A Horsewoman for Harlan by Barbara Goss (the top 100 crime novels of all time TXT) 📕

She flew down the stairs and out to the corral.

“Are you ready to ride?” Elise asked.

“I didn’t get my riding outfit yet.  They didn’t have a child's size at the general store, so it’s been ordered.”

Elise smiled.  “That’s fine.  You can ride in a dress, especially if you’re wearing long stockings, which I know you are.  Sitting on the saddle often raises your dress, and it isn’t proper for a lady’s legs to show, but you will be fine until the outfit comes in.”

“How do I get on?” Millie asked.

“It’s called mounting. I’ll help you.  First of all, you’ll need what’s called a mounting block.  After, when you are a pro, you won’t need one to jump on Cocoa anymore.  I’ll get you one.”

While Elise was getting the block, Millie talked to Cocoa:  “I hope you will let me ride you.”  She petted her mane.  “I will be kind to you always.”  Millie wasn’t surprised to see her papa watching her from the stable.

Elise came back with the block.  “Here, let me show you.”  Elise helped Millie onto the mounting block.  “Now, lift your left leg into the stirrup, and I’ll help you swing over the saddle.”  Elise went to the other side of the horse to secure Millie’s boot in the other stirrup, and adjusted both stirrups to Millie’s size.

She went back to the left side of the horse and handed Millie the reins.  "We won’t make any turns today.  We’ll just ride the circle of the corral.  Cocoa knows the route.  You just sit and hold on for today.  Squeeze her sides with your feet gently and make a clicking sound.  I trained her to move forward that way.

"That’s it... gently… there you go!”

Millie felt scared at first, but then she felt excited.

Cocoa moved in a slow trot, and Millie bounced up and down a bit, but it felt exhilarating.

Elise stood in the middle of the corral, watching them carefully.  After four rotations, she stopped Millie.  “You are a natural rider.”

 “Really?”

“Yes.  You did wonderfully for your first time.  Tomorrow, we’ll learn how to turn the horse in all the directions.  Then, we’ll go out on the trail.”

“Um, Elise... how do I get down?”

“Oh, let me get the mounting block.”

With the block in place, Elise showed her the proper way to dismount.  “Good girl!” She hugged Millie.  “I’m so proud of you, my first student.”

Millie left the corral, thinking what a great start.  Elise liked her, and she liked Elise.  Millie wanted her to be her mama so badly.  It just had to happen.  She went into the barn where her papa was just turning back to work.

“Did you see me, Papa?”

“Do you think I wouldn’t watch my baby girl ride her first horse?  I’m so proud of you.”

Millie smiled, and her Papa picked her up for a big hug. “So very proud.”

“Elise is wonderful, Papa.  She taught me everything.  Isn’t she brilliant, Papa?”

“I think she is doing a wonderful job.” He kissed her and set her down.  “I got a wire today that said your riding suit has come in.  I’ll pick it up tomorrow when I go for the mail.  Now, run in and wash up for supper.”

Chapter Seven

After breakfast, Harlan stood and announced, “I’m going to town to pick up Millie’s riding habit and to check our mail.  Can I get you anything, Elise or Martha?”

“I need a sack of flour,” Martha said.

Elise stood and addressed Harlan:  “Would it be possible to register my name at the post office so I can correspond with my parents?  They will be worried by now.  I have a letter all written if you wouldn’t mind posting it for me.”

“No problem at all, ladies.  It’s my pleasure.”

Harlan addressed Elise: “I’ll be hitching up the hay wagon—you can bring your letter out to me.  And don’t forget: you may ride into town anytime on that new horse of yours.  Did you name her yet?”

“I did. I named her Sadie.”

“That’s an excellent name for her.  Any special reason?” he asked.

“Yes, I had a dog named Sadie when I was small, but she was run over by a hay wagon.  She was the same color.”

“A fitting memory.  She’s a beautiful horse.”

Elise turned to Millie who was finishing her oatmeal.  “Your next riding lesson will be at noon.  By then you’ll have your new outfit.”

Millie smiled.  “I can hardly wait... for both.”

When Millie joined Elise in the corral, Elise complimented her riding outfit.  “And besides being stylish, it looks good on you.  I’m sure Cocoa will love the blue color that matches your eyes.”

Millie blushed.  “Can I ride Cocoa now?”

“Yes.  I’ll get her and the mounting block.”

After Millie rode around the corral for a few times, Elise taught her how to steer the horse gently in the direction she wanted her to go.  Millie did wonderfully, and Elise praised her with a big hug.  “I’m so proud.  You learned so fast.”

Millie backed away and put her head down sullenly.  “You wouldn’t be proud of me if you found out I told a lie, would you?”

Elise bent down to look the child in the eyes.  “I’d be proud of your riding, but lying isn’t something to be proud of.  It’s a sin, Millie,  but that’s for God to judge, not me.  I’d be disappointed with you, but it wouldn’t affect our relationship one bit.  Everyone tells a little lie sometime in their lives, and God forgives because he knows we’re human.”

“Even if... if it was about you?”

“What are you saying, Millie?  Why would you lie about me?”

Millie sighed loudly.  “Two nasty-looking men came around to the back corral and asked if you were here, and I told them you weren’t.”

“Why, Millie?”

“Because they