Welcome to Valley View (Valley View Book 1)

Chapter 22

“Jimmy, I can’t do this. I’m going to fall just trying to get up.”

Jimmy grips his hands tighter on my hips, “Trust me, sweetheart. I’m right here, just in case, okay?”

“What if he moves?”

“He won’t move. He’s a good boy and he’s just standing here waiting for my command. You need to put your foot in the saddle and I will help guide you up.”

I put my foot in Bang’s saddle and Jimmy pushes me up as I swing my leg over to the other side. “Eek!” I was about as smooth as a backcountry road, but I made it up just the same.

“I knew you could do it. Scoot forward so I can get on behind you.”

I scoot my butt forward towards the front of the saddle and Jimmy mounts up onto the house with complete ease. He wraps his arm around my waist and yanks me back so my back is flush against his chest and then he grabs Bang’s reins. “You’re safe, okay?”

I look back at him and smile, “Okay.”

It is the middle of April and it has finally warmed up enough that Jimmy was willing to take me out on Bang for a horse ride. He had been promising for a while that he would teach me how to ride, but he didn’t want to take me out when it was too cold because he thought it would make me hate it. So today, we came over a little early for Sunday dinner so we could go for my first ever ride on a horse.

“Yup!” Jimmy gets Bang going and he starts out with just a trot and as we make our way from the fenced-in area to the larger pasture, Jimmy got him moving at more of a slow gallop. He has one hand holding the reins and the other wrapped tightly around my waist holding me. 

“Are you doing okay, City Girl?”

I giggle and nod my head. “Yes! This is totally amazing, Jimmy.”

We ride for about twenty minutes through the fields and as we approach the top of a hill, I realize where we are going. It is my favorite part of the ranch, he pulls up between two trees at the top of the lookout that overlooks the beautiful valley.

“I don’t think I’m ever going to get tired of this view.”

“Me neither. I’m always amazed at how far you can see on a clear and sunny day like today.” Jimmy’s lips graze the back of my neck as we hold hands and look out over the cliff. 

“Crazy to think that it’s actually a two-hour drive to get there, huh?”

“Very crazy.. I’m glad that I get to share this moment with you, Tiff.” He squeezes me tighter in his arms.

“Me too, Jimmy. I can honestly say I have never been happier in my life than I am these days.”

“You don’t know how good that makes me feel, City Girl. Although, I’m not too sure I can call you my city girl anymore. You’re out here riding horses and all this country shit now.”

I laugh and lean back into him more, taking in all his warmth. “I’m not sure I’m that country. Are you thighs supposed to hurt after such a short ride?”

“Mmhmm, just wait until tomorrow.” Jimmy kisses me cheek and then moves away from my body and slides off of Bang. “Fling your opposite leg around and I promise I’ll catch you.”

I follow his lead and fall, unsanctimoniously, right into his waiting arms. When both of my feet land, Jimmy pulls me in for a kiss and then opens the saddlebag and puls out a couple of blankets and a small tote that he had stowed away. He gives Bang a gentle tap on his bank end and the horse meanders off.