Meadow Valley book series- Everything's changed

Chapter 48: Learning to ride a horse

     They all made their way towards the horse stable and Zach was giving them the grand tour of his property. Zach had pulled out four horses and tied them up in the hallway already. Then he took all of them over to the equipment room and helped Sergio and Cristov get fitted for their riding gear. Ana had already knew her helmet size from the last time she was there. Zach had helped them to pick out some saddles and they carried them to the horses. Zach showed them how to put on the saddle and bridle and told them to lead their horses into this huge indoor arena.

     Zach helped Ana to get up on her horse and explained how to hold the reins in her hands. He gave all of them some simple commands on how to get the horse to go, stop and turn from side to side. Ana thought that she sucked at riding horses because the horse she was riding had a mind of its own and wouldn't follow her commands. Every time she tried to tell it to turn it would go the opposite way and it was not following the rest of the group around the arena. Ana had no idea that she was doing the wrong commands and grew easily frustrated when she noticed that she was completely across the other side of the arena from the rest of them.

Ana looked over towards them and yelled "Zach help me, this horse won't listen to me."

Just then Zach galloped his horse over in her direction.

"Ana you have to be in control of the horse not the other way around." He chuckled. "Just like you say to me when we dance. You got to take the lead," he said sarcastically to her.

"I'm trying but this stupid thing won't listen to me." Ana said in a half frustrated tone of voice.

      He leaned over towards her and tried to explain how she needed to hold onto the reins a little bit tighter and how to position her hands properly, but it was a little too difficult for her to get. Zach could see the frustration on Ana's face so he got off his horse and led it over to the side of the arena and tied it up.

Then he came jogging back towards Ana "take your feet out of the stirrups and hold on," Zach said as he climbed up and sat behind Ana.

     She was taken by surprise because he was sitting very close to her as he put his hands around her waist to position her correctly. Then Zach showed Ana how to hold her hands on the reins by wrapping his arms around her and putting his hands on top of hers. Ana could feel the warmth of his breath on her neck and suddenly she grew extremely nervous.

     Zach had instructed her to put her feet back in the stirrups as he showed her how to gently nudge the side of the horse with her foot to get it to move. Finally the horse was starting to obey and go wherever Ana had led it.

Just then Zach whispered into her ear "hold on."

     He clucked for the horse to speed up. Ana thought that she was going to fall right off but Zach managed to hold on to her with one hand and control the reins of the horse with the other. Ana felt that it was terrifying but exciting at the same time, plus she thought it felt nice to feel his body close to hers again. His body was so close to hers, that Ana could smell the scent of his cologne.

     As they rode together in the arena he laughed at her every time she would scream or freak out a bit from him making the horse go faster. He even managed to get Sergio and Cristov laughing at her. Zach thought it was funny to terrify Ana and hear her shriek every time he would make the horse run fast as she felt like she was about to fall off. Zach also enjoyed the chance to hold her body close to his.

All of sudden he stopped and jumped off her horse and mounted back up on his.

"Now I want you to try what I just showed you," Zach proclaimed.

     Ana couldn't believe that she was actually doing it, she was riding the horse all by herself without any help from Zach.

"I did it," Ana shrieked in an excited manner as she looked over at Zach.

Then Zach looked back at her.

"I'm so proud of you, good job Ana," he said as he winked and smiled at her.

     Ana even managed to bring the horse to a gallop around the arena without falling off. She was impressed with herself. Ana thought that this was such a fun experience that she couldn't wait to do it again and maybe go riding outside next time.

     Sergio and Cristov had to leave early so Zach and Ana walked them out of the arena and tied up their horses and said goodbye to them.