“From what I’ve seen, Maddie,” Fletch offered,
“Shy Guy is a different animal with someone in
the saddle.” Fletch leaned back, leaving Sawbones’s
reins hanging over the horse’s freckled neck. “He’s
not faint of heart, and he listens to Hanna without
question. Remember when Shy Guy didn’t even
blink at that cat?”
“That’s true,” Madison allowed.
“He’s the kind of horse that respects confi-
dence.” Fletch looked hard at Hanna. “Whenever
you tell him what to do and he listens, he’s passing
the authority to you. He’s putting his life in your
hands. He believes in you so much, Hanna. You
could blindfold a horse like Shy Guy and he’d do
whatever you told him, trusting you not to walk
him over a cliff.”
“I’d never do that,” gasped Hanna.
“Of course not. But you see my point?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re in control. You decide what goes.
Whether he spooks on this ride is up to you.” Fletch
arched one eyebrow and leaned forward. “Do you
feel confident, Hanna?”
Was that all it took? Confidence?
“Yes,” she said, her own certainty surprising
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