A Little Bit of Charm by Mary Ellis Page A

allow Rachel time to get accustomed to her new horse. She had been assigned Calamity Jane, an aging Thoroughbred mare. Her name must be some kind of English joke because the horse was as gentle and even-tempered as any Thoroughbred ever born.
    Rachel absolutely loved her. In between tours on Wednesday and Friday, she groomed and exercised Jane on the lunge rope. She talked to her constantly so the mare would get used to her voice, usually telling her how beautiful she was. Before heading home yesterday, Rachel saddled up and rode Jane around the paddock. Everything came back to her despite not having ridden in several years. Some skills a dedicated horsewoman never forgot.
    Because she’d driven the buggy faster than normal, she turned Isaac’s gelding into the pasture and arrived early at the Brady residence.
    â€œHi, Rachel.” Jessie stepped onto the porch. “You’re here bright eyed and bushy tailed. How about some coffee?” She held open the screen door. “We have an hour before the ride.”
    â€œSure.” Rachel ran the rest of the way to the house. Slipping into the tidy kitchen, she silently prayed she wouldn’t run into Jake. Not that she didn’t like him, because she truly did. And not because she didn’t find him attractive. She thought he was the handsomest man she ever met. But every time an Amish person courted an Englischer back home, the results had been disastrous. Her job at the stable was too important to jeopardize with foolish romantic nonsense.
    Jessie handed her a mug laced with cream and sugar. “We havesix reservations for this morning. That’s a perfect number to give everyone a bit of personal attention. Don’t try to take notes during the ride. If you fall off Calamity Jane, it’ll reflect badly on my teaching ability.” She threw her head back and laughed.
    Rachel grinned, although the idea of note taking had never occurred to her.
    â€œWe’ll start in the barn. Each rider saddles and tacks his or her own horse. This week and next you’ll just act like a student and simply observe. I’ll do all the talking. First, we’ll ride into the pasture in a single file line to practice diagonals. When each rider reaches a flag in the center, the rider must head toward a different corner of the pasture on the diagonal. Horses love to follow one another and will do so like circus elephants if you let them. Mastering quick, immediate responses is paramount for intermediary riders.”
    Rachel nodded, sipping her coffee, but the excitement building in her veins was better than any jolt of caffeine.
    â€œNext, we’ll head to the trails. Twelve Elms has miles of groomed trails between the pastures, through the woods, and along the river. We’ll ride for at least an hour in whatever direction the spirit takes us before we turn around and come back.”
    â€œWhat do you mean by ‘groomed?’”
    â€œEither Jake or Keeley drives around the entire property in one of our quads—up into the hills, everywhere. They’ll move any long branches that fall down across the path. We don’t want horses confusing them with snakes and throwing their riders. Horses don’t like snakes. Jake takes along a chainsaw in case a tree blocks the way. Keeley calls on the walkie-talkie if she needs help because she can’t run a saw. They’ll make note of any break in the fence or a rock slide. You have no idea how much maintenance a riding stable demands, including the woodlands and pastures.”
    Rachel washed her mug out in the sink. “I understood everything except for what a ‘quad’ is.”
    â€œIt’s a vehicle with four big tires you ride off-road. It’s easier to show you than to explain. They’re so much fun. Just ask Keeley.”
    â€œAsk me what?” The youngest Brady strolled into the room.
    â€œGoodness, you’re already awake and dressed for the