Elizabeth Learns to Ride

Elizabeth has enjoyed living in Hope Valley for the past year. It was finally summer break and Elizabeth had nothing to fill her days with so she decided she wanted to learn to ride. One day a few days after break started Elizabeth decided to seek out Jack Thornton to ask him to teach her to ride. She went to the jail where she knew she would most likely find Jack. As soon as she entered she spotted Jack filling up the wood stove with more wood to heat up some coffee. As soon as Jack looked up from filling up the wood he saw Elizabeth and said;

"Hello Elizabeth what brings you by my office this morning" Jack asks

"Well I came to ask you if you would be willing to give me some horseback riding lessons" Elizabeth responds

"I would be glad to give you riding lessons. Are you sure you want to learn to ride Elizabeth" Jack replies

"Of course Jack. Hope Valley is my home now and part of that is learning to ride" Elizabeth responds

"Good for you Elizabeth" Jack responds

After Elizabeth and Jack finish their talk they decide Jack should start to teach Elizabeth to ride starting tomorrow afternoon after Jack does his morning rounds.

Elizabeth's First Lesson

The day of Elizabeth's first riding lesson with Jack came, and she was so excited. Elizabeth could barely get through the morning doing some chores around the cafe for Abigail to past the time until the afternoon came. By lunchtime Elizabeth was more than ready to meet up with Jack and his horse Sargent for her first riding lesson that she practically ran down the middle of the towns street to meet up with Jack who was waiting outside the Jail with his Horse. As soon as Elizabeth reached Jack she said;

"I am ready for my first riding lesson Jack, when can we start" Elizabeth inquires

"Right now, both Sargent and I are ready if you are" Jack responds

"I am so ready. So how do I get up on Sargent here" Elizabeth replies

" Just put your leg in the stirrup and Jump on up and swing your other leg over to the other side" Jack responds

As Jack watches Elizabeth as she tries to get up into the saddle he can't help but be amused. After five minutes he helps out Elizabeth by hosting her up into the Saddle and she has a look of surprise on her face after she plops into the saddle. Jack then gets into the saddle right behind her and then tells her how to get Sargent to start moving. Once Sargent gets moving a little too fast for Elizabeth's liking she says to Jack;

"How do I get Sargent to slow down, he is going a little too fast for me" Elizabeth asks

"Just pull back on the reins a little bit to get him to slow down" Jack replies

Elizabeth does as Jack tells her and she starts to feel more confident in learning to ride. After a few hours they are finished for the day. Elizabeth continues lessons for the next week. Pretty soon after a few lessons Jack borrows a horse from the towns Livery for Elizabeth so they can ride side by side as Elizabeth continues to become a better rider on her own.

One Month Later

A month later Jack tells Elizabeth that she does not need lessons anymore, but she enjoys it so much that they continue to ride together almost every day for the rest of summer break from school. One day as they are riding together Jack says to Elizabeth;

"Wow, Elizabeth you have gotten so good in such a short time with riding" Jack says

"Thanks, that was my goal especially since Hope Valley has become my home and will continue to be my home" Elizabeth responds

"Really, you don't plan on ever moving back to Hamilton" Jack replies

"No, I love Hope Valley It's where I belong and I love teaching the children too much to leave them" Elizabeth responds

Jack and Elizabeth continue on their ride and Jack eventually leads her towards a piece of land he had brought to show her the beautiful scenery which she loves especially on a nice summer day they are enjoying together. They then ride back into town and go their separate ways home for the rest of the day. When she gets home Elizabeth starts planning for school which will be starting in just two weeks in the brand new school house that is almost finished which she is looking forward towards.