Life One Summer [On Hold]

Chapter 4

If you'd told me three days ago that I would be stood in the middle of a field on a ranch in Colorado awaiting instruction on how to ride a horse I would've told you that you were crazy.

But as I stood in some borrowed riding boots next to a white horse I was proving this true. Travis was explaining the rules of riding and my dread seemed to be muting out everything he said.

"So, you got that?" he asked.

"Uhuh." I replied a bit dazed.

"I'm gonna give you a boost then."

I frowned at him, "Excuse me?"

He chuckled, "Onto the horse."

"Oh."

He held out his hands for me to step on and I put one foot out. Before I knew it I was being flung up in the air at a speed I was not happy about. I stopped trying to mount the horse as my legs went rigid and felt myself fall down to the ground, bringing Travis with me.

"Ooof." I let out as I fell on top of him. Removing my head from his chest I looked down at him my hands either side of his torso, he was laughing uncontrollably and I frowned.

"I have," he spluttered as he tried to control his laughter, "never seen... anyone fail... getting on a horse that bad."

I opened my mouth in protest, my eyebrows still stitched together, "Hey. I just wasn't ready."

He continued laughing, and I couldn't help but crack a slight smile at the adorable laughter lines that were forming around his eyes. I slapped him playfully on the shoulder, "Go on and laugh some more why don't you?"

I gazed at his eyes and felt a swelling in my chest, what was with this guy? I'd only just met him and already I was happily flirting with him, this was more like Kelsey than me. Yet when his laughter finally stopped and his eyes found mine I couldn't help but stare.

He coughed abruptly standing up and letting me fall off him, holding out his hand I took it and stood up noticing a tension which had come about us.

"Shall we try again?" He asked a small grin playing on his lips.

I bit my lip in concentration and replied, "Bring it."

This time I was ready for the boost and when he flung me up I managed to get one leg firmly over the horse.

But it wasn't the right one.

Somehow I'd managed to mount the horse backward and he'd decided to start moving. I began panicking, "Oh my god Travis, help!" I whined.

He smiled gleefully then spoke with an authoritative tone, "Whoa Shadow." The horse came to a halt and Travis grabbed the reins. Raising his brows expectantly he looked at me, "Well turn around then."

"Oh right." I brought one leg over and then carefully wriggled my way around bringing my last leg over the horse. Planting my feet firmly in the stirrups I let out a breath.

Travis handed me the reins and nodded, "You good."

"I think so." I squeaked.

"Well, I'm gonna go get on Randy then." He said with a crooked grin. Striding over to where he'd tied up his horse he undid the knot, in one swift motion he was up in the saddle and trotting up to me.

I childishly stuck my tongue out at him, "Show off."

He smiled smugly and clicked with his tongue, "Walk on." His horse began to move away.