Silver Spurs by Miralee Ferrell Read Free Book Online Page A

was one of the kindest, most generous people she knew, but was this refusal coming from that or because she was still afraid to ride? Just a couple of days ago, they’d gone back to their old barn, since the owner still owed them an hour lesson for the work they’d done before giving notice. Tori had climbed on Lulu reluctantly but didn’t refuse. Of course, Lulu was a lot smaller than Capri, but that didn’t mean Tori would want to get back on Capri anytime soon.
    Kate narrowed her eyes at Tori. “Do you promise to ride Capri half the lesson next time and keep doing it until we get a good lesson horse?”
    Tori hesitated, then nodded. “I promise.” She grinned. “As long as nothing bad happens between now and then.”
    Kate shivered even though she knew Tori was joking. “Nothing’s going to happen. I even saw Melissa riding Mocha in the indoor arena.” She frowned. “Only at a walk and trot for about thirty minutes, but at least she’s riding him. That’s positive.”
    Tori smiled. “I’m glad. She hasn’t been mean lately either. In fact, she said hi to me recently.”
    â€œWow! That’s a huge improvement!” Kate beamed at Tori and linked arms with her. “Come on, let’s go tack up Capri. Colt should be here for the Western lesson by the time the English one is half over.” She winked at Tori. “I can’t believe how insulted he was when we told him he should ride English.”
    â€œI know.” Tori giggled. “‘Are you kidding? Me in a pair of breaches? I’d quit riding before I’d wear a pair of those things.’” She did a nearly perfect imitation of Colt’s voice.
    Kate broke out in a full laugh as she tugged Tori toward the tack room. “I’d have my camera handy if he did! Come on, we don’t have a lot of time to get ready.”
    An hour and a half later, Kate, Tori, and Colt stood at the low rail separating the alleyway from the indoor arena, enthralled at the sight playing out before them. Kate sucked in a quick breath. “My lesson was great, but I want to learn to jump! Capri is trained for it, but I’m not. I’m going to ask Mom when I can start taking lessons that teach more than flat work. It’s not like I don’t have the basics down.”
    Colt gave a lopsided grin. “Yeah, but there’s a lot more to jumping than leaning forward and letting your horse pop over the rails. I don’t ride English, but I’ve watched it at the other two barns where I boarded my horse. From what I’ve seen, you’ve got to have supersteady hands, excellent balance, the ability to post and change leads easily, and a sense of timing for the jumps.”
    Tori gazed at him openmouthed. “Wow. You know a lot.”
    A slow flush climbed from his neck to his cheeks, and Colt ducked his head. “Nah. It’s hard not to hear stuff when you’re cleaning stalls right next to the arena. I always seemed to be there when jumping lessons took place, that’s all.”
    Kate turned to the arena again. “It’s not a very big class yet. Just four riders. Melissa and three women I don’t know. One of them boards her mare here, and I think Mom said the other two trailered their horses in for the lesson. Melissa’s mom agreed to let her take a group lesson to start, then she’s going to take private ones after this.” She grinned at her friends. “That should be way cool!”
    Tori huffed. “Those jumps aren’t very high. The horses can practically step over them. What are they, about two feet, if that?”
    Kate nodded. “Eighteen inches. The instructor can raise the height of the rails all the way up to six feet if she wants to, but she told Mom she plans to start everyone out low, even if they say they know what they’re doing and want to go higher.”
    Colt leaned a hip against the low