Chapter Nineteen #5
“Give him lots of rein,” Jasper said, as we watched Jake soar over the fences.
“Make sure to give him enough room on the tight corners; he’s a big horse and needs that extra space.
He’ll make up the lost time on the approach and over the fence.
Give him extra leg on the oxers and keep him steady through the triple.
He can get too excited and rush if you’re not careful.
” I smiled. We’d been through all these points at practice this week.
But I loved Jasper for making sure I was prepared.
“I’ve got this,” I said, risking a glance down at him.
Jasper exhaled. “I know you do, Angel.”
The crowd lifted with applause. “Fucker,” Jasper hissed.
Jake patted his horse’s neck, his time knocking Atticus from the top spot. Jake came out of the ring, a smug look on his face. He passed by us. “Good luck,” he said flippantly.
“Concentrate,” Leon said sternly, and I nodded.
The camera must have flashed to me, because suddenly a wave of gasps and excited murmurs rolled over where we were standing. Leon patted Henry’s neck. “They know you’re here, boy. Show them what you can do.”
“Last to ride is Hallie Oakley, from Ocala, Florida, riding Lord Henry of Golden Oaks Stud,” the commentator said, and the crowd roared.
I took a deep breath, and keeping my attention straight forward, trotted into the arena.
The sun was beating down, and the stands were jam-packed.
The minute we picked up our trot, my heart thudded with the roar of the crowd.
People were on their feet, and a million cell phones were taking pictures.
I struggled to hear anything over the commotion, but then the crowd quieted, and the atmosphere went from raucous to completely silent. The bell sounded, and I pushed Henry into a canter. He was so comfortable to ride, his strides long and his gait smooth.
Turning into the first fence, I felt Henry’s excitement pulling on the reins. “Steady, boy,” I said as we took flight. I flashed back to a twelve-year-old me watching this exact horse show me a dream I didn’t even know existed.
When he landed, a smile broke out on my face. No matter what happened this weekend, I was riding Henry, and that was winning in itself.
Like Jasper had advised, I gave Henry enough rein to go, giving him more leg on the oxers.
And exactly like Jasper had said, as we turned into the triple, Henry became headstrong and fought to go faster.
My arms ached as I held him back, keeping him steady so he didn’t get too under the jump and risk knocking it down.
My heart beat faster as we approached the final fence.
I had no idea how fast we were going. Henry moved like the wind, making his speed unreadable.
The final fence was a spread, a jump Henry was famous for mastering.
The red and white poles called our name as we cantered toward them, then Henry took off and I closed my eyes for a moment, just drinking in the moment, only to open them as we landed . . .
A clear round.
The crowd lifted in volume, rising to their feet. I turned to the scoreboard and whooped in excitement when I saw us soar to the top spot. Leaning down, I hugged Henry and said, “We did it, boy! We did it!”
I looked over to the viewer’s plinth, and Leon was clapping, Jasper beside him, the only emotion he displayed his wide smile.
I made my way toward them, meeting Jasper’s eyes.
He was beaming at me. I slowed Henry to a trot, then a walk when we got out of the tunnel.
Ben was there to get Henry, and I dismounted, Sage flying into my arms.
“Fucking hell, Hals! That was the best riding I’ve ever seen!” I squeezed my best friend. I was shaking from adrenaline.
Atticus hugged me, spinning me around as he lifted me off the floor. “Fuck Jasper, you can have Henry from now on.”
“Thanks, Atti,” I heard Jasper say dryly from behind us. I wanted so badly to jump into his arms, but we were surrounded by too many people. Leaning in, he whispered, “I’m so proud of you, Angel. So fucking proud.”
“Thank you.”
Leon was next, giving me a brief one-armed hug. “Well deserved, Hallie.”
“Thank you, everyone,” I said, then moved to Henry. I kissed his cheek and hugged his neck. “You were everything I dreamed of and more,” I whispered for his ears only.
“Atticus, Hallie,” an organizer said, “it’s time for the podium.” Sage squeezed my hand, and I felt my stomach fall. It didn’t feel right, her not being up there with me.
“Go on!” she said, reading my mind. “The day is yours.”
I walked beside Atticus. He had his arm around me. Jake McGowen was in the tunnel already, ready to claim his second place. He watched us approach, any niceness he’d ever showed me evaporate. “Atticus,” he said coldly.
“Jake,” Atticus said. All his playfulness had gone, and in its place was one scary bastard. Atticus glared at Jake, and I wondered if they suspected it was Jake making all the threats. Jasper was sure he was up to something.
“Follow me, please,” the organizer said, and each of us took the podium.
When I was handed the winner’s trophy, I held it high and just drank in the moment.
The crowd roared with applause and my heart felt so full.
I knew my aunt and uncle would be watching from Florida, and it made me so happy I thought I would burst.
As we descended the podium, the organizer was chatting to Atticus. I suddenly felt someone move to my side. Jake McGowen. “What?” I asked, walking faster in heading back to the stalls.
“You got in bed with the devil, huh?” he said in a shitty tone.
I turned on him. “Shut up, Jake. Don’t be a sore loser.”
“That’s not it,” he said, and I stopped dead.
“Go on, then. What is it?”
Jake checked around him. “Just know that your man has a lot of enemies.”
My heart skipped a beat. “I don’t have a man,” I argued, hating how I had to deny us. But this conversation was exactly why.
“Okay, Hallie. Whatever you say. But no one believes that Jasper would just let any random rider compete on Lord Henry.” I kept my mouth firmly closed to that. Jake sighed in annoyance. “Fine, keep your secrets, but be warned that people talk, and the gossip mill is rife.”
“Your friends, you mean?” I snapped back. “Funny how you’re trying to help me now when you sat there and let them rip me to shreds.”
“You have no idea what people in this industry are like, Hallie. They can be vicious.”
“Tell me something I don’t know, Jake.”
“People are out for Jasper, okay? I’m warning you to be safe,” he said again.
I narrowed my eyes on him. “Are you one of the people I have to look out for? Or is it just those two hags you keep hanging out with? Are they making threats against Jasper?” I rolled my eyes and went into full bitch mode.
“Forgive me, Jake, but the company you keep, along with your family’s less than stellar reputation, doesn’t make you the kind of person I can trust.”
Jake laughed a humorless laugh. “Think what you want of me, but I don’t hurt people or horses.” I wasn’t sure whether that was true, so I didn’t reply. “Heed the warning or not. I was just giving you a friendly heads-up.”
“Then who?” I said, as he walked away. Jake turned around. “Who are his enemies? Give me names. Information, not hushed rumors and speculation. And the reason why.”
“Power? Jealousy? Take your pick. I have no idea who is after him,” Jake said, and his face did look earnest. “I just know someone is.” With that, he walked off.
I saw my team and Jasper waiting for me beyond the tunnel. I lifted my trophy over my head, dismissing Jake’s warning as jealousy, and they all cheered. Sage linked arms with me, and Atticus slung his arm over my shoulder.
“One glass of champagne is all you get in celebration,” Leon said, and Atticus rolled his eyes.
“Yes, Daddy,” Atticus joked.
“We have the team event tomorrow, and we want to win that too.” I smiled as my friends all celebrated around me. Looking over their shoulders, I met Jasper’s eyes.
“Love you,” he mouthed.
“Love you too,” I mouthed back.
This would be a day I would always remember. A dream came true; I had a newfound family that I adored and a man that I was madly in love with.
I wasn’t sure how I got so lucky, but one thing was for sure, I was never going to take it for granted.