𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 ━━ 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥

ꜱɪx

chapter six — riding lessons

The morning sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon when Y/N made her way to Boothill's ranch, the warm breeze carrying the scent of hay and earth. She had woken up nervous and excited, knowing that today, Boothill was going to teach her how to ride a horse. As she approached the stable, she spotted him already there, leaning against one of the wooden posts with a wheat stalk between his lips.

"Mornin' darlin'," Boothill greeted her with that easy smile of his, his eyes glinting with warmth. "Ready to meet your steed for the day?"

Y/N smiled back, though she felt a flutter of anxiety in her stomach. "Let's do this," she replied, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

Boothill chuckled and led her to a gentle looking brown horse with a white blaze on its forehead. "This here's Daisy. She's one of the calmest horses we got, perfect for beginners."

Y/N reached out to pat Daisy's neck, feeling the softness of her coat. "Hey girl," she murmured, the horses calm demeanour putting her a little more at ease.

Boothill took his time showing her how to saddle up, his hands steady and sure as he guided her through the process. Once Daisy was ready, he turned to Y/N. "Alright, time to hop on. I'll be right here to help you if ya need it."

Taking a deep breath, Y/N placed her foot in the stirrup and hoisted herself up onto the saddle. The height was dizzying, she gripped the reins a little too tightly, her heart racing. "Okay, I'm up here, now what?"

Boothill chuckled, moving to stand beside her. "Just relax, darlin'. Horses can sense when you're tense. Let the reins loose a bit, and give her a gentle nudge with your heels."

Following his instructions, Y/N tried to relax her grip, nudging Daisy forward. The horse started walking, and for a moment, Y/N felt a surge of pride. But as they continued, Daisy suddenly shifted, and Y/N lost her balance, slipping sideways. Before she could react, she felt herself falling.

But she didn't hit the ground. Boothill moved with lightening speed, catching her as she fell. The impact sent both of them tumbling, and Y/N landed on top of him, her heart pounding from the sudden rush. She found herself staring down at Boothill, his arms still around her waist, their faces inches apart.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Y/N could feel Boothill's heartbeat under her, strong and steady, and she realized with a start that she was blushing.

"Ya alright?" Boothill asked, his voice softer than usual. His gaze dropped to her lips for a fraction of a second, but long enough for Y/N to see.

"Yeah," Y/N breathed, trying to ignore the way her pulse was racing for reasons that had nothing to do with the fall. "Thanks for catching me."

Boothill grinned, his arms loosening around her. "Anytime, darlin'."

After a beat, Y/N rolled off him, feeling the warmth of embarrassment in her cheeks. She brushed herself off and looking up to see Boothill standing, offering her a hand. "Wanna try again?"

She nodded, determined not to let her nerves get the better of her. Boothill helped her back onto Daisy, and this time, she felt a bit more confident. With Boothill's steady guidance, she started to get the hang of it. Once she was riding comfortably, Boothill mounted his own horse, the same one he'd been riding when they first met, a sturdy stallion named Ace. Together, they set off on a slow ride around the ranch.

As they rode, the early morning light bathed the landscape in a golden hue, and Y/N felt a sense of peace settle over her. The rhythm of Daisy's steps was soothing, and the anxiety that had gripped her earlier began to fade.

"I can see why you like it out here," Y/N said, glancing over at Boothill. " It's beautiful."

Boothill smiled, looking out at the rolling hills and wide open spaces. "Yeah, it is. My dad worked really hard to get this ranch up and running. It wasn't easy, but he made it happen."

Y/N's curiosity piqued, and she asked, "So your dad owns the ranch and the bed and breakfast?"

Boothill shook his head. "Guess I never mentioned it, but I have two dads—Nick, who runs the ranch, and Gray, who owns the inn. They found me abandoned in the snow as a kid and took me in."

Y/N smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest at the way Boothill spoke about his family. "They must be proud of you."

Boothill's expression softened, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. "I hope so. They've always been there for me, no matter what. I guess that's why this place means so much to me, it's home."

Y/N felt a pang of envy, but it was softened when she saw how content Boothill looked. "You're lucky," she said quietly. "I don't have much family. My parents passed away when I was young, and I was raised by my aunt. But when she had her own kids, she... well, she kicked me out. Said she couldn't take care of me anymore."

Boothill looked at her, his gaze filled with empathy. "Must've been hard."

Y/N shrugged, trying to brush it off, but the ache in her chest was still there. "Now that I broke things off with Tommie, there's nothing really left for me in Penacony. I think that's why Aeragan feels so...homey, I guess. There's a sense of family here that I never really had."

The connection between them seemed to grow with each shared word. Y/N found herself opening up in a way she hadn't expected, and Boothill listened with a quiet understanding that made her feel safe.

As they continued their ride, Y/N realized that the ranch, the town, and even Boothill were becoming more than just temporary fixtures in her life. They were starting to feel like something more—a place where she could belong.

The rest of the ride was filled with easy conversation and laughter, the tension from earlier fading away. By the time they returned to the stable, Y/N felt a sense of accomplishment and something else—a growing affection for the cowboy who had been there to catch her when she fell, in more ways than one.