Chapter 6
Five
Quinn
Charming’s front hooves danced from side to side as he geared himself up, his heartbeat vibrating through him.
Deep breath in, long breath out. I’d done it so many times you’d think I’d have it down by now, but even in the training arena, the tension still rose in my stomach.
There was something different about being here—just me and my horse—versus being in a packed arena where the cheers motivated me.
Here, all I had was Charming’s body moving underneath mine.
Our deep breaths in and out, our heartbeats beginning to match, his muscles tensing, wanting to go. And right now, he wanted to move.
I kicked him into a full gallop, the wind catching my hair and his mane as we bolted through the gate.
I led him off to the right, to that first barrel, and he rounded it perfectly.
The tip of my boot skimmed the edge of the lid, but it stayed up.
Phew, I had to make those stay up, especially in training.
Charming gained more momentum as he flew towards the second barrel, circling that one with just as much ease.
We tilted off to the left, gaining a speed that could match a jet plane as we finally made it to the third barrel.
Piece of cake.
The barrel didn’t stand a chance.
Charming zoomed back to the entrance of the arena, his body buzzing just as much as mine was. He halted and let out a loud huff as the smile formed across my face.
I loved it. Everything from the speed to the pulling back just in time to stop.
Some people got their adrenaline rushes from jumping off bridges, extreme mountain biking down a rocky path, something that they considered dangerous, which could potentially kill them.
But for me, this right here, on the back of a horse, was it. Nothing would ever compare to it.
I had the feeling nothing could stop me, even if it tried.
I leaned down and wrapped my arms around Charming’s neck. “Good job, boy,” I said, rubbing my hand along his coat. “Good job.”
“Fourteen point nine!” I heard Cash shouting from the opposite end of the arena.
Pulling Charming back around, kicking him into a trot, I went right back to Cash, his dashing smile just as wide as mine must have been.
“Not bad. Best time of the night.” He took a step on the dirt, a small limp to his step. “A few more runs? Get Hook.” He nodded towards the stables.
I gave him a salute before dismounting Charming.
Before every session, I saddled both of my boys, getting each ready for whatever Cash may throw at us.
Sometimes I’d switch in between, giving both of them the time they need in the arena.
Other times, I’d be on one horse the entire ninety minutes.
If that was the case, I took the one who didn’t get to race on a long ride after.
I was honestly hoping for a long ride with Hook, but it looks like we’d get to spend some time in the arena together racing barrels.
Hook was a stubborn boy; his affection only went towards certain people, mainly me.
But the flash of Wyatt Hartwell handing him a peppermint and the way he talked to him sat in my mind, and it hit me in a way I wasn’t sure how to take.
Instinct was telling me to be annoyed, to remind the man that Hook was my horse, and he had his own, plus the other horses the Nova Luna Stable was boarding, he could bribe.
But in reality, my stomach did a small flip when I saw the two of them together.
It was getting harder to pretend Wyatt wasn’t around.
He was always in the stables, and I mean always.
He floated from stall to stall, giving each horse attention before moving on to the next.
He would joke and laugh with Cash, take direction from Abi, and always acknowledge me there, even if I didn’t pay any mind to him.
Our eyes would meet for a brief second before the corners of his lips would tug.
He’d nod and then break the contact, moving onto whatever he deemed worthy of his focus.
But he’d always give me that same cocky smile, sometimes a wink.
And my damn stomach would do the same stupid flip.
I had to remind myself that it was how Wyatt Hartwell worked; it was how he flirted and got all the women he had been with.
I wasn’t an idiot. I heard stories about him from other barrel racers and rodeo queens, which only solidified my first impression of him.
Playboy. Childish. Self-centered. Prideful.
Hear that, stomach? He’s a playboy and only trying to get what he wants out of you.
So why—when I didn’t see him at all—was I a little upset?
I traded out horses and took Hook back to the arena, whipping out a few runs with him in no time, impressed when the barrels only wobbled a little bit.
Cash was impressed, too, ending the session with his normal pep talk of the horse is only as good as the rider and how far I’ve come, with a gleam of pride in his eyes.
He’d pat my back, giving me his full support, and then I’d be left alone with my boys.
I removed Hook’s saddle first, tossing it over his stall before giving him a brush down. Charming waited patiently in his own stall, his head poking over the wall, watching my every move. I looked up at him as I inspected Hook’s shoes, pulling on some dirt that had lodged its way up in his hoof.
“You’re next, don’t worry.”
He huffed.
Sweat started to seep from my brow. Once I was finished with Hook, I gave him an apple before heading in with Charming, taking the slobber on my hand as a sign of love.
Moving from stable to stable, I glanced around, not admitting to myself that I was looking for a certain Hartwell.
If he were here, would he have helped? He would have taken Hook, obviously, and I would be ready to head home.
Would he give me that smile? Would he talk to me?
Would I let him?
I scoffed.
Talk? He’d try to hit on me again.
So no, I wouldn’t let him.
Removing Charming’s saddle, I flung it on the stall’s wall just like the other one, and my phone began to vibrate in my pocket.
My mind filtered through my contacts. I had friends from home, but they were the kind of friends we would go months without talking and still consider each other friends—they wouldn’t be texting me.
Cash was with another client… that only left my mom or my dad. My bet—mom.
Bingo.
Mom
Haven’t heard from you in a few days. How’s Alpine Crest?
I furrowed my brow.
Me
It’s Alpine Ridge, and it’s wonderful. You and Dad would actually like it.
Mom
Oh, no wonder I couldn’t find it on the map. Just checking in.
Me
Doing great. Just finished a training session, heading out on the road in a few weeks.
Mom
That’s good.
And with that, the conversation was over.
Not that it surprised me.
I pocketed my phone and kept working with Charming, walking out of the stables twenty minutes later, my legs already starting to feel the pull from the day. I could go home and just sink into a nice warm bath and—
“Hey!”
A cheerful voice from behind me called, derailing my thoughts of a bath completely.
Spinning, warmth spread across me once I saw Abi.
She was the sunshine of Hartwell Hills, even after enduring everything she had, just being near her made anyone feel the joy she radiated.
It still shocked me to learn how much she lost all those years ago.
Her husband, her friend…holding everything in until Cash came back into her life.
Even through all of that, her smile never faltered.
She always made me feel welcome, like she wanted me there—not just because I was her fiancé’s client, but because I was a friend.
“Hey, Abi.” I returned her smile.
“How was training today?”
“Good. Really good. Your fiancé made me work both horses today.” I rubbed my hand on my forehead, still feeling the slight sheen of sweat.
She scrunched her nose. “So you’re pretty beat, huh?”
I sighed, slumping my shoulders. “I smell like a barn.”
“I smell like a barn every day. I was actually wondering if you wanted to go out with Kyla and me tonight? It’s her night out, baby free, and you’ve lived here for about…
what? Four weeks now? Get out of the house and come out with us.
” Her eyebrows raised as she tilted her head, eagerly awaiting my answer.
The last time I went out was—hell—I couldn’t remember.
The night Wyatt hit on me the first time, maybe?
Maybe after…but I’m pretty sure I left early.
Which meant it was about time.
My long soak could wait. This sounded much more appealing.
“Can I shower first?” I asked, pinching my brow and looking down at the state of my person. Horse shit on my boots, water-soaked jeans, dirt on my blouse…I could only imagine what my hair looked like. “Unless you want to hose me down?”
Abi chuckled. “Ha, you have plenty of time to shower. Kyla still needs to get Baby Poppy fed and down, but we’ll pick you up, say…around eight? We’re going to The Steel, so drinks are on us.”
“Perfect.” I gave her a nod. “This sounds great. Thanks for inviting me.” I smiled, sensing the excitement growing in me.
“Of course, we thought of you. You’re stuck with us—welcome to the fold!” Abi gave me a quick hug and a wave before she ran back into the stables, shouting, “See you at eight!” before she was completely out of earshot.
I rushed home, showered, and got ready so by the time Abi honked her horn at eight o’clock on the dot, I’d could be out of my front door.
I gave my hair a little curl, chose a set of dangly earrings that matched my turquoise tank top, and threw a white lace shawl over it.
I donned my least mud-covered boots with a pair of tight-fitting jeans and even applied a light coat of mascara.
And when the horn honked, a slight buzz ran up my spine.