Chapter 14
Cowgirls - Morgan Wallen
Kinsley
I woke with a start, my head pounding. This time, the pain was sharper, more insistent, as if it wanted to make sure I didn’t forget the price I’d paid for my recklessness.
Grimacing, I squinted at the clock that read 3:12 PM. It was the day after my accident. Yesterday, I had been groggy and disoriented. I didn’t remember much of what had happened, except that Wyatt was there when I woke up.
Nausea churned in my stomach as I forced myself into a sitting position, the room spinning momentarily. Wyatt was slumped in the chair beside my bed, legs stretched out, with his boots resting on the edge of my mattress. His hat was pulled low over his eyes.
A faint smile tugged at my lips, despite the throbbing ache. Wyatt had been a constant presence, refusing to leave my side.
The doctor had labeled my condition a “lucky escape from a worse fate” with a tinge of disapproval. I knew the risks of riding horses all too well; I didn’t need to be reminded. Yet the sport, with its lessons in discipline, integrity, and humility, gave purpose to both my and my horses’ lives. They would never know a day where they weren’t loved and taken care of. Together, we were doing something special. Nothing would ever stop me.
A knock came at the door, and my parents stuck their heads in. My mom was already crying, of course. They came into the room, followed by my sister, Abby—younger than me by only a couple years—who was staring at me wide-eyed and tense. I was always struck by how much she looked like our dad, with the chestnut hair and deep brown eyes, while my mom and I were spitting images of each other, with blonde hair and blue eyes. We look like two different families. Abby and I might as well be.
“Oh, my goodness! Look at you!” Mom cried. Her blue eyes were rimmed red, so I knew she had been crying long before now and knowing that only aggravated the nausea in my stomach.
“Shh!” I gestured towards Wyatt, who stirred but remained asleep.
“Oh, sorry!” Mom covered her mouth and looked sheepish. “I see you and Wyatt not getting back together didn’t stick for very long.”
“We’re not together.”
“Right.” She rolled her eyes. “How are you feeling, honey?”
“Hey, honey.” Dad planted a soft kiss on the top of my head.
Abby offered a tight smile. I didn’t bother smiling back. She’d probably been dragged here against her will.
“I’m fine,” I reassured them. “Just a headache. I’ll be up and about in no time. You guys didn’t need to drive down here.”
“When your kid is in the hospital, you go to said kid,” dad said.
Mom nodded in agreement and pulled my blanket up around me. “You look cold. Are you cold?”
“No, Mom, I’m fine. I promise.”
“How’s the horse?” Dad asked.
I was grateful for the subject change. “He’s good. Wyatt said the guys got him checked out by the vet and he got a clean bill of health, no injuries. He’ll be ready to go for the next one.”
“Absolutely not!” Mom exclaimed. “You tried him, and he already got you injured. You need to sell him.”
“No way.” I looked to Dad for help. He usually took my side in this kind of thing, but he was thoughtful for a moment.
“Cal…” Mom started.
“Hold on,” he said. “We’re not selling the horse.”
I sighed in relief.
“However, you’re not getting back on him anytime soon.”
I sat up straighter at that. “What?”
Dad held up his hand. “Kinsley, you have a concussion. You will not be getting on any horse for at least a few weeks.”
I opened my mouth to protest.
“Agreed.”
I whipped my head around to look at Wyatt, who was awake, his mouth a hard line. My vision blurred from the movement and the nausea rolled through my stomach again. How long had he been awake? Traitorous bastard .
“Gambler stumbled,” I told them. “It wasn’t his fault!”
“He was worked up before the race. You didn’t have him under control. He went way too fast and overshot the barrel, just like he had last weekend.” Wyatt’s eyes bore into mine.
I was going to kill Wyatt. I shot him a murderous look, so he knew it was coming, but he only looked back at me coolly.
“I’ll get it worked out,” I promised them, my eyes pleading.
“No, Kinsley. The horse is dangerous,” Mom said in her no-nonsense tone.
“He’s not!”
“Regardless of whether he is or isn’t, you’re not riding him right now,” Dad said.
“If he’s not exercised regularly, he’ll be way worse when I do get on again.”
“We’ll get someone to—”
“Wyatt,” I blurted.
Confusion flashed across their faces.
I turned to Wyatt. “Can you ride him for me? Keep him going and fit so he’s ready for me?”
He frowned and hesitated. Seconds ticked by as I held his stare. I could see thoughts swirling in his eyes, turning over and over. I silently pleaded with him, willing him to accept.
“Please?” I begged, not caring about my pride.
He looked at my dad for approval, and I rolled my eyes.
“Hey! This is between you and me, cowboy,” I told Wyatt. “I don’t need you two”—I jerked my finger back and forth between them— “teaming up to manage me.” Stupid men . “I need you to ride my horse while I recover. When I’m better, I will get back on him.” I shot my mom a look that said I didn’t want to hear anything about it and then looked expectantly at Wyatt, who hesitated but finally nodded tersely.
“Alright,” he agreed.
“Fine,” Dad said.
My mom threw her hands up in surrender and pouted.
I leaned back on my pillows, satisfied. And queasy again.
“Hey! Can we get in on this party?” Grady entered the room, holding flowers, followed by Finn, Rhett, and Maisey, all with gifts of some sort. They couldn’t have had better timing.
“Hey!” I smiled and hugged each of them.
I introduced Grady and Rhett to my parents and Abby, who still hadn’t said a word. Big surprise. They already knew Finn and Maisey.
It might have been my imagination, but I swear Grady did a double-take at Abby, which I found amusing because my uptight sister would never go for a guy like that in a million years. I thought an accountant or something would be more her type.
“How are you?” Maisey hugged me.
“Oh, so much better,” I assured her. “How’s Gambler?”
“Spoiled and pampered, and munching away in his stall.” Finn winked at me. “We’ll take care of him for as long as you need.”
“I’ll walk him tomorrow,” Maisey added.
“Thanks,” I said, “but no need. Wyatt is going to be riding him for a while.”
Some brows were raised at that, but it was Finn I was looking at.
“Really?” Finn said curiously.
“Yep. Just till I’m better.”
Finn studied my face, the wheels turning in his head. I gave him the whisper of a smirk so no one else saw, and when a smile spread over his face, I knew he understood. He nodded slowly.
Yep, I’m a genius.