“Now, you want to give her the world.”
Teddy nodded. “I’m not sure she’s suited for this kind of life, she’s delicate like.”
“She’ll grow into it,” William said. “Mark my words.”
Teddy prayed that the other man was right and that Amanda would be happy in their simple home. He had big dreams and ideas for building his little house into a larger home when the time was right. “That reminds me,” he said, looking up at the tall storekeeper. “I need a tub.”
By the time Amanda and Teddy had finished their shopping, Rosa had arrived with the wagon for her supplies, collecting the few items that needed to be delivered to the ranch.
“Thank you for everything,” Amanda smiled as she and Teddy bid farewell to Rosa and the others. “Now, what shall we do?”
“I thought you might want to try riding Pal around the corral a bit to see how she takes to the saddle. She did right good with the sacks, but that’s different than a regular rider.”
“Of course. I’ll go and change now.”
“Change?” Teddy looked down at the woman’s pale blue dress. “What do ya need to change for?”
“I need my riding clothes, of course.” Amanda smiled again as if the answer was obvious.
“Oh,” Teddy stuttered, seeing the gulf between him and his wife widen. He surely wasn’t the man to be married to a lady like Amanda.
“I’ll ask Ellen to help and be right down,” Amanda said, touching his arm as they reached the boarding house. “I’ll be out as quickly as possible.”
“I’ll be ready,” Theo growled, stomping off toward the corner of the Hampton House and the big livery barn behind.
Ellen was as excited as Amanda about the new dresses and they chatted as she helped her friend into a dark green riding habit. “You’ll feel more at home in one of the new dresses,” she said. “I wish I had been there to see what you chose. Alice keeps some pretty fabrics on hand. You never know when a new bride will arrive and want a dress.”
Amanda laughed, looking down at her outfit. It did seem rather much for the tiny town of Needful, but she had been raised in such a way that she couldn’t imagine wearing anything else when riding.
“Do you think I’m silly changing into my riding garb?” she asked, meeting Ellen’s eyes.
“No, if that’s what you’re comfortable in, I think it’s best. You don’t want to feel awkward sitting on a horse that isn’t used to a side saddle.”
“Do you ride?” Amanda asked. “Perhaps you’d come out with me one day.”
“No, I’m too busy here at the Hampton House, not to mention with the children. It’s not too bad when they’re at school with Mr. Ben, but then there’s homework and such to be done.”
Amanda squeezed, Ellen’s hand, thankful for such a friend. “Perhaps one day, I’ll have a child, and you can help me learn how to be a mother.”
Ellen’s sharp bark of laughter filled the room, startling Amanda. “Honey, it doesn’t matter what training you have in being a mother, every child is different. I can teach you to make diapers, though,” she added with a wink.
Chapter 13
Amanda settled herself into the familiar arms of her new saddle and took the reins from Theo with a smile. It felt nice to be sitting a horse again. She thought of her own fine gelding back home in Virginia and for a moment, homesickness swept over her.
“Is everything all right?” Teddy looked up with worried eyes.
“I’m fine,” Amanda assured. “It’s just been a while since I’ve ridden, and it feels nice to sit a horse again.”
Teddy’s grin was bright. “How about you take it nice and slow around the yard and see how Pal does. She’s a quiet little thing, and I don’t imagine you’ll have any trouble.
Amanda nodded, gathering the reins and tapping the horse with her heel. Pal stepped to the side a few paces and then stopped.
“That’s not right,” Amanda said. “How do you make her go forward?”
“With my heels or a click of my tongue,” Teddy replied.
Amanda adjusted her seat again, pressing her heel into the horse’s side and clicking. This time the palomino moved forward, but her hips swung to the side.
“She’s used to being guided with heels,” Teddy said, scratching his head. “We need her to understand what forward means.” Reaching out, he took the bridle and set the horse straight again. “Do it again, and this time I’ll pull her forward a bit.”
Amanda did as he said, and this time Pal stepped out following him quickly, even as her side quivered under Amanda’s heel.
“She’ll get the hang of it.”
After several false starts, the little mare did indeed figure out what was being asked, and once Amanda adjusted to neck reining instead of driving the horse, they settled into a leisurely amble about the yard.
“You look right pretty sitting up there,” Teddy offered. Amanda seemed confident on a horse, and he realized that this, at least, was something they both had in common.
He watched, proud of Amanda’s calm demeanor and easy patience as the horse learned new cues, and smiled when she rode toward him with a grin.
“Can we go for a short ride?” Amanda asked, her blue eyes bright with hope.
“Sure,” Teddy agreed. “I’ll get Pepper while you ride around a bit more and get the feel of how Pal moves.”
In no time, he had his black and white pinto saddled and moved into step with Amanda steering them toward the main street of the town.
“You seem comfortable on horseback,” Teddy commented as they moved along the street toward the other
