I glanced back at him, and I could feel the heat in his gaze from here.
“Give it a try,” I called out, hoping to distract him from the shiver his gaze caused.
“What? The flirty dancing or leading a horse?” he countered.
“Both,” I said with a laugh.
Good, he didn’t mention my reaction.
Riley grabbed a lead rope and called Star, who didn’t move an inch. His ears went back, signaling he was not as happy and relaxed as he was earlier. He didn’t like Riley being here.
“Why isn’t he coming over here?” Riley asked.
Because you are a prick.
“You make them nervous,” I told him.
His head fell in shame a little.
To drive the point home and offer a solution, I added, “When you leave, I give them sugar cubes to calm them down.”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out some sugar cubes. I grabbed Riley’s hand and placed the sugar cubes in it.I felt a spark at his touch but chose to ignore it. Did he feel it, too?
“Give them these. Maybe it will help ease their anxiety.”
I closed his fingers around the cubes. Riley looked up and met my eyes. For a split second, I swore he could feel the spark. There was something in his gaze that made me want to move closer to him, and then it was gone in a flash. His face became neutral.
I removed my hand from his and called out to Star. He came trotting toward us, still wary of Riley. I told him to hold his hand out with the sugar cube, which he did. It took a few moments, but Star allowed Riley to approach him at the fence line. Star took the sugar cube from Riley’s hand and allowed him to hook up his lead. Riley was getting ready to lead the horse toward the stable when I told him to stop.
“Part of being a horseman is bonding with the horses. Love on star, rub his neck, his back. Show him that you can also respect him, that he doesn’t have to fear you,” I said.
Riley looked at me like I was crazy for a moment but then rubbed Star’s face gently and then his neck. Star’s ears and body language relaxed after a moment. Star’s head rested on Riley’s shoulder, and the horse let out a soft snort. Riley’s own body language showed that he was more comfortable with the horse as well. I could see him fighting to suppress a small smile.
Riley was finally learning how to build a connection with a horse.
“Now, at your leisure, you can lead the horse into the stable. Keep your body language relaxed. If you are too aggressive, he will pick up on that. Walk toward that stable like you are about to enter and meet your dream date. Walk in confident but not off putting,” I said.
Riley considered my words and took another moment to love on Star before leading him through the gate and into his stall. After that, we brought in the other two horses. Riley repeated the sugar cube process, while my horse came running to my call. I waited for him while he gave the sugar cube to the remaining horse and loved on her. He was able to hook the lead rope to her halter, and she followed him into the stable with no issues.
When the horses that needed to be kept inside during the day were all in their stalls, I took a moment to breathe.
“What now?” Riley asked me.
His body language remained the same. As if I was a horse he was trying to lead to the stables or the date he wanted to impress. I was impressed and a little weary.
“Now you are done for the day,” I told him.
I need to put some distance between him and me. I needed some distance between whatever it was that he made me feel.
“That’s it?” he asked.
“For now, yes. I am going to clean the tack tomorrow, so that will require more time. This evening, I will bring the remaining horses in and groom them. For now, there is nothing else to do. I usually go study at this time,” I told him.
He looked like maybe he wanted to ask me something. He brought his hand up to his head, tugged on his hair slightly, opened his mouth to talk, and then quickly shut it.
I sensed an understanding between us. Whatever this was, it was on shaky ice. My foot could puncture it at any second, but for now, we were stable. The connection he was able to establish with the horses did something—built something that we could relate on.
“I will see you tomorrow,” I told Riley as I began to walk away.
