“Freedom,” she whispered into the animal’s face. “That’s a beautiful name.”
“She sure has taken a liking to you, ma’am. Let me get you on the saddle so you can enjoy a good ride. It’s the perfect day for one.” He looked up at the sky.
The ranch hand hoisted Maggie up into the saddle. He helped her place her feet in the stirrups and adjusted them to her height. The horse’s shape felt wide and awkward beneath her.
“She’s trained for a western saddle, so you take the reins in one hand like this, and when you want her to go right, just pull them right and to go left, pull them left. She’ll feel the reins on her neck and know what to do. Pull back to get her to stop and just give her a slight nudge with your foot to get her to go. You’ll do fine. She’s a great horse. Don’t worry too much about Freedom. She knows the way.”
Josh was already on his horse. The ranch hand quickly adjusted the stirrups for him and told them that the best ride was to the embankment down the beach and back again. The horses knew the way, having traveled it so much.
Josh gave his horse a gentle kick on the sides and directed it out of the gate. Freedom followed without Maggie needing to encourage her. The horses’ hooves sank a bit in the sand, but Freedom seemed to know how to maneuver well without Maggie feeling much other than a gentle rocking back and forth as they rode.
The two horses walked side by side in the sand along the water.
“How’re ya doin’?” Josh asked when they got about five minutes out from the stables.
“You’re right, this is wonderful. It’s so beautiful, and horse-back riding is fun. They are such amazing animals.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet. Are you ready to let them run a bit?”
Maggie gripped the reins and the saddle horn tighter. She had just begun to relax and now Josh wanted to run?
“I don’t know, Josh. Is it difficult to do?”
“Not really. Just hang on until you feel comfortable and try to move with the horse.”
Josh kicked his horse in the sides again, this time with a bit more force. The horse began to trot and then run.
Maggie followed Josh’s advice. She grabbed the reins and the saddle horn tight and gave Freedom a little kick. The horse began to trot. Maggie thought the bouncing might knock her brain loose. She kicked again, a bit harder, and Freedom began to run. Not fast but with a smooth gait that Maggie was able to fall in sync with.
Her hair blew in the wind and the sound of the waves filled her ears. Time slowed somehow. Her initial fear of riding faded, strength and courage taking its place. It was as if she could fly. She closed her eyes and lifted her face toward the sun. The warmth of it flooded her senses and her muscles relaxed. Her hand released the saddle horn, her other hand loosening her grip on the reins.
“Don’t worry too much about Freedom. She knows the way.”
The End
Check out Lara Van Hulzen’s new series….
Silver Bay series
If you enjoyed Return to Silver Bay, you’ll love the other Silver Bay stories!
Book 1: Return to Silver Bay
Book 2: Loving Kate
Coming soon
Book 3: Saving Drew
Coming soon
About the Author
Lara is a published author and public speaker with a degree in journalism.
Writing stories since she was a young girl, Lara’s dream of being a novelist became a reality with her Men of Honor Series.
An avid reader, she worked as a book reviewer for 18 years with various organizations such as Crossings Doubleday, YouthWorker Journal, and www.radiantlit.com.
Lover of movies, music, art, travel, baseball, CrossFit and her dog, Lara lives in California with her husband, teenage daughter, and teenage twin boys.
Visit Lara at: www.laramvanhulzen.com
Join her mailing list here
Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @laravanhulzen
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