Chapter 10
Staying late at the rodeo and then getting up at seven for work the next day is killer, but if I want to muck stalls and feed the horses before Antonio’s roping event, I have no choice.
I’m still half asleep an hour later when I stumble into The Lodge for breakfast and nearly bump into Ellie at the buffet line.
“Shit, sorry.” I instinctively grab her elbow and then blink twice to clear the fog when her eyes meet mine. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
Before the choking incident at lunch earlier this week, she’d never come in to eat.
“Didn’t know I had to inform you when I needed food.” Her gaze lowers to her plate sliding against the buffet table.
Guess she’s a little moody after placing second last night.
“Oh, still snarky even after I saved your life? Alright, cool. I’d stay away from any meat, then. I don’t help people who have a vendetta against me for no reason.”
“I doubt you’re the only person in here who knows how to perform the Heimlich maneuver.” She grabs three pieces of sausage links to prove her stubbornness.
“Choke and find out.”
Her head whips up and her stare is murderous. Good.
Getting a rise out of her is my new hobby. Now that we’re in a mutual dislike for each other, might as well push her buttons as much as she’s pushed mine over the years.
Arching a brow, I challenge her to say something about my choking comment.
Before she can, the person behind me clears their throat, and I realize we’re holding up the line. With the fair, the retreat is maxed out on guests.
Ellie gets the hint and moves along, keeping silent as we load our plates. Besides the meat on hers, the rest is filled with fruit. My gaze follows as she walks to a table with Waylon and Wilder.
Son of a bitch.
It’s weird enough that she’s eating here, but even more so that she’s sitting with them.
But I’m not letting her ruin my day, especially after I had a great date with Cecilia. We laughed most of the evening and had a great time. We’re planning to meet up at the fair again tonight for a couple hours and then we’ll go to the Twisted Bull for drinks.
I walk over to their table and sit next to Waylon, ignoring the way she’s burning a hole in my head. Wilder’s talking about some twin girls they met at the rodeo and Ellie doesn’t look happy about it.
Is she jealous?
“Well, if your goals were to find the bitchiest sisters in the South, you succeeded,” Ellie says.
Waylon smirks. “Why do you think we took them to the house of mirrors and then bailed?”
“They’re probably still in there tryna find us,” Wilder muses.
“Wait, you ditched them?” Ellie asks, surprised.
I’m not. I’m only surprised she’s surprised. Has she met them?
“As soon as they started talkin’ shit about you, we got rid of ’em,” Waylon says. “Figured they weren’t happy you kicked their asses and didn’t realize you were with us.”
“With you?” Ellie lifts a brow.
“Yeah, you’re an honorary Hollis. That means no one messes with you.” Wilder grins.
“Except Landen.” Waylon laughs, and I nudge him.
Ellie shoves a whole sausage link into her mouth while staring at me as if she’s waiting to see if I’ll confirm his statement or not.
“Nope. We’re mutual enemies. She no longer gets my life-saving services. So you better chew,” I mock with a smirk.
“Enemies to lovers, huh?” Noah asks behind Ellie, appearing out of nowhere. “My favorite romance book trope. Well, after monster smut. The tails do somethin’ to me.”
Wilder, Waylon, and I give her the same face of disgust.
“Have you come to rescue me?” Ellie asks, glancing over her shoulder.
Noah sits next to her. “Yep, sorry for runnin’ late. Donut was giving me attitude this mornin’ and Fisher wouldn’t stop annoying me about gettin’ off him.”
That’s Noah’s show horse she practices all her training on. A few years ago, she fell off him during a trick-riding stunt and got badly injured. After she had Poppy, she promised Fisher she wouldn’t do it anymore, but Delilah wanted help with advancing her skills before she went on a cross-country tour. So now Noah only practices when Fisher’s there to spot her.
“So what’s that have to do with you two meetin’ here for breakfast?” I ask.
“We’re havin’ a client-trainer meetin’, if ya must be nosy.” Noah scoffs.
“Talkin’ about that sick leg lift move she did last night?” Wilder asks.
“Yeah, you’re welcome for teachin’ her that,” I deadpan. “And wait, why wasn’t I invited to this meetin’? I’m her part-time trainer.”
Instead of acknowledging what I said, Ellie directs her attention to Noah. “Since Ranger didn’t get his hooves checked last week, I was hopin’ Fisher could see him before I leave on Wednesday. Give him a couple days with new shoes before the race on Friday.”
“Absolutely. Jase and he are going on a father-son fishing trip this weekend, but I’ll put Ranger on Fisher’s schedule first thing Monday morning. We’re headin’ out after chores on Wednesday, but I can meet you for a quick practice run on Thursday.”
“I’ll be there, too,” I interject with my fork in the air. “So, just tell me when and where.”
“My parents won’t be comin’ with me, so I’ll be free anytime,” Ellie tells Noah.
They don’t even offer me a glance.
“You’re drivin’ alone?” she asks.
“I could drive her. Since I’m going there, too,” I suggest, punching each word.
“Yeah, it’ll be fine. I’ll listen to an audiobook and chug some Red Bull.” Ellie smiles at Noah when she laughs.
“Hello? Does anyone hear me…” I tilt my head toward Wilder and Waylon, who are watching in amusement.
“I think they’re ignorin’ ya,” Wilder taunts with his mouth half full. “You can tell me about that hot brunette you were with last night instead if ya want.”
I don’t.
“Well, since no one’s listenin’, then I won’t suggest Ellie should wear her shoulder brace to keep it from droppin’ again. And I won’t suggest that she should work on Ranger’s third turn. I also won’t mention he got a little spooked when the stirrup smacked against him and y’all lost a few microseconds. Coulda taken first. But since no one’s listenin’, I won’t mention how to avoid it next time.”
“I’ll pack my shoulder brace too,” Ellie tells Noah as she violently stabs a piece of her watermelon. “I was gonna anyway…but I know it’ll keep me from droppin’ it and turnin’ the reins too soon.”
“Great idea.” Noah grins because she knows I just said the same damn thing.
“Are you ready, bud?” I pat Antonio’s shoulder as he anxiously waits for his turn.
“Ellie said she’d watch me. She’s not here. Is she comin’?” He looks toward the bleachers that are mostly filled with parents. It’s still early afternoon and most people don’t come until the evening events.
“If she said she would, then I’m sure she is.” I try to reassure him without making any promises.
“I watched her last night with my mom. She’s the GOAT! She deserved first place, though.”
“Yeah, I saw,” I deadpan, inhaling a sharp breath.
We continue waiting as a few other kids take their turns roping, and the closer we get to Antonio’s, the more nervous he gets.
“She’s not here!” he whisper-shouts.
Sighing, I take out my phone. “Hold on.”
We’ve only texted a few times, but it’s never been anything personal, only business.
Landen
Antonio’s wondering if you’re coming to watch him. It’s almost his turn.
When the jumping dots appear, I almost expect her to play dumb and say something stupid like who is this, but she surprises me when she responds.
Ellie
I’m two minutes away!
I show Antonio my screen and he smiles wide. “I knew she’d come.”
Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I stand with him and wait until she rushes into the waiting area.
“Ellie!” Antonio’s whole face lights up.
“Hey! Sorry, the line to use the restroom took forever.” She wraps him in a hug and it’s like looking at a version of Ellie I don’t recognize.
He hugs her back. “Stoked you’re here!”
“Of course. I promised I would.” She smiles so beautifully, I wonder what it’d take to get her to look at me that way.
Probably at my funeral. When she’s looking down at me in my casket.
I give Antonio a quick pep talk before it’s his turn.
“You’ve got this!” Ellie cheers loudly.
When Antonio enters the arena, I stand next to Ellie with my arms crossed as we watch him do exactly what I taught him.
“I don’t get you,” I murmur, softly brushing my shoulder against hers, and I swear she shivers.
She keeps her gaze on Antonio. “You don’t need to.”
“You just made that whole kid’s life being here. You’re his idol. But with me, you’re cold and distant. Hell, you acted like I didn’t exist all mornin’. And you give me no reason why.”
I know I should drop it and let it be, but I can’t. It’s like an itch I need to scratch, to reveal what it is I did that made me the villain in her story.
She swallows hard as she avoids looking at me. “We all need someone to look up to, to rely on, and trust. I had that once, so I know what it’s like when it’s taken away. If having my support helps him build confidence in roping or any other equine sport he picks up, then I’m happy to give that to him.”
What does she mean she had that once? Who did she lose?
Antonio rushes back after he gets his final score.
“Killed it!” I give him a high five.
“So proud of you!” Ellie gives him another hug.
“I think I’m gonna stick with it and maybe even learn to be a badass bull rider. Then in five years, I’ll be good enough to go pro.” He waggles his brows at her.
“And you’ll still be too young for her,” I remind him.
Ellie jabs her elbow into my stomach, and I grunt unexpectedly.
“That’s a great goal to work toward.” Ellie smiles warmly. “Noah’s husband used to ride bulls. I bet he’d love to give you some tips or maybe lessons.”
“Yeah? That’d be dope.”
“I’ll mention it the next time I see her and let ya know,” Ellie says.
Antonio’s mom comes over, and I step back to give them room.
“Thanks for the text. I lost track of time.” Ellie finally turns in my direction and as she’s about to walk past me, I grab her arm.
“Wait. Who’d you look up to?”
“What?” Her gaze focuses on where I’m touching her.
“You said you knew what it’s like to have that taken away. Tell me who you lost,” I plead softly.
Let me in.
I’m close to begging.
The corners of her eyes well with unshed tears, and I fight the urge to brush my thumb along her cheek just so I can touch her soft skin.
“Did they die?” I prompt.
She finally looks up at me, a mix of anger and sadness written across her face.
“No, she didn’t die. But I did the day she was taken from me.”