Chapter 31
Winter
Lightning gives my shoulder a little nudge and I peek up at him with a dimpled smile, my heart pounding in my chest as the crowd hollers and swells around us.
The jam-packed Kentucky arena is gleaming with bespoke Western décor, the crowd filled with the ranch’s business partners and groups of cowboys here for the show.
The upper story above the audience is panelled with stunning slats of polished wood, and the air smells like last night’s storm and heady cologne, deep rumbles of laughter reverberating all around us.
My heart picks up pace when I hear the sudden roar of the heaving crowd, swelling to a crescendo as the penultimate barrel racer makes it back through the gate.
The timer stops as she hurtles through it and then she throws on the brakes, glancing at the clock over her shoulder to see where she’s placed.
I turn my back on the enormous jumbotron, instead focusing on Lightning as he pats his hooves and nudges me with excitement.
There’s no doubt about it: Lightning knows what we’re about to do, the three barrels in the centre of the pen calling his name like the chords of a country song.
For a horse who only four months ago couldn’t have a rider on his back, he’s burning brighter than a Texan campfire and fallen in love with the barrel circuit.
Back at Hartstrings Ranch, we established that he didn’t like having a male rider. But his agitation and his dislike for slow rides up the valley?
That’s down to one thing only.
This horse was built for speed.
From his first ride around the barrels, Lightning became exactly who he was always meant to be. His demeanour is calmer, his beautiful eyes are even brighter, and from the way that he can’t wait to leave his stall in the mornings, I know that he’s head over hooves for his new profession.
I smile up at him as he peeks down at me, and my heart squeezes tight.
It looks like he finally found his calling.
That’s the thing about doing one good deed – without even knowing, it can lead to a million others.
Because when Caden and Ade and Maverick offered me the chance to ride for their brand, wanting to restore my faith and confidence in professionally competing…
who knew that it wasn’t only my life that was going to change?
It was going to change the life of the beautiful horse beside me, too.
The commentator announces the standings as country music blares through the surrounding speakers, and the crowd goes wild as the leaderboard shifts, hundreds of cowboys hollering in the stands.
The last rider was so darn good, except for one touch that she made to the last barrel.
I wince a little at her penalty and then turn around, willing myself to focus.
With Ade’s reassurance that the ranch won’t crumble if I don’t win my first rodeo, and Lightning’s palpable excitement about the race that we’re about to ride, I can’t hold back my little smile, my insides sparkling in anticipation.
I smooth out my shirt as the barrels are reset, biting back my excitement as the commentator introduces my name.
My tight pink shirt clings to my torso, and I tuck back my curls as I calm my breathing, placing my hat carefully over my brow as I grind the dirt with my new favorite boots.
I peek down at the pointed toes, perfectly tying my first rodeo outfit together.
My pink boots from Caden.
I knew that I’d find a special occasion to wear them.
I twist my lips to hide my smile and then Ade is standing right in front of me, placing his large palms on my shoulders as I look up into his striking eyes.
“You’ve got this,” he says, his voice deep and confident, the sounds of the audience cheering louder on either side of our tiny corridor.
I’m the final barrel racer of the event and the crowd couldn’t be more excited.
“No pressure,” he reminds me seriously. “Just get out there and enjoy yourself.”
I give him a mischievous smile as I unloop Lightning’s reins. “It would be pretty neat to win, though.”
“That’s the spirit,” Maverick rumbles, flashing me a handsome grin as he pulls me in for a hug, and then I’m mounting Lightning’s saddle and reaffixing my cowgirl hat over my hair.
My pink curls pouf out from beneath the brim and I fluff them gently with my fingers, before slipping my cell from the back of my jeans as I shift my body on the leather.
“Maverick,” I breathe out, about to toss him my phone, but then a text lights up the screen and my breathing hitches as my heart soars.
CADEN: I’m here, baby. Go get ’em.
Warmth shimmers in my chest and my eyes fly to the stands as I push my hat back, too many ranch-hands in the audience surrounding us for me to know where Caden is at.
But it doesn’t even matter.
All that matters is that he’s here.
He got to Texas, he’s in the audience, and he’s going to watch me ride.
“Here, sweetheart,” Maverick urges, catching the phone from my hand as the cheering peaks, and then I’m leaning down over Lightning’s back and pressing my forehead against his body, bringing us together.
And in this moment, nothing else matters – it’s just me and Lightning, ready to ride.
“We’ve got this,” I whisper, and he nickers softly as he pats his hooves, excitement and trust radiating out of him as he readies his posture, waiting for the cue.
I lift my head and tug his reins, ready to show this rodeo what he can do.
“Kentucky cowgirl, Winter Saint-Haven, is ready to go!” the commentator hollers.
Then the gate is opened, the crowd roars, and there’s no holding back – we’re flying.
Lightning’s hooves hit the dirt and we charge for the barrels like there’s no tomorrow, his enormous body prepared for the curve and already scouting out the next one.
I lean forward, propelling him faster, and we race for the second barrel in record time, my heart pounding like a jackhammer because there’s no way that another horse has ridden faster.
Lightning hurtles around the second barrel and I hear the crowd roaring in support as we race for the third, dust and dirt sparkling around us like jasper as we complete the sunlit clover.
I brace my posture, my thighs on fire, and my heart explodes as Lightning clears the final barrel, immediately bolting toward the exit gate so that we can stop the timer as quick as possible.
And the second that we’re through the gate I squeal with laughter as I hug his neck, and Lightning nickers as I try to slow him, pounding the dirt like he’s ready to go again.
“Well done, baby!” I exclaim raspily, cheers and whistles on both sides of our lane, and Lightning reaches around with his nose to try and nudge me as he whickers happily, accepting the praise.
And I look back at the jumbotron over my shoulder, my heartbeat thundering so loud that I can barely hear the score.
But I see the leaderboard clear as day, and my eyes begin to sting as they shoot to the top.
To the very top.
Because Lightning and I just won our first rodeo.
I bury my face in my hands and burst into tears as it finally hits me – the two first-timers in this arena securing the win for their first ever ride.
“Coming through,” Maverick hollers, boots hitting the dirt as the guys surround me, and Maverick’s hands find my waist, easing me down from the saddle as Ade takes the reins.
“You did it, sweetheart,” Ade rasps, giving me a paternal hug when he sees my face.
But it’s a certain deep voice making its way through the crowd that has my head lifting up as my heart races.
I turn around on a hopeful inhale – and there he is.
His stunning eyes are on mine as he shoulders his way down the steps, his large frame almost at the separation gate as he manoeuvres purposefully through the crowd.
And then I’m running right for him, gripping the top of my cowgirl hat before it flies to the dust.
He pushes at the gate that leads to the wood-panelled corridor and his eyes flash down when he realises that it’s locked.
But before I can grab the security guard who knows Ade and Maverick, Caden grips the top of the metal barrier and hauls himself over it with a grunt.
And then his hands are around my hips, his broad chest heaving as he hauls me up, and I wrap my arms around his shoulders as he wipes the happy tears from my cheeks.
He gathers me tighter against his chest, his Adam’s apple rolling as he searches my eyes.
“Hi,” I whisper, sniffling.
He holds me closer and whispers, “Hi.”
“You came,” I rasp softly, shaking my head in disbelief as I catch my breath. “I can’t believe that you’re here. I didn’t think that you’d be able to make it.”
What with Caden and his guys winning the NCAA Frozen Four Final yesterday, I wasn’t sure that he’d have time to reach Kentucky and come to the rodeo.
But here he is.
Looking like the proudest man in the world.
“No way was I missing your first ever rodeo,” he rumbles gently, and then he gives me a handsome grin as he adds, “Nice boots, cowgirl.”
I kick the heels playfully against his butt and he chuckles loudly, squeezing my waist.
“My boyfriend got them for me,” I whisper up at him.
His grin widens. “Did he now?”
And then his mouth is on mine, a quiet groan deep in his chest, as his palms roam protectively up and down my back.
“You were amazing,” he says quietly, before kissing my dimple and rumbling, “record breaker.”
“What?” I giggle breathlessly, my heart pounding in disbelief, and then I glance back over my shoulder to look at the enormous scoreboard.
And there, beside Lightning’s name, is a golden RR.
Rodeo Record.
“Oh my God,” I whisper.
Lightning and I just ran the fastest barrel race that this Kentucky Rodeo has ever seen.
Cameras flash, bringing me back to the present, and I take a moment to look all around us, the roar of the crowd bringing warmth to my chest as the cowboys in the stands holler in support.
My cheeks dimple in happiness at all of the shouted “congratulations”, and then I turn back to Caden as he chuckles softly, readjusting my hat.
His chest swells as he meets my eyes, and then he rumbles, “Our brand looks good on you.”
I smile playfully and whisper, “I know.”
He laughs deeply and kisses my cheek.
Then he caresses his palms around my hips and murmurs, “I can’t wait to see you wear it again.”
I twist my lips to the side, fighting my smile, because… maybe he will.
And maybe this will be the first of many rodeos to come.
“Maybe,” I whisper up at him, and his dimples flex as his mouth meets mine.
And then we’re laughing as the cowboys cheer and cameras flash all around us, and Caden takes my cowgirl hat with a handsome grin, using it to hide us as he deepens the kiss.
“I love you,” Caden whispers, and I giggle with delight as he spins me around.
And I hold him tighter as he chuckles, and I whisper back to him, “I love you, too.”