The Cowboy's Temptation Page 0,13
as he caressed the horse. She refused to be jealous of the huge beast but Jake’s hands were strong and tanned with long fingers that soothed the horse who moved closer, begging for more.
Taking a deep breath to get her thoughts going in the right direction, she stepped back further. “I’m not afraid of her. I’d just prefer Rick to teach me how to ride.”
“Ah,” Jake said, nodding his head. “So you’re afraid of me,” and he smiled slightly.
Elissa’s chin went up a notch. “I’m not afraid of you.”
His smile grew wider. “Prove it. Get on the horse. Let’s see what you can do,” he said and raised one eyebrow.
Elissa eyed the horse and considered admitting that she was terrified of both horse and instructor. But one glance back at him and she refused to let him know the truth. He already thought she was a city girl who couldn’t handle life on a ranch. She’d just prove that she wasn’t a hot house flower.
Moving to the side, she considered all the various angles available to get onto the horse. Including the rear. She wasn’t sure how to do it but she knew the block of wood near the horse had something to do with helping her, otherwise Rick wouldn’t have brought Jemima over to it, would he?
“What are you doing?” Jake asked, trying not to laugh at the way she surveyed the gentle mare.
Elissa sighed. “I’m trying to figure out how to get on,” she finally admitted, looking at the ground in embarrassment.
Jake rolled his eyes and walked over to her. Grabbing her by the waist, he lifted her over the saddle and plunked her down, not even looking like he’d exerted himself in any way.
Elise landed in the saddle with a hard thump. “Well, that’s definitely one way,” she mumbled, grabbing the saddle horn with both hands.
“Now take the reigns and move the horse over to the corral while I open the gate,” he said and turned his back to walk over to the gate and unlatch the lock.
Elissa picked up the reigns and stared at the back of the horse’s head. She wriggled her hips a little, thinking that might get the horse moving in the right direction. But the horse didn’t even flutter her ears.
“Okay, Jemima, you heard the man. We need to go over there,” Elissa said, pointing to the corral.
Jemima’s reply was a snort of her nose but no movement.
“What the hell are you doing?” Jake asked, staring back at the woman wriggling her cute little derriere on the saddle.
Elissa froze. She hadn’t realized that he was watching her. She looked up and caught his astonished gaze. “You said to get the horse into the corral. I’m trying to get her to move, but I’m not sure how to do it.”
Jake’s mouth dropped open. But he quickly snapped it shut and walked back over to her. “You put your heels to her belly to make her move forward,” he snapped. “Pull the reigns to the left to make her go left and right to make her go right.”
Elissa looked down at Jake with a horrified expression, not liking what he was telling her to do. “I have to kick this horse to make her move?” not having the courage to do any such thing.
“You don’t kick her, you nudge her gently,” he said, exasperated. “Haven’t you ever watched any old Western movies?”
Elissa felt foolish but determined. “No. And if I knew how to do this, I wouldn’t have asked for lessons,” she snapped back. Wishing he would stop staring at her, she gently tapped her heels to the horse’s side.
Jemima took a step forward, then stopped.
“Again,” Jake yelled, walking back to the gate. He leaned against the rails and crossed his arms over his chest while he watched her.
Elissa again touched her heels to the mare’s sides and Jemima moved again, walking this time but, unfortunately not towards the corral. “No no, please. Go the other way,” Elissa pleaded, then remembered Jakes instructions about the reigns and pulled them to the left. Sure enough, the horse turned in the direction of the corral and Elissa let out a deep breath. Unfortunately, she forgot to let the reigns down and the horse kept turning, heading back into the barn. Elissa panicked. “No no, Jemima. Please don’t go back there. I promise I’ll give you a treat as soon as we’re done.”
Jake had been leaning against the fence of the corral, enjoying the view of Elissa’s