Breathless(36)
“Mrs. Gordon, did you follow the suggestion to wear your boots a bit before your arrival?” Portia asked as they approached the stable.
“No. I was too busy.”
“I see.” Portia hoped she was prepared for the blisters she was sure to have.
It turned out that none of the guests had ever ridden a horse before. This wasn’t a surprise. Most of the people from back East and in large western cities like San Francisco used carriages and streetcars for transportation so Cal gave them mounts he was sure they could manage. Gentle mares for the ladies and two well-trained, docile geldings for the men.
Ada needed a stool to aid her mounting, but once seated, she smiled. “My goodness, I had no idea I’d be so far off the ground.”
Both Winston and Phillip wore nervous smiles atop their geldings.
Cal walked over to help Elvenna mount the chestnut-colored Cassandra, but was met with “I prefer to ride in a carriage. I don’t care for the animal’s odor and I certainly don’t want that stink in my clothing.”
Astride Arizona, Portia shared a silent look with Cal and noted the irritation radiating from the widow’s brother. His sister wasn’t the first prickly female guest Portia had encountered and so offered a solution. “You’re more than welcome to spend the day in your suite. We only provide carriage rides to guests who are aged or physically impaired in some way.”
Her brother voiced less patience. “Oh for heaven’s sake, Venna. Get on the horse. You knew we’d be riding.”
Cal offered encouragement. “Come on, ma’am. It’ll be fun. You’ll see.”
She appeared doubtful, but the disapproving glare of the others in her party must’ve carried some weight because she finally relented and huffed, “All right. Fine.”
Cal linked his hands together and held them out for her to step into. “Put one foot in my hands and I’ll lift you up.”
Portia would have been more sympathetic had Elvenna admitted to a fear of riding, but not wanting to because of how the mare’s scent would affect her clothing? Portia kept her features bland.
Up on Cassandra’s back a disgruntled Elvenna held the reins.
Cal offered a false smile. “That isn’t so bad, is it?”
“I suppose.”
Ada snapped. “Oh my word, Venna. Are you going to play the put-out belle all day?”
Elvenna flashed around to respond, which made Cassandra take a step back and Elvenna’s eyes widen in fear. “Be quiet, Ada, before you make me fall off and hurt myself.”
“We should be so lucky.”
Portia was enjoying the plainspoken Ada more and more. “Let’s begin by learning how to use the reins.”
For the next hour, she and Cal taught them proper reins management, drilled them gently on maneuvering and turns, and followed with instructions on the basics of using their boot heels to communicate commands. Elvenna had the most trouble of course. Horses are intelligent animals and her mare balked more than a few times because of what she sensed coming through Elvenna’s reins. At one point, while they were riding slowly around the outside of the paddock, Cassandra simply stopped and refused to take another step. Cal urged Elvenna to relax but she was determined to lay the problem on the animal. “Get me another horse.”
“She’s the gentlest we have.”
“I want a different one.”
Cal looked to Portia who sighed inwardly. At that moment, Kent and Matt rode up. Portia’s heart leapt and she couldn’t help but admire everything about him, from the way he sat the big blue stallion to his all-black attire and gray hat to the way his eyes scanned her face and held there, making her body warm and her mind remember.
His arrival moved the widow, too. “Finally, you’re here. Will you tell this man to get me a better horse and then show me how to ride properly, because those two”—she glared at Portia and Cal—“don’t seem to know what they’re doing.”
Ada called out, “She doesn’t like her mare’s scent, so you’ll need to make the new one smell like fine perfume, too.”
The corners of Kent’s mouth lifted and Portia dropped her head to hide her smile.
“Mrs. Gordon,” he said. “I’m sure Cal has given you the best mount he has to offer and I know Miss Carmichael bends over backwards to accommodate her guests. Now if you’d like to stay behind and let Cal give you more lessons, that’s fine with me. Once you’re more comfortable, he can ride with you to the ranch so you can join us.”
From the way she stiffened, it was obvious she’d been expecting him to take her side, which Portia found illogical considering he’d spent so little time in her company, but she supposed Elvenna was accustomed to having men fall at her feet.
Kent asked, “Are we ready to ride, Miss Carmichael?”
“I believe we are.” Pleased that he hadn’t succumbed, she glanced over at Phillip and the Jakeses. Upon receiving their affirmative nods, she’d turned to the tight-faced widow. “Your decision, Mrs. Gordon? Are you staying behind for further lessons?”
“No.” And showing a skill she’d not displayed an hour ago, she brought her mare into line and set out with their small party for the ride to the Blanchard place.
Chapter Nine