Curvy Girls Can't Date Cowboys - Kelsie Stelting Page 0,25

mild surprise and then worry. “Okay, just makes sure she doesn’t keep her foot all the way in the stirrups. And that she rides on Star with Laura.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Ray said. He continued past me down the sidewalk, his cowboy boots carrying him away.

I stared behind him for a moment, lost and distracted by how purposefully his long legs moved when I’d only ever seen him saunter.

Both his brother and sister followed him, and Laura asked me, “You coming?”

Shaking my head, I started after them. “What are you doing?”

“Saddling the horses,” he answered over his shoulder, already several yards ahead.

“I don’t have the camera out yet,” I called.

“Guess you’d better hurry.”

Eighteen

We approached the barn, where three horses paced around a corral. They were stunning, each shades of brown from a light latte tone to the deepest espresso.

Ray turned toward me. “Wait here.”

I didn’t like following instructions from him, but I gave him a jerky nod and stood outside the fence while he and his siblings each walked inside. Now was the time to get out my camera, to start capturing what I needed to create this video.

Getting the recording equipment sorted was simple. I’d done it so many times, I could do so in my sleep. Once I had it all together, I watched my surroundings through the screen.

Sometimes my mom suggested I was missing out by filtering my life through a camera, but I thought it was the opposite. Filming required me to carefully examine each moment, roll it over in my mind to decide if I needed to continue shooting or try a different angle. I could relive my memories in editing and filter them down to only keep the most important ones. And finally, I could see them through fresh eyes as someone else watched.

I captured the scene unfolding in front of me as Ray’s younger siblings haltered the horses and led them to the barn. I zoomed in and watched Ray’s sure movements. He brushed down their backs in swift, smooth strokes before laying a blanket and saddle over their backs.

There were straps and clips on the saddle, but Ray and his siblings expertly fastened them in no time at all. Then the siblings led them out of the corral using leather reins.

A strong gust of icy wind blasted past me, and I shivered. I’d dressed warmly for a day outside, but I much preferred the warm interior of my house to this. Even if the horses were beautiful and Ray’s brother and sister weren’t as rude as he was, I was so ready for this to be over.

“Got your shot?” Ray asked, holding the leather reins between his teeth as he pulled on his gloves.

I nodded from behind the camera. “Of the horses.”

“And I suppose you want to watch us move the cows.”

Again, I nodded.

He extended the reins to his brother, who gripped them, and Ray walked toward me. “You’re gonna wanna put that thing down.”

“The camera?”

“No, the megaphone. Yes, the camera.”

I rolled my eyes and set the camera atop a fence post so it could keep filming even if I wasn’t holding it. “What now?”

He walked to his sister and took the reins from her. “Hop on.”

She put her foot in a stirrup and gracefully swung over the horse—like she was made for it. And I definitely was not.

Ray handed her the reins and turned to me. “Get the gist?”

“Ray, I think I’m too...” This was embarrassing to say. I bit my lips and looked toward the gray sky and rolling clouds. “I’m too heavy. I don’t want to hurt the horse.”

His eyes studied me, and his voice was gruff as he said, “You’re just fine.”

My heart quickened, whether from what he’d said or the way he’d said it or the fact that I was about to get on a twelve-hundred-pound animal, I didn’t know.

“Here.” He put his hand gently on my back. “Start with putting your foot in the stirrup.”

I was too busy tingling at the soft pressure of his touch to make my legs move. At least he mistook my hesitation for nerves.

“I’ll help you up, and Laura will keep Star from moving.”

His sister nodded from atop the horse.

I took a deep breath. Being a videographer, a storyteller, was all about having experiences and living life. That’s what I’d been wanting. I could do this, even if I was afraid.

I gripped the back of the saddle, put my toe in the stirrup and used every bit of my strength to begin hauling