Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“Trot.” It’s the only word he needs to launch into the two-beat gait where his legs move in unison in diagonal pairs. I slip easily into a post, my hands light on the reins, leading him around the enclosed ring. We make two full circles before I ask him to stop with a two-word command: “Whoa, walk.”
He halts beautifully, and my butt settles into the back of the saddle.
“Want to stretch your legs a little?” I ask him softly, and his ears twitch at the sound of my voice. Pulling on the left rein, I say, “Canter.”
Lunar’s hind end swings out slightly, his neck arches, and he seems to prance in place for a moment before he lopes off into the three-beat gait.
The faster pace produces a breeze over my hot skin as I settle into the motion, and there’s no stopping my smile. I feel free and alive.
I also feel melancholy to have walked away from it all, but happier to be living my life without the pressure.
As we come out of the curve at the far end of the arena, my eyes catch movement, and I’m stunned to see Kellen walking my way holding a white bag. He’s wearing khaki cargo pants with a short-sleeved black T-shirt that’s molded to his torso. I’m so distracted that had Lunar come across a dapple of sunlight among shadows, he would’ve easily tossed me.
“Whoa, walk.” Lunar falls out of the canter and takes up a steady walk as I guide him to the end where Kellen stands.
He smiles as I approach. “You’re full of surprises.”
I walk my horse right up to the edge of the wood fencing that separates us and give him a pat on the neck. “This is my boy, Lunar.”
Kellen tilts his head back to look at me, shading his eyes from the sun with his hand. “Your boy?”
“Where I go, so, too, goes Lunar.” I give him another pat, and he tosses his head to show off. “He’s been with me since I was twelve.”
“Wow.” Kellen’s eyes roam over Lunar’s chestnut body. “He’s gorgeous.”
“Yes, he is.” Pride swells within me because this horse has been my partner from the start. I helped foal him on the farm, helped saddle break him, and trained him for the show ring. Accepted more blue ribbons on his back than I can count, including three world championships. No way I’d ever leave him back in Kentucky, even though I left the rest of it behind.
Slipping my feet from my stirrups, I swing out of the saddle and hop to the ground.
“Jesus,” Kellen mutters. “That’s a really tall horse to be jumping down like that.”
Moving to Lunar’s head to grab the reins near the bit, I laugh. “How else am I supposed to get off him?”
“A staircase would be appropriate.”
That makes me laugh even harder. “You clearly don’t know much about horses.”
“Want to teach me over lunch?” Kellen holds up a bag. “I brought subs for you and Christy. She’s already chowing down on hers.”
My heart flutters over the sweet gesture. “I’d love to. I’ll have to make it quick as I’ve got an appointment coming in soon, so I’ve got about twenty minutes to give you.”
“I’ll gladly take ’em.”
Kellen follows me around the outer part of the ring to the gate. I lead Lunar to the barn and into his stall. Kellen watches as I quickly take off and set aside Lunar’s saddle and bridle until I can put them away in the tack room when I’m all done.
I squat at Lunar’s left foreleg and start to remove his wraps. “See that big jar of peppermints on the table outside his stall? Will you grab one and give it to Lunar?”
Glancing over my shoulder, I see that Kellen finds the table. He sets his bag down, pulls out a peppermint—the good ones, large and round and red striped—and removes the wrapper.
“Just hold it under his mouth. Flatten your palm so he doesn’t bite your fingers off.”
Kellen stares at me, and I can see he’s not scared at the prospect, merely trying to gauge if I’m pulling his leg.
I grin at him. “He won’t bite your fingers off. He’s very gentle, but definitely hold your hand flat so there’s not a mistaken nibble.”
Kellen does as instructed, and Lunar eagerly uses his lips to grab the mint. “That’s a good boy,” Kellen praises and wipes horse slobber on his pants. He does so without a grimace and runs his hand along Lunar’s neck while I finish his leg wrappings.
Within five minutes, I’m done. I use the sink in the tack room to wash my hands and then I finally turn my full attention to Kellen. “So… we have about fifteen minutes.”
“I can wolf down a sub in that time. Where do you want to eat?”