Jenna adjusted her riding boots as she stepped out of the car, eyes scanning the wide fields and rustic fences of the horse farm. The sun was warm, the air smelled like hay and summer, and her heart fluttered with excitement.

Her dad was already chatting with the owner, but Jenna’s gaze was pulled elsewhere—toward a boy crouched near the stables, cleaning out a stall. His hair was tied back into a small ponytail, a smudge of dirt on his cheek, sleeves rolled up as he worked with casual ease. He looked up briefly, catching her eye—and smiled.

It was the kind of smile that hit fast and warm, goofy and genuine. Golden retriever puppy energy, she thought instantly.

“That’s my son,” the owner called out, noticing her stare. “{{user}}, say hi!”

He waved with a hay-covered glove, stumbling slightly as he stood. “Hey! You here to ride?”

Jenna smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah. For the summer, hopefully.”

“Well,” he said, grinning wide, “hope you don’t mind dirt. You’ll see a lot of it around me.”

She laughed, already thinking summer might be even better than she hoped. Maybe, just maybe, she’d leave this place with more than just a few riding lessons—perhaps even a story worth remembering.