Chapter Three
Hallie
I squeezed Sage’s arm in excitement as two horses were led into the large indoor arena.
Mila held one, and a man I assumed to be Horatio, Sage’s groom, held another.
When they came to a stop before us, Horatio waved at Sage.
He was tall and slim, with the most attractive face.
All blond hair and blue eyes and wide smiles.
Sage went to go and introduce herself when a man I instantly recognized came rushing into the arena.
Leon Turner.
“Sorry I’m late!” he said, his southern English accent thick.
He was dressed in a Knighton Equestrian–branded beanie, a heavy barn jacket, black breeches, and tall riding boots and gloves.
He immediately stopped before us. I rubbed my gloved hands together just to feel some warmth in my fingers; the English winter was no joke. This Florida girl was struggling.
“Sage,” Leon said, shaking her hand. “It’s great to meet you. I’m Leon.”
Sage laughed. “We know,” she said, and shook his hand back. “Honored to be here, sir.” Leon nodded his head in acknowledgment.
Then he moved to me. Leon’s smile was wide. “Hallie Oakley, I’m so happy you agreed to join us this season.” I shook his hand back.
“The honor is all mine, sir,” I said, butterflies whirling in my stomach at having the best trainer in the world standing before us. Was this reality?
Leon then addressed us both. “I’ve been watching you closely for years. You’ve done amazing in the Unders, and if we work hard, I know we can get you to the top of the game in the Overs.” Leon stepped back to show our grooms, who were still standing with the horses.
“I take it you’ve met Mila and Horatio?” Leon asked.
“Mila, yes, but not Horatio,” I said. Horatio handed the reins of the chestnut mare to Mila, and he came toward us. He shook my hand first. “Hallie. Huge fan,” he said, his accent holding a strong lilt.
“Irish,” he said, pointing at himself, clearly reading my mind.
“Nice to meet you,” I said, and then Horatio turned to Sage. Horatio held out his hand, but Sage wrapped him up in a tight hug.
“No formalities, Horatio. You and I are going to be close friends.” Horatio smiled, and his cheeks blushed at Sage’s enthusiasm.
“I’m excited to be working with you,” he said, then went back to hold the mare. I winked at Mila, and she smiled back with the same excitement. This was a huge moment for us all. We were meeting our horses. The second half to our competitive unit.
Leon nodded to Horatio, and Sage’s groom threw on his hat and moved to the mounting block, stepping gracefully into the saddle.
Immediately, the chestnut mare began prancing on the spot, filled to the brim with energy.
Horatio was clearly a skilled rider, but he struggled to hold her back as they headed to the rail.
His arm muscles flexed with the strength he needed to keep her fiery spirit contained.
“Lady Seraphina is a warrior queen,” Leon said.
“Nine years old, seventeen-three, and an Irish Warmblood. She’s from one of the strongest lineages in our stud.
” Horatio turned the corner of the arena, and it took everything he had to hold Seraphina back from taking off and him losing control.
“She needs a rider who can match her spirit,” Leon said.
“One who is fearless but solid.” I cast a glance at Sage, whose eyes were locked on the mare.
The inferno in my best friend’s dark eyes told me she had already fallen in love.
“Take her over the fence,” Leon shouted to Horatio, who moved Seraphina into a canter and headed for the jump that was set up in the middle of the arena.
The moment Seraphina saw it, her ears pricked forward, and you could feel the excitement pulsing off her in waves.
Horatio had no choice but to let her go.
And go she did. Sage gripped my hand as her mare soared over the vertical jump, clearing it with ease.
“As you can see,” Leon said to Sage, “Seraphina is your typical chestnut mare. Feisty, independent—”
“And fucking insane,” Sage finished, just as Seraphina tried to throw Horatio off her back in an attempt to jump again. Sage tilted her chin. “Just like me.” Sage released my hand and turned to Leon. “I love her.”
He smirked. “The minute you signed on with us, Sage, I knew she was yours.” Leon shook his head. “We haven’t had a rider yet who can handle her.” He pointed at Sage. “Perhaps until you.”
Horatio brought Seraphina back over, and Sage was donning her helmet in seconds.
As soon as she was on the horse’s back, my chest swelled.
They looked perfect together. Sage turned Seraphina to the track, and within ten minutes was soaring over the jump, holding the exceptionally strong mare back with perfect precision.
When she was done, Sage came over to where we watched.
Her face was flushed, and her eyes were sparkling. “She’s my horse,” Sage said confidently, and I could see them both in my mind, clearing the Grand Prix circuits and dominating the jump-offs, racking up wins one by one.
Leon patted Seraphina on her neck. One rider and horse pairing down.
Then he waved at Mila and turned to me. I watched my groom climb on the dark-bay stallion she’d been holding.
“Lord Huxley is a seventeen-two Irish Sport Horse. A stallion. Eight years old. A descendant of Lord Edward, one of the first stallions in the Knighton empire, and one of the most sought-after sires here at Golden Oaks.”
“I’ve read about him,” I said, awe in my voice as Mila turned the pretty stallion and kicked him on. He had a black mane and tail and every part of him was lean muscle and pure power.
“He’s calm for a stallion but still harnesses superb power in his hind end.
” I was transfixed as Mila began to trot him, then pushed him into a canter before taking him over the jump.
My heart was in my throat as he soared over the fence—as he flew.
Mila brought him back to me, dismounted, and handed me the reins.
I moved in front of Huxley and let him breathe in and out, taking in my scent.
“You are a beauty,” I said, pressing my forehead to his.
I closed my eyes and stroked his wide cheeks.
Canyon, my best friend from Texas, always told me to get to know the horse I was working with before I got on.
To bond with him. That without that bond, the pairing would never be strong.
Canyon was a natural horseman, or what some people referred to as a horse whisperer.
He was the best horseman I knew, so anything he advised, I did.
I stepped back and looked into Huxley’s eyes.
They were a deep brown framed by long dark lashes.
And they were kind. Goose bumps broke out all over my body.
I didn’t know why, but some gut instinct I harbored told me deep down that this gentleman would look after me if I looked after him.
I ran my palm over his topline and down his side.
I laid my hand over his heart, closing my eyes as I felt it beat.
I smiled when it was strong and steady under my touch.
Moving back to Huxley’s face, I pressed my forehead to his again and exhaled a long, slow breath.
“Nice to meet you, Huxley.”
Mila gently handed me my hat, watching me closely as she did so.
Clearly, my somewhat unorthodox introduction to Huxley had fascinated her.
I would need to speak to Mila soon. I was a hands-on rider and liked to do much of the warm-ups and prep myself.
I knew that wasn’t common in this industry, and I’d gotten many a side-eye or degrading whisper on the circuit over the years for lunging my horses myself, dressed in my favorite cowboy boots, barn jacket, and Stetson.
I didn’t care. The cowgirl in me wouldn’t have it any other way.
I was here for the horses, not the pomp and ceremony.
“Have a good ride,” Mila said.
I squeezed her arm, then used the mounting block to get on Huxley’s back.
The minute I did, I felt the strength of the stallion beneath me but sensed the calmness within him too.
Huxley was a thinker, he was intelligent.
He wasn’t bottled fire like Seraphina. He was controlled and measured and exactly the kind of horse I loved to ride.
I gently kicked him on and smiled when we moved easily into a trot, then a steady canter. Riding Huxley was like being taken along a lazy river, relaxing and smooth, but you could feel the strength swirling under the surface. A current that could be too strong if not respected.
Turning to the jump, I slackened the reins and let Huxley fly.
A low laugh slipped from my throat as we left the ground and landed softly, easily clearing the fence, and I kept my seat perfectly.
I pulled Huxley to a reluctant halt in front of Leon, Sage, Mila, and Horatio.
Leaning forward, I laid my cheek on Huxley’s neck and stroked him a few times.
“Good boy,” I murmured over and over, loving the sight of Huxley’s ears twitching back and forth at the sound of my voice.
“Perfect,” Leon said, and I caught the excitement in his eyes. “What did you think?”
“I love him,” I said, and Leon nodded his head.
I could tell he had felt we were a perfect pair too.
Leon showed his might as a trainer with these couplings alone.
He’d studied us, and he must have known each of the Knighton horses incredibly well to choose a rider and horse that were so well matched.
“Then we have our pairings,” Leon said, and Sage moved Seraphina close to me. “He’s beautiful,” she said, gesturing to Huxley.
I smiled. “I’ve never seen a horse suit you more than this firecracker,” I said. Almost on cue, Seraphina stomped her front right foot, impatient at standing around doing nothing. This mare needed to constantly move.
Unbothered, Sage ruffled her hands through Seraphina’s thick chestnut mane. “Redheads,” Sage said, shrugging. “Gotta love ’em!”