18. Dani
18
dani
Setting up your stall when you’re a one-man show is a simple job, especially when you didn’t rent a stall for tack and are planning to walk your horse back and forth from the trailer to get her ready. Frankly, the stall is just for comfort for Lady.
I get her settled in, and people come and go. Friends that I’ve made along the way come and say hi, giving me hugs and welcoming me back.
Back in the day, we had an entire group of people who got together at each show. It was like having a family reunion every couple of weeks.
I miss those times. The comradery, the friendship, the feeling of belonging. Those were some of the best times of my life.
I’m walking back to my trailer when a familiar one pulls in right next to mine. My jaw drops slightly in shock, and I let out a scoff when a tall, handsome, and bearded cowboy steps out of his truck .
“CT,” I say, moving closer.
He grins sheepishly and says, “Surprise.”
“You’re showing again?” A spark of happy excitement twinges in my chest at the thought. He is finally returning to his passions again, and even though we aren’t together, it makes me happy to see.
You don’t have to be together to be happy for him, Dani. I scold myself and refocus my attention on him.
Shrugging his big shoulders, he says, “Figured I would give it a shot. What better timing than when you’re here?”
I frown and sigh. “You didn’t come all this way just because I’m here, did you?”
“Gosh, Dani, not everything is about you,” he teases, and I shove him on the shoulder with a laugh. I follow as he walks into the barn. The same door I just came out of.
On the outside of the barn, there are numbers over the large garage doors. Most are open so people can move in and out freely and haul in their things. Cade walks toward number eight, the one that leads toward the aisle I’m in. Inside the barn, they label each aisle with another number. There are thirty rows of stalls, with twenty stalls in each row.
To put it plainly, there are a lot of horses at this show this week.
We walk a few rows down, and I notice he’s heading right for Lady. He gets there, takes in the numbers on the stalls and nods with satisfaction. He notices Lady and walks over, giving her a rub on the head. “Fancy seeing you here, girl.”
Why does my heart melt seeing him love on my horse?
I sigh and shake the thought from my head. “You’re stalling next to me?”
“Seems that way,” he confirms. “Guess it’s only fitting since you’re my client.”
I roll my eyes, but there’s a small tugging at my lips. “Please. Who’s being cocky now?” Cade raises an ornery eyebrow, and I point my finger at him. “Don’t you dare say it.”
He crows with laughter, spooking Lady slightly, then petting her and calming her back down.
I shake my head with exasperation.
“Well,” he sighs. “Come on then, I need to get Poco out.”
“Poco?”
“Yup, you noticed that palomino mare out in the runs?”
I think back to the barn and the runs he’s referring to. Some of his horses he keeps outside where they have their own space that’s a little bigger than the stalls. They each have their own shelter too.
“Yeah,” I confirm.
“I’ve been working with her for a while, getting her ready for the day I wanted to show.”
I smile at him. “Guess that day came, huh?”
His eyes soften, and he returns my grin. “Guess so.”
I follow him back out toward our trailers, already knowing that I’m going to help him get his things because I can’t not help with his horse.
I grab the horse in question while Cade grabs the bag of shavings he brought from home so as to not pay the up-charged fee the show staff charges if you buy them here. He hauls it into the stall and spreads it out.
Once we get Poco settled with a hay bag, water, and shavings, we watch to make sure that Poco and Lady get along before moving on. When they start nuzzling noses through the bars, we know we’re safe.
I raise a brow at Cade. “Looks like we got lucky.”
He rolls his eyes and sighs. “Mares.”
I help Cade haul in his gear since he rented two stalls, one for his tack, and we set him up. He hands me a bundle of dark fabrics I know all too well, and I raise a brow.
“Curtains? Are you advertising you’re officially back in business?”
Cade shrugs, his hands on his hips while he catches his breath from hauling everything inside. “I’m not letting anything else pass me by. I’ve wasted enough time in my life.”
I have…so many things to ask at those words.
But I keep it to myself.
We get his curtains hung around the stall, allowing for privacy inside the stall itself. All trainers have curtains so they can use the stalls to change into their nicer showing clothes or take naps in the middle of the day—or night, depending on how long a show runs.
I find the panel with his name and notice it’s fairly new.
“Three Rivers Trevors Ranch” is embroidered on the top, with a brand below it. Then underneath, it says, “Reining and Working Cow Horse.” Advertising what he specializes in on this piece of fabric will be what people walking around look for. It’s what makes them stop and ask questions.
Essentially, even though he’s here to show, he’s also using his stalls as a sort of booth for marketing his work.
I hang it for him with pride. Maybe pride I don’t deserve to feel, but I can’t help it anyway.
Once all of that is finished, I stand at the stalls, staring. “Well, I feel better that Poco is here for Lady, and she’s not alone. Plus, you’ll be here with them.” I smile. “Another bonus.”
He glances around at the stalls. “Well, you’re hanging out with me too.”
I raise a brow, angry with myself for the immense pleasure I feel at his words. “Oh, I am, am I?”
He shrugs. “’Course,” he says in a blasé manner. “You’d be miserable without me.”
Maybe he didn’t mean to, but he hit the mark with that comment.
I see the moment he realizes what he said, and his shoulders deflate a little, an apology forming in his eyes. “I didn’t mean?—”
“Well,” I cut him off, trying to keep up a good face. “If I’m stuck with you, then you won’t mind sharing that tack stall.”
Cade hesitates, maybe wondering if he should apologize, then smiles. “What’s mine is yours.”
A couple hours later, we’re all settled and wander toward the arena where classes are already going. Three judges sit in chairs inside the side of the arena where they can see everything. An announcer is placed at a table by the entry gate, and people are mulling around, catching up with friends and colleagues.
Cade and I walk down the side of the tunnel that leads from the warm-up arena to the show arena and head up the stairs to the stadium seating.
We take seats where we can watch for a bit. Currently, it’s a youth class, and seeing little kids control these big horses is always so adorable yet incredibly impressive.
He makes comments here and there, mentioning how he thinks Alex could do this, but he doesn’t want to pressure her.
I smile at the thought of him wanting to encourage her without pressuring her.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the lovebirds, back again!” the joyous voice calls from behind us and I turn to see who it is.
I smile broadly when I see Amy, Joanna, and Hank make their way to our seats. I jump up from my seat to hug all three of them.
“Well, you are all a sight for sore eyes,” I remark to the trio of siblings who have been in the show circuit forever. “I can’t believe you’re here!”
“Had to get out of Texas for the summer, so we’re traveling around to shows,” Hank tells us, grasping Cade’s outstretched hand in his own. “We haven’t seen you two in years! You guys hitched yet?”
I falter in my hug to Amy and pull back. “Oh?—”
“Nah.” Cade saves me graciously, giving me a quick look. “I messed that one up.”
“No way,” Joanna says in shock. “You let this go?” She points at me, and I blush, nudging her arm. She and I were always super tight.
“Don’t worry, I have a plan.”
If it’s possible, my cheeks heat further, and I’m sure I’m red as a tomato.
Hank guffaws. “Well,” he says. “If this one messes up again, you just give me a call.”
“Not a fucking chance.” Cade not so gently punches him in the arm, making the girls laugh. I’m sure I’m red as a tomato.
“Well, we’re heading over to The Gin Mill. Y’all coming?” Amy asks, and Cade looks at me.
The Gin Mill is the hangout for shows like this. It is a saloon with great food, drinks, and lots of dancing.
Cade would inevitably ask me to dance again. I thought about that for a moment and wondered how I would handle it if he did. Being here with him, in this setting that is so familiar, has me wishing we could start all over again.
Was I ready to bury the hatchet? Ready to let Cade in again and risk potentially getting hurt?
I steel my spine and let out a silent breath. “Yeah, we’re in.”