It was the first time in nearly three weeks that Jessie felt good enough to venture outside, and her normally richly tanned features were now beginning to pale from lack of sunlight. Henry thought about going to her as she walked across the yard to offer her help if she needed it. After all, it would be three or four more weeks before her ribs were completely healed, and she still continued to have breathing problems if she exerted herself. But when he saw the determination on her face, and watched the relative normalcy of that familiar gait, he decided perhaps he should leave her alone for now.

The colt was already groomed and standing quietly in the pen by the time she got there. Henry’ saddle, saddle pad and the bridle he would use were sitting by the gate. The colt had yet to carry a bit in his mouth, and so the bridle Henry had chosen to ride him in was a sort of side-pull; a leather headstall with a flat noseband made from two small lengths of old lariat rope laid side by side and attached to a leather chinstrap. The rope was covered in sheepskin so it wouldn’t rub or otherwise damage the bridge of the colt’s nose, and on either side of the rig, where the rope and chinstrap came together, were two small metal rings braided into place with rawhide strips. Henry had attached the reins he would be using to the metal rings.

“Is he ready?” Jessie glanced into the pen.

The colt, hearing Jessie’s voice, looked her way, and then let out a soft nicker.

“I believe so,” Henry replied, looking toward the colt.

“Are you ready?”

Henry smiled. “As ready as I will be.”

Henry picked up his saddle, pad and bridle, and then turned toward the gate. Jessie pulled the heavy latch that kept it in place, and as Henry went in with the colt, she closed and latched the gate behind him. The colt immediately moved toward him and they met halfway between where the colt had been standing and the gate where Henry had come in. The colt went to the saddle and pad Henry was holding and gave them each a good sniff. While he did, an image began to form in his mind. He could tell by the way it formed that it wasn’t coming from Henry. This image had the familiar softness and clarity to it that he knew to be Jessie’s. The picture formed slowly, but by the time he had finished smelling the saddle and pad, it was obvious to the colt what it was. In his mind’s eye he saw himself wearing the saddle and bridle. Then he saw Henry climbing into the saddle while the colt stood quietly under him.

Henry placed the saddle on the ground and petted the colt on the forehead before swinging the pad up on his back. He then reached down for the saddle, and swung it up onto the colt’s back, as well. In both cases the colt stood unperturbed by Henry’s actions or the objects. Henry cinched the saddle down, securing it to the colt’s back, then slipped the side pull over the colt’s head and placed the reins over his neck.