27. It’s You
It’s You
Quinn
I stared at the last hoodie in my hands, the one from college that I’d worn so much the lettering had cracked. With a deep breath, I shoved it in the nearly overflowing drawer and pushed it shut. Done. Finally done.
My new bedroom in the ranch house somehow felt more like home already. While I’d been gone, the guys had painted the walls a soft cream color, replaced the ceiling fan, and put up new curtains that let the afternoon sunlight stream in.
I’d driven back from my old home yesterday, where I’d packed up my entire adult life into a U-Haul, resigned from my teaching position, and hugged April goodbye. She’d cried. I’d cried too, but she’d already booked a trip to visit next month.
My eyes landed on Thunderbolt, who stood proudly in the custom wooden stand the guys had built during my absence.
It was like a miniature stable, carefully constructed with “Thunderbolt” burned into the wood across the top.
The detail work was impressive, with tiny horseshoes decorating the edges, and there was even a little feed bucket on the side.
I ran my fingers over the inscription. They hadn’t mentioned it in their texts while I was gone, like I hadn’t mentioned the hobby horse competition coming up. There hadn’t seemed to be a good time to bring it up amid all the chaos of moving.
I grabbed Thunderbolt from his stand and tucked him under my arm. Time to practice, and maybe time to break the news about the competition.
The afternoon air greeted me with a blend of hay, horse, and California sunshine as I made my way toward the stables.
I heard Reid’s voice before I saw him, speaking in that quiet way he had with animals.
Peering around the corner of a stall, I found him with Junebug, gently running a soft brush down her flank.
Junebug spotted me before Reid did. The mare’s ears pricked forward, and she let out a soft nickering sound that might as well have been a hello. Reid turned, his expression shifting from concentration to a smile that made my stomach swoop.
“Hey.” The sunlight filtering through the stable windows caught in his hair. “Did you finish unpacking?”
“Yup. I thought I’d get some practice in.”
Reid set the brush down on a nearby shelf and wiped his hands on his jeans. “Junebug’s been waiting for you. She’s been giving me hell all week.”
The mare tossed her head as if confirming his statement.
“Sorry, girl.” I approached the stall door, and Junebug immediately stretched her neck out, nosing at me and then at Thunderbolt. “Yes, we’re both back now.”
Reid watched our interaction with that thoughtful look he got sometimes, like he was cataloging behaviors for future reference. “Want to sit on her?”
My heart skipped a beat. “For real?”
“She’s been calmer since you started working with her.” Reid put on her halter and unlatched the stall door.
I hesitated for a moment. “If you think she’s ready.”
“I’ll be right here.” He held out her lead rope. “Trust me?”
The question was heavier than being asked if I was ready to get on a horse, and we both knew it. I’d upended my entire life for this ranch, for these men, and for the person I was becoming here.
“I trust you.” I took the rope, our fingers brushing.
Junebug followed me out of her stall and to a tack-up spot near the tack room where we got her ready. It seemed like a lot for me just to sit on her, but I secretly hoped she’d let me do a few laps.
Reid decided outside would be best, so we went out into the nearest pasture. “Do you want my help?”
I scoffed. “Sir, I am a professional at getting on a horse now. Are you sure she’s okay with this though? She seems like a one-person horse.”
“She’s chosen her person.” Reid’s eyes met mine. “It’s you.”
My chest tightened with something that felt suspiciously like belonging.
I placed my foot in the stirrup, and with one fluid motion, I swung my right leg over Junebug’s back. Suddenly I was up, higher than I expected, my hands clutching the saddle horn.
“Relax your legs a bit.” Reid’s hand stayed on my calf, steadying me. “And remember to breathe.”
I realized I’d been holding my breath and let it out slowly. Junebug shifted slightly beneath me, adjusting to my weight.
“This is... wow.” I couldn’t find the words to describe the feeling of being on Junebug of all horses. It was a mix of vulnerability, power, nervousness, and exhilaration.
Reid nodded, understanding without me having to explain. “Different from Thunderbolt and Tater Tot, isn’t it?”
I patted Junebug’s neck. “A little more opinionated.”
I sat in the saddle, back straight, trying to remember everything I’d learned from my previous rides on Tater Tot.
This was different. While Tater Tot was like riding a sentient sofa with legs, Junebug was alert, muscles tense beneath me, waiting for a signal.
I could feel her breathing, the subtle shift of her weight as she assessed me as much as I was assessing her.
“How do I tell her to walk?” I whispered, not wanting to break the fragile equilibrium between us.
Reid’s hand remained on my calf. “Gentle squeeze with both legs and relax your reins a little.”
I squeezed gently and held my breath. For a moment, nothing happened, and I wondered if I’d done it wrong. Then Junebug took a step forward. Then another.
“Holy shit, we’re doing it.” I could barely hear my own voice, afraid if I spoke too loudly she might spook.
Reid moved alongside us, still close enough to grab the reins if needed. “Keep your heels down. That’s it.”
Movement from the other side of the pasture caught my eye.
Enzo was striding toward us, a water bottle in his hand, his expression a mix of surprise and concern.
Behind him, Kellan followed, using his T-shirt to wipe sweat from his forehead, his hair sticking up in all directions before he put his hat back on.
The grin spreading across his face was unmistakable even from a distance.
“Look who finally joined the real horse club!” Kellan called out, his voice carrying across the pasture.
Junebug’s ears flicked at the sound, and her shoulders tensed.
“Easy talk around her,” Reid reminded him, shooting him a glare.
I relaxed my grip on the reins, remembering Reid’s instructions about not pulling on her mouth. “It’s okay, girl. That’s just Kellan being Kellan.”
Enzo reached us first, stopping a respectful distance away, raising an eyebrow as he took in the sight of me atop the notoriously picky mare. “She’s letting you ride her?”
“Apparently I’m special.” I tried to keep the pride from my voice and failed completely.
“You are special.” Kellan reached us, tucking his shirt back into place. “But I bet you twenty bucks she bucks you off within five minutes.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Your confidence in me is overwhelming.”
“I’d take that bet, but I’d put my money on Quinn.” Enzo unscrewed his water bottle and took a drink.
Reid frowned. “Can we focus on the riding part first before turning this into a betting pool about our girlfriend’s riding abilities?”
I squeezed my legs again, and Junebug took a few more steps forward. The saddle creaked beneath me, and I shifted to find my balance. It wasn’t graceful, but I wasn’t falling off either, which I considered a significant victory.
The guys moved with us, creating a loose arc around Junebug and me. I’d never felt so simultaneously independent and supported.
“Want to try a small circle?” Reid’s eyes hadn’t left Junebug since I’d gotten on her.
“I think so.” I tried to project confidence I didn’t entirely feel.
Reid showed me how to guide Junebug with the reins and my legs, and we began a wobbly approximation of a circle. Adrenaline surged through me as Junebug responded to my signals, however imperfectly executed they were.
“Looking good, Quinn.” Enzo’s voice was serious but also held a note of pride.
“Better than good,” Kellan added, his earlier teasing gone. “You look like you belong there.”
Belong. The word echoed in my mind. I did feel like I belonged here; not just on Junebug, but at La Cuesta Ranch with these three men who had somehow become the center of my world in such a short time.
Junebug suddenly stopped, ears pricking forward.
“What is it?” I tensed, looking around for whatever had caught her attention.
“She’s testing you.” Reid’s voice was calm. “Show her you’re in charge.”
I squeezed again, a little more firmly this time. Junebug snorted but didn’t move.
“Come on, girl.” I patted her neck. “We were doing so well.”
Enzo crossed his arms. “Stubborn recognizes stubborn.”
I shot him a look but couldn’t deny the truth in his words. I took a deep breath and tried again, applying pressure with my legs and softening my hands as Reid had taught me.
For one long, tense moment, Junebug stood frozen, as if deciding whether I was worthy. Then, almost reluctantly, she started walking again.
“That’s my girl.” I couldn’t keep the triumph from my voice.
We made it around the small pasture once, then twice. My legs were starting to ache, and my back would probably hate me tomorrow, but I couldn’t care less. Junebug and I had found our rhythm, imperfect as it was.
“I think that’s enough for today,” Reid suggested gently. “Always good to end on a high note.”
I nodded, though part of me wanted to keep going forever. “So... how do I stop?”
“Sit deep in the saddle and pull back gently on both reins.” Enzo demonstrated the motion with his hands.
I followed his instructions, and Junebug came to a halt. The guys gathered closer as I dismounted. My legs felt like jelly as they hit the ground, but not as bad as the first time I’d ridden Tater Tot.
“That was...” I searched for words that could capture the feeling. “Amazing.”
“You were amazing,” Kellan’s hand found the small of my back.
Enzo nodded in agreement, offering me his water bottle. “Not bad for a stick horse champion.”
I took a long drink, suddenly aware of how dry my mouth had become. “Speaking of which...” I handed the bottle back to Enzo. “I have something to tell you guys.”
All three of them looked at me expectantly.
“I, uh, got accepted into the Western Regional Hobby Horse Invitational. It’s in two weeks.”
Silence met my announcement. Three pairs of eyes stared at me with varying degrees of surprise. Junebug bumped her head against my shoulder, nearly knocking me off balance and knocking them out of their shock.
“Two weeks?” Kellan’s eyebrows shot up toward his hat brim. “That’s pretty last minute, isn’t it?”
I flinched, suddenly finding my boot very interesting as I scuffed it against the dirt.
“I signed up a few weeks ago, and it’s not like I haven’t been practicing the last several weeks.
I only heard back that I was accepted a week ago, and with everything going on, I hadn’t gotten around to mentioning it? ”
The last part came out more like a question than the statement I’d intended. I chanced a glance up to find three expressions that ranged from amused to puzzled to concerned.
“Were you planning to tell us before or after you went?” Reid’s voice was gentle, but I detected a hint of hurt beneath it.
“Before! Definitely before.” I reached for his hand, squeezing it in reassurance. “Like, right now. Which is before. So technically, I’m fulfilling that promise.”
Kellan snorted. “Solid logic there, Professor.”
I swatted his arm and bit my lip, looking between them. “So... are you guys mad? That I didn’t tell you sooner?”
Enzo’s expression turned serious as he crossed his arms. His hat cast shadows across his face, making him look more intimidating than usual. I braced myself for disappointment or perhaps a lecture on communication. “There’s really only one thing to do now.”
I held my breath, my shoulders tensing as I waited for their response.
Here it comes. The teasing or the concern that I would spiral again.
After all, I had a mini-meltdown after the fair encounter and my newfound internet fame.
Because I didn’t quite understand what the big deal was, I’d gone on my social media the following day.
Had I hidden under a blanket while scrolling through comments that were a mixture of encouragement, bullying, and oddly, several sexualizing me? Yes. Had I asked Reid to check if my teaching license could be revoked for stick horse indecency? Also, yes.
It wasn’t my finest moment and exactly why I hadn’t ventured into that hostile territory. Kellan had to coax me out of my nest with homemade brownies and promises that nobody at the state education board was monitoring hobby horse videos.
Probably.
I cringed, wondering if it was worth it. But then I remembered all the positive comments and all the people that might be inspired to start doing something fun despite the negativity around them. “And what’s that?”
“Prepare.” Enzo’s serious expression cracked into a rare, full smile that was becoming less rare. “We have a champion to train.”
The tension in my shoulders released so fast I almost sagged against Junebug’s side. “Really? You’re not upset?”
“Why would we be upset about supporting you?” Kellan threw an arm around my shoulders. “Though I am deeply wounded you didn’t consult us, your resident horse experts, before entering.”
“I didn’t want to make it weird when I didn’t know where things were going with us!” I protested. “Plus, it’s not exactly normal.”
All three men exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.
“Sweetheart.” Reid’s eyes crinkled at the corners in amusement. “If you think any of us want ‘normal’ after this, you haven’t been paying attention.”
Junebug nickered, as if in agreement.
“Fair point.” I leaned my head against Kellan’s shoulder, reaching out to take Reid’s and Enzo’s hands. “So you’ll help me train?”
Enzo squeezed my hand. “We’ll have you jumping higher than ever and prancing like you had a spa day with the farrier.”
Between Junebug and my three cowboys surrounding me, I was invincible. Whatever the competition threw at me, I’d be ready.
And honestly, how hard could it be? I’d already done it once unprepared and taken on three cowboys and a ranch full of animals.