Chapter Two #3
I frowned at my cousin’s reaction. I had also signed off on Hallie and Sage to be the new faces of Knighton Equestrian, the apparel company I had started years back when I was still competing.
I had money that I had inherited, generational wealth that comfortably sat in the billions, but my ever-growing personal brand had made me a multimillionaire in my own right.
Hallie Oakley and Sage Miller were two of the most impressive show jumpers on the scene right now.
When Leon told me they were coming to ride for us, my artistic director at Knighton Equestrian had convinced me to sign them for modeling my new products too.
I had no idea what they were like as riders, or even what they looked like. I’d been too preoccupied to look. Thankfully, I had a rock-solid team around me who had run Knighton Equestrian for me the past few months whilst I’d been consumed with other things.
“Wait,” I said, suddenly recalling an infatuation Atticus had years ago with an American rider during his summer abroad. “Is she the one . . . ?”
“He’s obsessed with,” Forrest said, in a tone that suggested he was sick of hearing her name. “Yes.”
Atticus kept smiling, unbothered by Forrest’s dry jab.
Leaning forward, Atticus said, “Sage Miller is living fire, Jas. And she burns with hatred for me, and me only.” He sighed, but as though the thought turned him on, not upset him. “She’s fucking magnificent.”
“But back to why they are here,” Leon said, a look of censure aimed at Atticus.
“Sage Miller is the riskiest rider I’ve seen in a long while.
She’s fearless and rides each course like she’s storming into battle.
Strong, bold, and brave.” Atticus nodded in agreement, but his eyes were hooded.
I wanted nothing to do with whatever the fuck was happening between them. It sounded like a shit show.
“And Hallie?” I asked.
Leon’s face immediately lit up. It was hard to impress Leon, and I could already see stars in his eyes over the younger American rider.
“Elegant, poetic, graceful. She rides like she was grown from a saddle. When she jumps, she looks like she’s soaring.
She has the best seat of anyone I’ve seen.
” He gave me a sidelong glance. “Well, almost.” I waved him off.
Leon appeared lost in thought, then said, “A little rebellious, perhaps. Mutuals of ours have described her as stubborn and immoveable when she wants to do something her way.” Leon shrugged. “But I respect that.”
“She’s your favorite, then?” Genny asked. “I’ve competed against her before in the Under-25s. She—actually, both Hallie and Sage—are stunning riders. Hallie always stood out to me as a little wild and untamed, but in all the best ways. Not your typical competitor, that’s for sure.”
I covered my sister’s hand with my own, giving it a slight squeeze.
I knew it was probably because I was her brother, but I heard the slight shake in her voice when she mentioned competing.
Genny’s whole world had been jumping until her accident.
In the blink of an eye, the horse world lost both of us from the circuit.
And my father too, who had done more for this sport than anyone in recent British history.
Genny gave me a tight smile, and Leon went on to hold court.
As we ate, he told us of his goals for this season and just how impressive our team was on paper.
By the time Geraldine had served us dessert, I felt better than I had in a while.
A little calmer. But I wasn’t naive. I knew it was a temporary reprieve from the inner demons that had now become my closest companions.
As we all stood, one by one, my cousins said their good-nights. Forrest hung around until it was just Genny, him, and me. He put his hand on my shoulder. “Was that okay?”
“More than,” I said, and pulled him in for a quick hug.
“No more hiding away, okay?” he said when he pulled back, eyes boring into mine, telling me he meant it.
“Yeah,” I said. Then sighed.
“Especially over this next week,” he added. My stomach fell. I nodded but found myself unable to speak.
Genny was silent as she watched us. Sensing she wanted to speak to me alone, Forrest kissed my sister on her cheek, then said, “I’ll leave you both to catch up. See you tomorrow.” I watched my cousin leave the family room and wondered again what I would do without them all in my life.
“Come sit beside me,” Genny said, and patted the seat that was right by where she’d moved her wheelchair. I sat down and held her hand. “How are you coping with his anniversary coming up?”
The food I’d just eaten curdled in my stomach. “I imagine how you feel too,” I said, and watched Genny’s pretty face cloud with sadness.
Genny sighed, then said, “No, Jas. You certainly feel it more.” I stilled and studied my little sister.
She was six years younger than me, and I’d been her self-appointed protector since the day she was born.
Even now she was twenty-six, I couldn’t shake that responsibility.
Genny held my hand tighter. “I miss Dad. More than anything. But we must move on, Jas. You’ve been living a Groundhog Day for far too long now. ”
I shook my head. “I can’t. Too much has happened.
Someone is after us, Genny.” I laughed without humor.
“They attacked you. Drugged Lady Dahlia. You both still have a long recovery ahead of you.” A year and a half ago, Genny’s horse was drugged in Saint-Tropez during the Sandings Grand Prix Tour.
Lady Dahlia went down midjump and landed on Genny, fracturing my sister’s spine and a multitude of bones.
In that moment, I thought I’d lost my sister.
The investigation revealed that someone had pumped the horse so full of ketamine it’s a wonder she could even see the fences.
Lady Dahlia hadn’t recovered well and now couldn’t be ridden, as she was so traumatized by the accident.
Genny could barely walk, and we had no idea who had done it to us. To her.
“I know, Jas,” Genny said with a slight edge to her voice.
Her eyes welled with tears. “But even so, I didn’t want you to sacrifice everything you loved because of it.
” She sat up straight. “Do you know how guilty I feel over that? You love riding. Being a horseman is you. And you stopped because of me and became reclusive and miserable. A shadow of your former self.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head, but those words hit me like a crowbar to the chest. “This is my choice, Gen. I’m the one who decided to devote my time to all this. There should be no guilt on your part. It’s something I feel compelled to do.”
Genny lowered her head and said, “I just want this all over with, Jas. And I want you to start living again.”
I brought my sister in for a tight hug and said, “I will. When I finally find out who is trying to hurt us.” Genny’s shoulders sagged in defeat, but I wouldn’t be deterred.
Genny wanted me to leave it to the police.
But this was the horse world. This sport made people exceptionally wealthy.
The crazy shit people did to rivals was on another level, and the lengths people would go to bring them down were insane.
And we were now the target.
When I pulled back, I said, “Come on, I’ll walk you back to your rooms.”
Genny shook her head, just as Geraldine came through the door to the kitchen with a tray of popcorn and drinks.
“No need,” Genny said, face brightening.
“Me and Geraldine have got a night of binge-watching Love Island ahead of us.” I laughed as they moved to the sofas.
I helped Genny get settled, then turned to leave with a wave.
“Night, guys,” I said.
“Jas?” Genny called out. I turned back to my sister. “Don’t be on your own tomorrow, okay? Come and find me, and we’ll get through it together.”
I gave her a reassuring smile. “I will,” I promised, knowing that was a blatant lie.
I left her and Geraldine to their trash TV.
As I entered the hallway, I let my head fall back against the door and exhaled a long breath.
The lightness that had filled me over dinner vanished the moment I was left alone with my thoughts.
My feet itched to leave the house. Moving down the hallway, I made my way to the back exit through the mudroom.
I threw on my flat cap, wellies, and wax jacket and stepped into the freezing night.
I let the ice-cold wind hit my face and began the moonlit walk to the only place I ever felt whole.
The place no one, not even Forrest, knew I still went to.
The only place that reminded me I was still alive.