Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
ELLIE
The local fair is one of my favorites to attend because even though it’s on the small side, they go all out. Almost everyone from Sugarland Creek will be in attendance, which makes it even more fun to watch the other events in between mine.
“Hey, Ellie!” As I jump out of my truck and walk to the back of the trailer, someone shouting my name grabs my attention.
Harlow jogs toward me in her show-jumping clothes. She’s one of Noah’s clients that I see at least once a week at the ranch. We don’t talk much, but she’s always been nice when we do.
“Hi, Harlow. You look good.”
She slides her palms down her navy show coat. “Thanks! I’m headin’ to the fairgrounds now to get Piper ready but wanted to tell ya good luck tonight. Delilah and I will be cheerin’ for ya.”
“Appreciate that. Good luck with yours, too.”
Although she’s only been training for three years, she’s pretty good for only being nineteen.
Her older sister is a trick rider and used to date Waylon, so he avoids her every time she’s here.
Delilah performs at the rodeo tonight before the barrel racing event begins, so I’ll watch her from the waiting area, but it’s a fun way to get the crowd amped up beforehand.
“Thanks! Piper’s been a little moody lately, so I’m hopin’ she cooperates.” She quickly checks her watch. “But I better run. I’ll see ya later.”
“Sounds good.” I watch as she rushes off across the lot. Since show jumping isn’t a rodeo event, the fair hosts it at the fairgrounds in a large building.
Once I open the trailer door, I step in and grab Ranger’s halter, then give him some scratches. “Hey, boy. Ready for another win?”
He rubs his nose against my face, and I laugh.
I snap on his lead rope and walk him out of the trailer, then tie him to the side of it.
“Gonna get you some water, buddy. Be right back.” Grabbing the bucket, I head toward the hydrant and wait behind another racer.
Since the event begins in just over an hour, we’ll head over to the waiting pen soon until it’s our turn. Both my parents are here and brought Aunt Phoebe since it’s so close to home. I’m excited for her to watch the show since it’s been a couple years.
“Ellie, hey!” Delilah finds me as I approach the hydrant. She’s dressed up in her trick-riding gear, which is super cute on her. Purple fringe and glitter suit her well.
“Hey. Just saw your sister a few minutes ago.”
“Oh yeah, I’m on my way over there now to watch as much as I can before I haveta go to the arena. Our poor parents are gonna be racin’ from her event to mine.” She laughs.
“It’s nice they can be here, though.”
“It is! I just ran into Noah and Magnolia. They’re pushin’ the babies around in an adorable double-stroller. I can’t believe they’re gonna be a year old soon.”
This kind of small talk makes me anxious, but I smile and nod along as expected. If Noah’s at one of my races, she’ll swing by before I go on and give me a little pep talk, which is always appreciated.
“Oh, maybe you’ll know since they didn’t. Do you know Landen’s date’s name? We saw ’em by the Ferris wheel, but none of us had ever seen her before and he’s ignoring his text messages.”
My head spins with the news, not because I have any thoughts about his dating life, but because she thinks I’d know anything personal about Landen. Besides what I learn against my will.
“No clue,” I say honestly. Though I am surprised he brought a date tonight after he admitted he’d not had one in months. But I’m not too shocked since his playboy reputation was known to almost everyone in town when we’d first met.
She puts her hands on her hips and sighs.
“Damn. Well, I’m sure Noah will get it outta him eventually.
Waylon and Wilder were useless, but that’s because Waylon runs in the other direction as soon as he sees me.
” She rolls her eyes, and I don’t have it in me to ask about their past, but mostly because I don’t care to know about it.
Delilah’s six years older than me and we live in very different worlds when it comes to relationships.
Perhaps if I had my own social life that included going on dates, I’d have more of an interest in that type of gossip, but right now, all I can focus on is this race and then the next one and one after that.
“Anyway, good luck tonight. I’ll be rootin’ for ya!”
“Thanks! You too.”
I carry Ranger’s water bucket back to my trailer and then grab all the tack and equipment to get him ready. I’m in my usual pink attire, but since tonight’s extra special being at a local event, I brought some equine-safe glitter to rub on his coat and down his legs.
“Trust me, you’ll like it,” I try to convince him when he stomps.
When would Landen have time to meet anyone new? Breeding season is his busiest time of year, and usually, if the brothers go out, I hear all about it in passing from Ruby or one of the twins.
Shaking my head, I mentally slap myself. I don’t want to be thinking about Landen and his date because what do I care?
Perhaps it’s because I haven’t heard about him going on any in close to two years.
He even said it’s been months, but it’s probably been closer to years.
With him working as much as he does, where would he have even met someone?
And how long have they been talking or dating for him to be comfortable enough to bring her somewhere he knows his entire family would be?
No. I don’t care. Don’t want to know. Don’t need to know.
The only thing that deserves my focus is winning this race.
When Ranger and I get into the waiting pen, Noah, Magnolia, and Tripp, who’s wearing Willow in a baby carrier, greet me. It’s comical to see a six-foot-something tall brooding cowboy in Wranglers and boots walking around with an infant on his chest.
I can’t even blame Magnolia for crushing on him as long as she did.
The Hollis genes are top-tier.
Noah smiles at Ranger and pets him. “You’re lookin’ extra cute.” Then she looks up at me. “How ya feelin’ tonight?”
“Great. Ready to run.” I adjust my cowboy hat, making sure it’s secure.
“I see Marcia Grayson is here and some other new girls. You know them?” She directs her attention to Sarah and Samantha.
“Yeah, they’re the Smith twins. They’re from Alabama, but they’ve been comin’ to more races up here.”
Noah frowns. “They any good?”
I shrug because while they’re not bad, they’re just not as good as me. “I guess tonight we’ll see.”
She laughs. “In that case, I know you don’t need it, but good luck.”
“Thanks.” I smack her palm when she raises it.
“She’ll be screamin’ for ya, don’t worry,” Magnolia teases.
“We’re makin’ a sign for the Franklin Rodeo next weekend,” Noah adds. “But we’ll be extra loud tonight.”
I sigh. “Great.”
Magnolia chuckles.
“I know you don’t like the attention, but you’re good in the spotlight. Everyone loves you and is rootin’ for ya. We have a whole section of my family cheering,” Noah says.
I smile at that. My parents know Aunt Phoebe gets triggered by seeing the Hollises, so they’ll sit across the arena on the other side where it’s less crowded. It’s why she doesn’t like coming out too often, but sometimes Mom talks her into it so she gets out of the house.
“Well, I’ll be sure not to let y’all down.”
The two girls Noah trained and helped go pro before me are also here, and she stops by them quickly to say hello. They travel all over the country, so she doesn’t train them anymore, but I know she’s stayed in contact with them.
My heart races as I watch Noah walk away, finally giving me time to have a mental breakdown in private. I don’t usually get this nervous beforehand, especially in smaller races like this, but knowing so many people are here expecting me to win adds more pressure.
“You doin’ okay?” Marcia asks when she rides up alongside me.
“Yeah, why?”
Her shoulder quickly lifts. “You look more pale than usual.”
I don’t know if she’s being genuine and truthful or if she’s trying to get into my head, but either way, I brush it off and smile through my annoyance as usual. “Nope, I’m great. Excited to race.”
“Awesome.” Her gaze lowers to Ranger’s saddle before she grins wide. “Good luck.”
I know I should say something nice back like you, too, but I just don’t have it in me to return the condescending comment. So instead, I take Ranger’s reins and guide him to the front of the waiting pen since I’ll be the third one to race.
The emcee announces the trick riders and music blares as they perform.
Delilah’s bright purple attire is easy to spot, and I genuinely smile watching her.
Although I don’t know anything personal about the Fanning sisters, I do know they work hard and are focused on their careers, too.
Delilah travels just as much as I do, but Harlow is still getting her name out there.
I’m not sure how often they see each other, but it’s nice they have each other for support.
It’s the one thing I can’t buy or work harder at to achieve because the one person who loves and supports me unconditionally can’t be here to watch or cheer me on.
Though I am forever grateful I have Noah and her family and am glad when my family can show up, it still feels different.
Like my heart is never quite full because there’s always a piece of it missing.
As soon as the trick riders are done, I give Ranger his usual pep talk. We’ll be up in just a few minutes. The music starts playing again and he does little tippy taps as his excitement builds. “We’ve got this, buddy.”
The pressure is extra heavy tonight, but I try not to let it get to me as the first girl runs down the alleyway. The crowd cheers, the emcee announces her time, and then seconds later, the next girl starts.
“We’re up, Ranger. Let’s do this.” I give him a little kick to up his excitement as we exit the waiting pen.
“Three-time Southeast regional champion and three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, Ellie Donovan! Let’s hear it for a Sugarland Creek local and her twelve-year-old quarter horse, Ranger!”
He charges into the arena as soon as the music blares and perfectly rounds the first barrel.
“Good job! Go, go, go!” I hold out the reins as he sprints to the second and then grab the horn while he twists around it.
“One more, buddy.”
My eyes do a quick scan of the crowd when I hear Noah and Magnolia screaming for us. Landen and a brunette stand right behind them.
Just as I pull the reins to the side, my shoulder drops and Ranger goes too deep into the pocket, cutting the turn too soon. I slide my foot out of the stirrup just in time to raise my leg up and over the barrel so I don’t knock it down. The stirrup just brushes it but not enough to tip it.
Fuck, that was close.
“Hustle home, Ranger!” Clicking my tongue, I lean forward with the reins loose in my grip and listen to the crowd grow louder as we cross the finish line.
“That puts The Rodeo Princess in the lead with fifteen point eight nine two!”
Not the fastest I’ve run but not the slowest.
Once my foot’s secure in the stirrup again, I lead us out so the next rider can enter.
“Damn, that was impressive,” Sarah says as soon as I catch my breath. “Never saw anyone do that before.”
“My trainer’s had me practice for all kinds of situations.”
And stupidly enough, it was Landen’s idea when he was on my ass about my dislocated shoulder.
Told Noah I should practice lifting my knee with and without the stirrup in the event Ranger shouldered too close.
Of course she loved the idea and said it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared for everything and anything.
“You cut the turn too soon or you wouldn’t have had to do that,” Samantha chimes in, riding up next to her sister.
My jaw clenches. “I’m aware.”
The Smith twins are at least ten years older than me and think since I’m younger, I don’t know what I’m doing.
But funny enough, when the emcee announces them, neither of them has the words championship or finals qualifier before their names.