I piled gear into Lachlan’s arms and found the stuff I needed for Bella. Out in the pasture, I brought Jelly Bean to the fence to meet a sweating and trembling Lachlan.
“Let him smell your hand. You can stroke his nose and talk to him. He’s quite passive. Not jumpy or skittish like some.”
“Will he bite me?”
“Are you gonna stick your fingers in his mouth?”
Lachlan looked horrified. “No.”
“Then he won’t bite you.”
It took a minute for Lachlan to find his bravery, but he approached Jelly Bean and held out his hand. When Jelly Bean came closer to take a sniff, Lachlan startled and jumped back. His cheeks flamed when he caught me smiling at him.
“Shut up. This is new for me.”
“I didn’t say nothin’.”
I stood with him and spent the next five minutes introducing horse and rider like I’d done with nervous kids who wanted to learn to ride. Lachlan was adorably nervous, but I knew better than to point it out.
Eventually, he was relaxed enough to stand beside me and pet Jelly Bean’s nose.
While he got acquainted with his ride, I saddled Bella and then talked Lachlan through the process of putting a saddle on a horse while I put on Jelly Bean’s.
Getting in the saddle was another story. I showed him where to hold on and how to fit his foot in the stirrup. Poor Lachlan was sweating and shaking so much it was outwardly visible.
When he got himself up on Jelly Bean, he held the pommel with two hands in an iron grip. I kept a hand on his leg, looking up at him while he got comfortable.
“You’re doin’ it. Feel okay?”
“My heart’s racing and my hands are so sweaty I feel like they might slip off.”
“They won’t.”
“Are you sure?”
“I promise. Take a few deep breaths.”
I waited while his chest rose and fell. I slid my hand higher, tracing his leg around to where his ass sat in the saddle. “You look good up there for a city slicker.”
“Don’t you fucking flirt with me right now, asshole. I need all my concentration on not dying.”
I chuckled. “You won’t die. Keep your back straight, don’t lean forward, and remember to breathe. Are you okay? Can I go get on my horse now?”
He nodded. It was a clipped and jerky gesture.
Lachlan sat bone straight and rigid as I flung a leg over Bella with the grace of someone who’d been riding all their life. Lachlan scowled and muttered “show-off” under his breath.
Because he was so uncertain, I decided to stay close and give him instructions as we went. When Jelly Bean started walking, I was sure Lachlan was going to beg to be let down. The poor guy looked terrified and had lost a few shades of color.
At a slow pace, I guided Jelly Bean and Bella to the trailhead and watched Lachlan relax a few degrees at a time the farther along we went. Ten minutes in, he flashed his gaze at me and attempted a smile. “It’s not so bad. I think I’m getting the hang of it.”
“You’re doin’ great.”
We didn’t talk as we moved along the trail, slowly climbing the side of the mountain at a gentle incline. I was surprised Logan wasn’t around. He must have found something else to amuse himself. Chasing squirrels sometimes won out over a long ride. It was probably for the best since Lachlan didn’t need two beasts making him nervous.
I’d chosen one of the more scenic trails on purpose. Lachlan needed to see the beauty of this land so he could understand my decision not to sell. When we crested a ridge onto an open plain that looked down into a valley over the Athabasca River, I called out for Bella and Jelly Bean to stop.
Lachlan’s lips parted as he scanned the horizon. Even with the sun behind the mountains and night encroaching, it was breathtaking.
I dismounted and encouraged Lachlan to do the same. His fear returned in a flash as he followed my instructions and got his feet on the ground again. His legs wobbled, and I held his elbow to ensure he stayed upright.
“Oh, wow. I feel that.” He rubbed his ass, making a face. “You ride everyday? We’ve been out for an hour, and I think my tailbone’s bruised.”
I chuckled. “You get used to it.”
I tied the horses to a tree and wandered to the edge of a rocky cliff. The valley glowed in the waning light. The sky was a