Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Fisher
Istop at The Lodge for two to-go coffees and arrive at the training center with five minutes to spare. From what I’ve witnessed, Noah doesn’t drink it often, but considering how late we stayed up scrapbooking, I figure she’ll need it this morning.
Even though she said she couldn’t stay too late, we finished eight pages in her fundraising scrapbook.
Her parents and Gramma had long gone to bed by the time I left.
As much as I hate only being her friend, it was nice to sit together and just talk.
She shared the designated album her mom and Gramma started after she was born.
It’s filled with pictures from when she was a baby, to her early school days, and years of riding.
The various competitions she participated in throughout middle and high school filled at least a dozen pages.
Then she brought out just one of many boxes filled with ribbons and trophies.
It’s no wonder horses feel comfortable and safe with her.
Not only is she mostly self-taught, but she’s a prodigy at her age and level of expertise.
It was nice to finish the evening on a high note after the way dinner ended.
I could tell she was surprised to see Jase and me, but he needed a chance to apologize to her and smooth things over with her brothers.
Jase and I may have shit to work through, but they have too much history not to make things right.
“Mornin’,” I greet her inside the training center and hand her one of the coffees. “Thought you’d need a pick-me-up.”
She looks adorable in her riding boots and helmet. She has her hair in a long braid with a few strands around her face, and I wish I could lean in and tuck them behind her ear.
She takes a sip, then grins. “Thanks. Didn’t get much sleep, but it was worth it. I’m glad you stayed last night.”
“Me too. The most fun I’ve had in a while.”
“I can’t wait to work on it some more. Maybe next Sunday?” she asks, and I notice the flicker of hope in her eyes. It’s a bad idea because the more I spend time with her, the harder it is to stay firm on my decision.
But I can’t say no to her.
“Yeah, I’d love that.”
Hanging out with someone I can’t be with is a special kind of torture I’ve never experienced before. It sucks, but I also can’t stay away. Seems she doesn’t want to either.
“Well, you ready to see what Donut can do?” She takes a gulp of her coffee, then sets it down out of her way.
“Yep, tell me where ya need me.”
“Mostly just stay behind me so if I fall, you can grab me before I twist an ankle. Donut’s pretty good at stayin’ still, but he spooks easily.
No matter how much I’ve worked on it with him, loud noises make him skittish.
Probably thanks to my dumbass brother who used to ride his dirt bike ’round here. ”
“Don’t ya think for somethin’ like this, you should work on a horse who isn’t?”
She strokes a soothing palm over his neck. “We have a close bond, and he trusts me. As long as there aren’t any sudden loud noises, he’ll be fine.”
I bite my tongue, concerned she’ll end up getting hurt if God forbid a car backfires nearby, but I support her nonetheless.
“Alright, I’m ready when you are.” I place my coffee next to hers so I have both hands free.
“First, I’m gonna warm up and do some simple moves to jog my memory.”
I don’t know much about the technical terms of trick riding, but I’ve seen them plenty of times at rodeos.
There are usually a few of them, and they perform for the audience to get them amped up.
They perform in sparkly outfits and deck out the horses in glitter and matching colors.
Some even do Roman riding where they stand on a pair of horses with one foot on each and then jump over poles of fire.
The horses run nearly full speed while the riders hang off one side or stand on top, and honestly, it’s quite dangerous.
It’s basically doing gymnastics on horseback.
“I’ve never sat in that kind of saddle before,” I tell her when she swings her left leg up and around in a different way than normal.
The pommel is long and straight and there are special handles on the back for various tricks.
Donut also wears a collar around his neck and extra straps to secure the saddle in place with all the different movements.
“Found it last year when I decided to try this but didn’t get too far before I stopped. Delilah’s quite experienced already, so I’m just practicin’ to be more familiar with how the moves feel, not just what they look like.”
She lies across the saddle with her arms glued to her side and legs straight out, and I stand a couple of feet away so I don’t get in her way, but still close enough if needed.
“What’s this move?” I ask.
She turns her head and grins. “It’s just a plank. Keepin’ my weight distributed on both sides so he can feel the balance.”
“If Delilah’s already skilled at this, what does she need a trainer for?”
She sits up and walks Donut as she locks her knees and straightens her back. Then she lifts her right leg over until both are on the same side. I feel like the paparazzi watching her every move and waiting to get the best shot.
“Delilah learned under one of the best trick riders ’round here, Molly Mecca.
Throughout high school, she competed and won quite a few awards.
But then a few years ago, she got badly hurt and took time off to heal.
After that, Molly retired, and Delilah went to Craig to help her get back to where she was.
She had the skills and knowledge but lacked the confidence after being down so long. ”
“And now she’s fired Craig and wants you?
” I ask, keeping my eyes on her as she switches positions.
She’s not doing anything overly risky since she’s warming Donut up, but I’m still on edge.
I don’t know what I was thinking of volunteering to do this because I’m going to stroke out before the end of her training.
Every time she moves from the left to the right or spins around, I instinctively hold out my hand to catch her.
“As you can imagine, Craig was being Craig. Instead of pointin’ out what she needed to work on, he just screamed at her.
He’d be a good trainer if he had patience and gave guidance.
But instead, he uses scare tactics and threats to get his clients to perform.
That doesn’t work on most people, and especially not on horses.
Delilah needs someone who can tell her what she needs to improve on, help her master those things, and then she’ll find that confidence again to get back to where she was.
So even if I’m not a professional trick rider, I know enough to see where the disconnect is. ”
Noah slides onto Donut’s butt as she hangs onto the handles at the back of the saddle, and my heart rate increases. One buck and she’d be on her ass.
But Donut keeps his posture as she continues riding and making him comfortable as she maneuvers.
“He seems to be okay with what you’re doin’,” I say.
“Yeah, I think he remembers last summer. I was worried he wouldn’t.”
“That doesn’t mean you should go thirty miles an hour anytime soon,” I warn, not mentally or physically ready for that.
“You worried ’bout me, Mr. Underwood?” She smirks as she pushes her feet up on the saddle and kneels as if she’s going to stand. Luckily, though, she doesn’t and puts her legs back down.
“Worried I might pass out if you don’t go slow.”
“You used to be a bull rider, and you’re worried about me doin’ a few baby tricks? I find that fascinatin’.”
“That’s for eight seconds. Granted, they’re the longest eight seconds when you’re on top of a two-thousand-pound animal, but I had years of trainin’.”
“And I’m willin’ to bet ya got hurt quite a bit.”
“Yes, I did.” I chuckle. “You learn quick how to tuck ’n’ roll.”
She laughs, moving her feet back up and down as if she’s testing Donut’s reaction to the quick movements.
“Sorry ahead of time for the name but wait until I try the suicide drag. I didn’t get to try it last year and now that I’ve been watchin’ more videos, I wanna see if I can do it.”
I nearly swallow my tongue because I can only imagine how risky that move is. “I’d rather ya didn’t.”
“And why not?”
“Does the name not give it away?”
“It’s actually a very common move, but yes, it can be tough at first. I didn’t say I was gonna do it today, just that I wanna eventually.”
“And what is it exactly?”
“Basically, it’s when you hang upside down on the side of the horse as he’s gallopin’. One foot goes through the saddle hole as the other hangs over your head, and you drag your hands along the dirt.”
I blink a few times, trying to wrap my head around the words she just said, and start to remember seeing the riders perform that move.
Their hair flies around as their arms hang over their heads, and they basically bobble across the ground.
They have no control of the horse in that position, and they have to continue running without being guided.
One wrong move of the horse and their neck could snap.
“Absolutely not, Noah. I don’t doubt your talent, but that’s too risky.”
She rolls her eyes as if my concern lacks merit. “That’s why you’re here, remember?” She bats her eyelashes as if that’ll win me over with this ludicrous idea.
Before I can respond, she jumps up on her feet and stands. Her foot slips momentarily, and I nearly jump a foot toward her but then stop myself. Donut isn’t going fast, so I’m able to keep up, but knowing her, she’s going to speed up at some point.
“I’m fine, just probably not wearin’ the right shoes for this.”
I brush a hand through my hair, already feeling my forehead line with sweat and nerves. “You should be in bubble wrap.”