The Guest Ranch

The Guest Ranch

Zach tried to get a better look at Cottonwood Guest Ranch, squinting as his mom's car rumbled forward. “ Why are we on vacation in the middle of nowhere?" he grumbled. He flicked his thumb across his smartphone's screen. “ The map doesn't even get a signal. " " To take a break from all that! " Zach's mom replied. She reached over, grabbed his phone from his hands, and lowered the window. " Smell that? That's fresh air out there! That's nature! "

To Zach, the air smelled like horses and cows. He could even see the horses, tossing their manes. When they went inside the main building to check in, Zach looked through the guest packet, examining photos of the week's activities. There would be horseback riding and hiking, river rafting and rodeo skills, all leading up to a real cattle drive. He had to admit that the activities looked pretty cool, especially the riding. All day, he had stared out the window, thinking how strange it was to cross the desert by car. It had to be different on horseback. Instead of just passing by the landscape, you'd be a part of it. Still, Zach felt a little uneasy as he followed his mom to their room. “ Mom, are you sure this place is for us?" he asked. " I mean, the people in the photos don't exactly look like us. " “ Give it a chance, " his mom urged gently, kicking off her shoes. “ Your uncle Grant said they had a great time when they came here last summer. "

The next morning, Zach went to his first horseback-riding lesson. As one of the beginners, he started by learning the parts of the horse and saddle. He also learned how not to get stomped or chomped on. The riding instructors made riding seem easy, but Zach's horse, Gizmo, had other ideas. He had huge teeth and muscles like marble. He would not obey Zach's commands. The afternoon hike was a reliefbut even so, Zach felt disappointed. Walking around while cacti stabbed you was nowhere near as fun as a real ride through the desert. Would he ever be able to do that?

The next day, Zach was dragging his feet back toward the stables when a tall African American man walked by. " All right, where are my beginners?" he boomed. Zach blinked. A black cowboy? Working as a ranch hand in New Mexico? “ The name's Mitch, " the man said, giving Zach a wink. “ Saddle up! " Zach leapt into action, but by the end of class, it was clear he was not keeping up. The other beginners were trotting, while Zach could barely direct Gizmo's wanderings.

" Why don't we spend a little time with Gizmo one-on-one?" Mitch suggested. Zach blushed. “ That's okay, " he mumbled. " Horseback riding isn't really my thing. " " That's a load of manure, " Mitch replied and slipped a sugar cube into Zach's hand. " Sugar's the first secret to cowboying, " he joked. " Keep your palm flat, now. " Gizmo gobbled up the sugar cube as fast as a jackrabbit. Zach grinned. Mitch smiled back, then fixed Zach's posture, moved his knees, and told him to loosen his grip on the reins. " You're in charge of the horse, " he said. " Always remember that. "