Chapter 24 #2
Kitty doesn’t race or do the rodeos but, what with growing up on a ranch, she’s amazing with horses, and she knows how much of a big deal this competition is to me. She knows all about the last time that I competed professionally and what happened to me on the ice all of those years ago.
Her excitement and support means a lot to me.
“Are you sure?” I ask, unable to fight back my smile, and she gives me a teasing roll of her eyes before straight up bolting toward the barn.
Another thing about Kitty? She ran track in high school.
And it shows.
“Wait up!” I laugh, beaming up at Lightning as we chase after her, and his beautiful irises shimmer in the sunlight, his whole demeanour happy and free.
She grins back at us from the barn doors, her cowgirl boot propped up against the siding, and I glance back at her boyfriend over my shoulder, who’s clapping hands with Ade before he heads to the stables.
Then Madden meets Kitty’s eyes and he twists his grin as he heads our way.
“You really don’t have to watch me ride while you’re on your time-off,” I laugh, stroking Lightning’s beautiful mane as he sniffs happily between me and Kitty.
Although I can’t deny that it’s helpful to get him used to being around different people.
“You should be out in the sunshine with your boyfriend. You don’t have to stay with me in the barn. ”
But Kitty just flicks me a naughty smile and says, “Oh, don’t worry. He loves a good barn.”
Madden laughs, loud and rumbling, an inside joke flashing dangerously in his eyes, and he bites his lip-ring as he smirks at Kitty, watching as she gives me a mischievous smile.
“Forget I said anything,” she laughs, and then she’s screaming as Madden grabs her, banding his large forearms around her waist and smiling victoriously as we enter the barn.
“I like a barn, do I?” he chuckles, his voice deep and taunting, before he presses a firm kiss against his girlfriend’s cheek.
Kitty preens happily, giving me a playful smile, and then she purrs something in French that has Madden’s cheekbones flushing.
His dark lashes flutter. “T'es sérieux?” he murmurs.
Kitty laughs and kisses his jaw, before saying softly, “Oui.”
She manoeuvres out of his hold, taking his hand in hers as she admires the space around us, the large barn glowing in the sunlight and making the perfect training ground for running the barrels.
“How long have you been training him?” Kitty asks, as she tugs her boyfriend toward the wood panelling, finding the optimum spot to watch us ride and grinning in support once they’re in position.
I mount the saddle in an easy swing, laughing when Lightning raises his front hoof, offering it up for me to climb on.
“If we include the bonding time from before we started actually riding? Like, a month and a half,” I tell her honestly. “He hasn’t had training before, but he’s been a natural since the first ride.”
“He’s really beautiful,” Kitty says softly. “And I’m obsessed with his eyes.”
I giggle at that, shooting her a grin, and then I arch my posture, ready to ride.
I tighten the reins, preparing Lightning. “On one, two–”
And then we’re taking off like a shot, dust sparkling around us as Lightning charges.
We curve the first barrel, then the second, and then I’m beaming with delight as he makes the third, the pure joy radiating from his body making me squeal happily as we reach the makeshift end.
“Well done, baby!” I exclaim, patting Lightning’s neck as he slows himself down, and when he settles into a comfortable run, he throws me a happy whinny over his shoulder.
I laugh, leaning forward, and give him a huge hug as he slows to a canter.
Then I’m sitting upright and grinning at Kitty, who’s whooping so thoroughly that her hat’s in the dust.
Madden chuckles as he picks it up, lacing his fingers through Kitty’s as she races over to us.
“Do you know how fast you just rode?” Kitty exclaims, her eyes wide with awe as she catches her breath.
“Was it good?” I ask honestly, and Kitty chokes out a laugh as she shows me her phone.
I look at the number on the stopwatch and my heart thunders in my chest.
“And you’ve only been practicing with him for a month and a half?!”
“Yes,” I breathe out.
Lightning blinks back at me, wide-eyed and curious.
He really is a natural.
I lift one boot over the saddle and move gently as I dismount, my dimples flexing in my cheeks when I see his raised front hoof, offering it just in case.
“Where did you even learn that?” I ask him quietly, laughing as my cowgirl boots hit the dust, and he keeps his hoof raised in the air for another couple of seconds, peeking down at me expectantly, as if willing me to catch his drift.
“He’s adorable,” Kitty smiles, linking her free arm through mine as we start walking toward the entrance of the barn. “And that ride was amazing. How do you feel?”
“About the rodeo?”
She nods her head. “Yeah.”
“A little nervous,” I admit, “but the guys have been amazing. They’ve been reassuring, and so patient, and making sure that there isn’t too much weight on my shoulders. Honestly?” I say softly. “I feel really lucky.”
Kitty nudges my shoulder with a gorgeous smile. “This ranch is lucky to have you.”
A warm sensation spreads through my chest as we walk out into the golden sunlight.
I can’t deny that training and competing is healing something inside of me, and I’m so grateful that the guys have so much faith in me – because that faith has allowed me to prove myself to myself.
To remind myself that I can do anything that I set my mind to, and that the actions of other people don’t have to affect my life forever.
I’m not living my life for myself if I’m acting out of fear – hiding from the world because of the ‘what if’s.
What if someone sabotages me again?
What if someone tries to hurt me?
Caden, Maverick, Ade… they’ve all got my back. And training for this rodeo has opened up my eyes.
To what I’ve been holding myself back from.
And to what I’m capable of.
Because it turns out that ‘what if’ doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
What if I actually win?