The next weekend Lorelai and Rory arrived at the stables to go riding. Lorelai had called and set up the session. Rory looked apprehensive as they approached the stables to sign in. Lorelai rubbed Rory's back as they walked.
"Don't worry, Honey, I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
"You promise?"
Lorelai nodded and pulled Rory close to her as they walked. They signed in and both put on helmets as they waited for the horse to be led to them. Lorelai made sure Rory's helmet was tight enough and then secured her own. Rory was thankful that the horse that was brought to them was not Mister.
"This is Coffee," the handler said.
"You're kidding," Lorelai said.
"Nope. We thought she was the color of a cup of coffee," the handler said.
"Rory, this horse was made for us," Lorelai said. Rory only smiled at her mom.
Coffee was led to the step so that Rory could mount up. Rory took a deep breath and tried to quell her fears. Lorelai leaned down and spoke into Rory's ear. "It's okay to be scared, but you and me are going to conquer this. You can do it." Rory nodded and Lorelai helped her up on the horse and then quickly climbed up behind her daughter. She could feel how tense Rory was.
"Relax, Rory," she instructed as she wrapped her arms around her daughter to hold the reins. Lorelai was at ease on the house and it felt natural to be riding again. She moved Coffee at a walk around the corral. Lorelai rubbed Rory's arm, trying to get her to relax.
"Are you okay?" Lorelai asked. Rory nodded. As they continued around the corral, Lorelai felt something hit her nose. She looked up to see that it had started snowing.
"Rory, it's snowing!" she said with the excitement of a child. The snow even brought a smile to Rory's apprehensive expression.
"I arranged this just for you, Mom," Rory said. She knew how much her mother loved the snow.
"I love you so much, you know that?" Lorelai said, leaning in close to Rory.
Rory nodded and said, "I love you too, Mom."
The girls rode in silence for the next couple of minutes. Rory was growing more at ease with being on the horse. She didn't ever want to do it again, but she felt safe with Lorelai there with her. Lorelai glanced around the landscape and watched as the snow blanketed the ground. This was truly her favorite time of year and she knew she and Rory were sharing something that they would probably never do again, and she was savoring each moment.
Rory," Lorelai finally broke the silence between them. "We can stop if you want to. I'm ready to go whenever you want to get off. But I have to say, I'm so proud of you. It took a lot of courage for you to get out here and do this."
"I couldn't have done it without you," was Rory's reply. "And we can ride for a little longer. As long as you promise to get me some coffee when we get home. We're going to need some for our midnight walk in the snow."
Lorelai's smiled broadened and she said, "I promise," as she led Coffee on another trip around the corral.
The End