“We may as well go saddle up the horses so when Dawn finally gets here, we can go.” He put their lunch in a bag and walked with Mom down to the barn.

As they neared the barn, the horses frolicked and nickered, happy to see them.

“You already had your breakfast,” Mom scolded the horses as she pulled the chain on the gate to get enough slack to unhook it. She waved an arm in the air. “Get on back.”

The horses sauntered away as she swung the ten-foot gate open.

Andrew slipped his fingers under Doc’s halter, a big bay gelding standing sixteen-three hands. He was tall to get on, but anyone could ride him. A babysitter horse, Mom had always said.

Gentle as could be, Doc dipped his head, letting Mom rub his nose.

“Doc’s happy to see you,” she said to Andrew.

“Come on, old buddy.” He reached up and rubbed the side of his neck. “Best friends forever.”

The horse snorted.

To his surprise, Dawn came riding up on her horse, Gabby. “Thought you’d never get here,” she teased.

“I thought you were going to call when you got here.”

“Thought I’d surprise you instead.” She pulled on Gabby’s reins and spun the golden palomino in a tight circle. “I’m waiting on you for a change.” Gabby tossed her flaxen mane.

“Show-off.” Andrew threw the saddle on top of the blanket on Doc’s back. The shiny bay used to be a competitive header horse. He’d been retired early after his cowboy got injured. He was a good horse with a less-than-competitive demeanor these days.

It didn’t take long to get Doc tacked with Mom’s help. He tucked the food into the saddlebags, then put his foot in the stirrup and lifted himself up onto Doc’s back.

“You good up there?” she asked.

“Your mothering is showing,” he teased. He shifted in the saddle side-to-side. “Fits like a glove.” He tugged low on the reins and clicked to move Doc back a few steps, then caught up with Dawn.

“You still look good up there,” Mom said. “A natural cowboy.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” he said in a southern drawl while tipping his imaginary cowboy hat. He let Doc move at his own pace.

“Have fun.” She waved as they rode across the field.

When they reached the back gate that led to the creek trail, Andrew dropped down from his saddle and opened the back gate, letting Dawn lope ahead. He was perfectly happy to take it slow and soak in the beauty of the North Carolina landscape again.

He’d forgotten how different things looked from another five feet in the air. The world felt more open from up here in the saddle.

He sucked in a lungful of the fresh, pure air.