Page 65 of The Jealous Girl

I stilled. How had she known that?

‘No,’ I lied. ‘It’s just… this is something Ryan and I said we’d do together. It was important to him.’

She shrugged. ‘I guess not that important, otherwise he wouldn’t have asked me, would he?’

Her words stung. No doubt that was exactly what she’d intended.

She jerked her head towards the horse. ‘We might as well get on with it.’

I didn’t move.

‘You’ll never be much use around here if you can’t even get near a horse.’

‘I’m helping with the admin,’ I said indignantly. I might not be working with the horses, but I was still doing my best to pitch in.

‘You’d be more help if you could muck out a stall and saddle a horse, like the rest of us.’

I scrunched my nose.

‘Ryan would appreciate it,’ she added.

I could tell from the twitch of her mouth that she was playing me.

And it was working.

Reluctantly, I stepped through the open gate. ‘Should I close it?’ I asked, already reaching for the weathered wood.

Charlotte didn’t even look at me. ‘It’s fine as it is.’

I hesitated, my hand hovering in mid-air. If I left the gate open, the horse could get out with me riding him. If I closed it, I’d be trapped in here with him.

My stomach stirred. Neither option appealed.

‘Go on,’ Charlotte said, jerking her head towards the horse tied to the railing.

I didn’t move.

The only way to get over your fear is to face it head on.

Ryan’s words circled my brain.

Don’t worry, I’ll be right there with you.

I frowned, and forced my feet forwards. So much for his promise. At least if he was the one teaching me, I would have felt calmer. Safer.

I pressed my lips together. Maybe.

I paused beside the horse. Up close, he looked even bigger. But it wasn’t his size that was most unsettling. It was the way he watched me. Wary. Almost knowing.

I glanced at Charlotte, waiting for her to provide instructions.

‘Just put your foot in the stirrup and hoist yourself up,’ she said, as though it was easy.

Reluctantly, I reached for the saddle, my hands stiff and uncooperative. I didn’t want to do this. But I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of watching me back out. I shoved my left foot into the stirrup and hauled myself up, before I changed my mind. I swung my right leg over the horse and landed in the saddle with a small jolt.

I blinked. I’d actually done it. I’d mounted a horse.

I glanced down at the ground, and the saddle shifted slightly to the left.