I try side saddle first, the way Mista Johnston taught me an' Mary how. But I keep slippin' an' fallin'- even when the horse is only at a walk. It real embarrassin' even though no one even there to see it. I think 'bout given up an' goin' back to the manor, but that'd be like given in to 'em. To daddy an' Mista Johnston an' the Mistress an' Mary an' Miss. Lizabeth an' every one who don't think nothin' of me. I don' gotta do it like 'e tol' me how- he ain't here to say no an' punish me. It only me an' the horse- that all. I can take a chance- do sompin' different an' unexpected fo' a southern belle.
When I get back on fo' the fifth time, I ride regular. The way Mista Johnston had- the way all men do. It hurt the inside a my thighs at first, cause I squeezin' so 'ard with them- jus' so I can stay on an' stay balanced. But then I get used to it, an' tell the horse faster than a walk. To a trot- then, as we deep on the path- far gone from anyone who could tell me no- I tell it to canter.
The wind blow real fast, my hair whippin' side to side, pieces even slippin' from their clasp inta my mouth. My cheeks, I sure are real flushed, an' my hands are almos' white from grippin' the reigns so hard. I even sweatin' a bit- even though it ain't too hot out.
At first I don' like it none, I don't like the feelin'- the tense feelin' it give my body. It hurt, painful on my legs, an' my mind even. It blurs my vision, creatin' tears that I didn't even cry. But then- then I relax an' let the horse take over. I close my eyes- trustin' it ta guide me straight down our path, an' then 'ventually back home. An' then I feel free, like I flyin'. I a bird, up in the air, the clouds behind me.
It ain't too lon' 'fore it stops. I don' 'spect it to, an' it so sudden that I jerk forward- my head clashin' with its neck. It stumbled over somethin' I guess- or maybe saw some sort of animal deeper on the path. Either way- I done flyin'- we both is.
I think 'bout restartin'- but the jerky stop got me feelin' all sketchy an' I don' think I can hold on no more. I tell the horse to turn 'round an' we walk all the way back. I see daddy by the stables from afar- righ' at the end of the path. Sad an' a bit disillusioned I quickly switch back to bein' a lady an' ridin' side saddle. Daddy'll like it better that way.
He don't smile when he see me, jus' helpin' me down an' takin' the reigns 'emself. The horse is back to bein' his.
When I get back on fo' the fifth time, I ride regular. The way Mista Johnston had- the way all men do. It hurt the inside a my thighs at first, cause I squeezin' so 'ard with them- jus' so I can stay on an' stay balanced. But then I get used to it, an' tell the horse faster than a walk. To a trot- then, as we deep on the path- far gone from anyone who could tell me no- I tell it to canter.
The wind blow real fast, my hair whippin' side to side, pieces even slippin' from their clasp inta my mouth. My cheeks, I sure are real flushed, an' my hands are almos' white from grippin' the reigns so hard. I even sweatin' a bit- even though it ain't too hot out.
At first I don' like it none, I don't like the feelin'- the tense feelin' it give my body. It hurt, painful on my legs, an' my mind even. It blurs my vision, creatin' tears that I didn't even cry. But then- then I relax an' let the horse take over. I close my eyes- trustin' it ta guide me straight down our path, an' then 'ventually back home. An' then I feel free, like I flyin'. I a bird, up in the air, the clouds behind me.
It ain't too lon' 'fore it stops. I don' 'spect it to, an' it so sudden that I jerk forward- my head clashin' with its neck. It stumbled over somethin' I guess- or maybe saw some sort of animal deeper on the path. Either way- I done flyin'- we both is.
I think 'bout restartin'- but the jerky stop got me feelin' all sketchy an' I don' think I can hold on no more. I tell the horse to turn 'round an' we walk all the way back. I see daddy by the stables from afar- righ' at the end of the path. Sad an' a bit disillusioned I quickly switch back to bein' a lady an' ridin' side saddle. Daddy'll like it better that way.
He don't smile when he see me, jus' helpin' me down an' takin' the reigns 'emself. The horse is back to bein' his.
