtered.