in to take it, Lachlan jerked his hand back, and the apple fell. Jelly Bean didn’t care. He grabbed it from the ground and munched away.
I chuckled, but it earned me a smack on the shoulder. “Give me another piece. Let me try again.”
It took four times before Lachlan was able to keep steady and let Jelly Bean eat from his hand, but when it happened, the look of pride on his face tickled something in my chest.
“Ready to ride now?”
Lachlan blew out a breath. “I guess. Here goes nothing.”
He listened and watched as I instructed him on how to saddle a horse. Once Jelly Bean was ready for him, he mounted with a lot more confidence and ease than the first time we went riding. The smile on his face was winning.
I got on Bella, and while we sat close, I explained about different commands and how to use the reins since the first time I’d basically guided Jelly Bean for him. We made a few practice rounds in the yard, stopping and starting. Once he seemed comfortable, I even encouraged him to try a gentle trot. That was too far, and Lachlan turned a lovely shade of green.
“We’ll keep it simple. Just a gentle ride. Don’t want you losing your stomach. You ready to hit the trail?”
“Let’s go before I change my mind.”
Like the first time, I chose a gentle path, one with a beginner’s incline that wouldn’t frighten him or be too difficult. It was scenic, and about forty minutes up into the mountains, there was a spot I wanted to stop and rest where we could be alone. The last time we’d ridden, it had ended with a frantic race back down to search for a missing Percy. This time would be different.
Lachlan did well. He was tense at first, and I had to remind him not to pull tight on the reins, which he had a habit of doing. Once we crested a small peak and came out on the ridge, we took the horses along the path that followed the edge. It made Lachlan nervous, even though we were a good six or eight feet from the drop-off. But it was beautiful. The sun kissed the top of the mountains and smiled down on us, giving us that last bit of heat before dipping out of sight. The sky was a gorgeous palette of colors, not a cloud to be seen.
We made it to my intended rest spot in good time. I reminded Lachlan how to dismount, and again, he rubbed his ass with a groan. “If my ass is going to hurt like this, it should be for a whole other reason.”
I hitched a brow and grinned as I took our horses away from the cliff’s edge and tethered them to a tree.
“I can arrange that, you know.”
“Oh, I’m sure. What’s that song? ‘Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy?’”
“Anytime you want, city. Just say the word.”
Lachlan’s laugh warmed me through. I took his hand and guided him to a large rock that jutted out over the lookout point. We sat side by side and admired the view in silence for a long time.
“It’s magnificent,” he breathed. “Like a postcard, except better.”
“I like comin’ out ’ere and just sittin’ and takin’ in the view.” It was calming and helped center me when life got too overwhelming. Lately, that pressure was building. Every week that passed left more and more dread behind it. I was losing the stables. It was only a matter of time before I’d have no choice but to sell.
Lachlan must have seen right through to my wandering thoughts. “What are you going to do?”
“I dunno. I’ve cut back on staffing as much as I can afford. The rate increases were a mistake because our registration for this summer’s ridin’ school was lower ’n previous years. Every cost I have is higher and higher, and the money comin’ in is less and less. I have ideas that would probably help, but I can’t make ’em happen without a bank loan or getting a second mortgage. I’ve tried to avoid it as much as Dad thinks I should do it. At this point, it feels like I’m robbin’ Peter to pay Paul. It’s all just a means of delayin’ the inevitable.” I rubbed my chest where the familiar ache grew every time I thought of selling my land.
Lachlan leaned against my side, resting his head on my shoulder. “What are your ideas?”