Chapter 52
They weren’t really close, so this straightforward vibe felt way more comfortable than any forced friendliness,
Allison started laying down the basics for Lillian. “When you’re just starting out with horseback riding, your posture is key. Once you’re up in the saddle, inake sure to sit up straight.”
“Here, try holding the reins,” Allison said, handing them over to Lillian. “So, to get the horse moving forward, your need to be gentle with the reins. Don’t yank them back too hard. You want to ease up on the tension, take the pressure off the horse, and it’ll start to walk slowly.”
Lillian followed Allison’s guidance, holding the reins without pulling back too much. Snow began to walk forward obediently.
Allison reassured her softly, “His name is Snow. He’s really gentle, so you don’t need to worry.”
“Really?” Lillian’s voice was a bit flat, her words slightly offbeat.
Allison replied, “Don’t worry. I’m here, nothing’s going to happen.”
Lillian gave a small, enigmatic smile. “Well, thanks for that.”
Allison continued with the lesson, “If you want the horse to pick up speed, try gently squeezing its sides with your calves. This is called leg pressure. The horse will get the hint and start to speed up.
“In general, the more pressure you apply, the faster the horse will run.
“When the horse starts to run, remember to release that pressure.”
After explaining, Allison kindly asked, “Does that make sense?”
Lillian nodded, “Yeah, I got it.”
They had wandered quite a bit from where they started. Lillian glanced back, and Joshua was nowhere to be
seen.
Allison was still chatting about the basics of riding, but Lillian’s mind was elsewhere. In her right hand, which held the reins, was a brooch she had discreetly removed and hidden.
Unaware, Allison asked, “After all this riding, how do you feel? Isn’t it a thrill?”
Lillian responded with a shrug, “Yeah, it’s alright.”
the
“The weather’s gorgeous today,” Allison noted, admiring the sunset. The sky was a canvas of colors, and a gentle breeze swept over the meadow.
Allison strolled along, soaking in the breathtaking view.
After a while, she suggested, “Shall we head back?”
Lillian gave a mysterious smile.
Allison was puzzled by her reaction. And that’s when the unexpected happened.
The white horse suddenly took off, galloping wildly. Lillian, in a panic, clung to the reins and screamed for help. “Ah–help! Help!”
Allison was stunned by what was unfolding. What just happened? Why did Snow suddenly go haywire? Everything happened so fast, in a blink of an eye, that Allison couldn’t grab the reins in time.
For a brief moment, her mind went blank. Once she gathered herself, she quickly called the stable’s emergency
rescue team.
Lillian was carried a distance by the horse. She eventually tumbled onto the grass, rolling quite a way. The
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Chapter 52
horse continued its wild dash forward.
The emergency team arrived swiftly and got Lillian onto a stretcher.
Joshua and the others hurried over with the rescue team to see what was going on. Seeing Lillian hurt, Joshual frowned, shooting a look at Allison.
Allison stared back, feeling bewildered and at a loss.
