Chapter 18 #2
Her words spewed out, all messy and rushed over a poor connection.
“Slow down,” I said. “You’re where?”
“Getting off the freeway now.”
“In Phoenix?”
“Yes, Eli! The horse is freaking out–”
“What horse?” A distressed moan came over the line, and the clunk of metal or hooves, or something in the background.
Shit.
“Are you safe right now? Maybe you should pull over.”
“And do what? The horse is tilting the fucking trailer! I’m sure as hell not taking him out for a walk!”
“Okay. Okay, just focus on driving. I’ll meet you at the gate.”
I shoved my phone in my pocket as I passed Dad coming out of the bathroom. “Hannah’s coming. Something about a horse.”
“Hannah’s here?” Dad’s pleasure rattled me, but worry for my sister won out.
“I’m gonna let her in.”
When I got to the gate, August was pulling up. Figures.
“You knew I was coming?” he asked through his open window. With a smile, of course.
“Nope. Flat out forgot.” Then I remembered my promise to Ava. “Guess it worked out.” I shoved the gate open. “I’ll be over in a minute.” He drove on as I waited for my sister.
I heard the horse’s scream before I saw her truck. “Shit.”
Hannah slowed to a crawl as she turned onto the gravel drive, her gaze jumping between the road and her rearview mirror. As soon as she pulled to a stop, I jogged up to the driver’s side door. She rolled down her window.
“Want me to take over?” I asked.
“Yes, please.” The single-horse trailer shifted and thumped as she hopped out.
I didn’t bother locking up the gate. Better if Mr. Mercedes came here than harass Ava at her apartment, anyway.
We drove to the stable. Hannah parked my truck next to August’s.
I pulled up along the line of pens, wondering how the hell I was going to move a bucking horse without losing a limb.
August knocked on the passenger window of Hannah’s truck. I rolled it down.
“I think it’s better we put the horse in the ring,” he said. “Bigger space for him to move, and wider gate, no?”
That sounded like a great idea.
I nodded and rounded the stable. August ran off to swing the arena gate wide open. He spotted me as I backed into it, like parking between two goal posts. Hannah nagged and fretted from the sidelines. Once positioned, I threw the truck in park.
August appeared at my open window. “You have a rope?”
“In the tack room.”
He jogged to the stable and returned with a lead. I climbed out of the truck and watched him tie it to the handle of the trailer door.
Hannah inched over and poked my arm. “The key’s in the center console.” She flicked her eyes to the Latino Popstar. “And by the way, I’d like an introduction later.”
“You have a girlfriend.”
“It’s more of an open relationship.”
“Yeah, well, get in line,” I grumbled.
She raised an eyebrow.
“Not me! Never mind.”
I didn’t have the energy or the desire to explain it to her. Metal screamed against metal as the trailer shifted against the arena rails.
August tested the rope. “Okay. Ready?”
Adrenaline rushed through me. “Yeah.”
He let out slack on the rope as he ducked through the fence and positioned himself by the hinges of the trailer door, outside of the arena area.
I grabbed the key and tried reaching the trailer lock from around the side, avoiding the kick zone, but couldn’t see what I was doing.
The trailer shifted again as the horse thrashed inside.
I’d never get the key into a moving target I couldn’t see.
Screw it. I slid in the gap between the arena rails and the back corner of the trailer opposite August, with my back pressed against the gatepost.
“Careful!” Hannah moaned.
The trailer shifted yet again, pinching the gap where I stood and pinning me in place. All the air rushed outta me.
“Eli! Are you okay?” Hannah.
It took two tries to shove the key in the lock.
As soon as I jammed down on the handle, August pulled the rope, swinging the trailer door wide.
It slammed into the arena’s fence, sending shockwaves through the entire structure and rattling my skull.
I tried to squeeze myself out, but couldn’t. Pain lanced up my side.
Shit. I was stuck!
Two hooves shot out the opening, but the horse wouldn’t come out of the trailer.
“He’ll break an ankle!” Hannah cried, now worrying over the horse.
I couldn’t have responded if I’d wanted to.
Holy hell, I couldn’t even breathe. When I started seeing stars, Hannah’s truck inched forward, giving me just enough relief to slide free.
No more than a second later, the trailer jammed into the post I’d been pinned to.
The horse’s screams gave me chills. I rubbed at my chest, tried and failed to take a deep breath.
August hopped out of Hannah’s truck and ran up to me. “Are you okay, my friend?” He put a hand on my shoulder, looked right into my face with obvious concern. How could I hate this man? He may have just saved my life.
I nodded.
He patted my arm, then climbed the outside of the trailer to reach the window, and started talking to the horse.
Making clicking noises. At first, nothing happened, but after a minute or two, the horse took a step backward, then another, until he found the edge of his enclosure, and finally, his way into the arena.
As soon as all four hooves found dirt, he took off, racing, bucking, and huffing.
“You did it!” Hannah clapped, then reached out and hugged me.
I winced. Fire climbed hip to head.
“Chica,” August said to my sister. “Move your truck so I can shut the gate.”
She let go, but mouthed a silent “introduction” before strutting to the open driver’s side door.
The world tilted a little. Thank God we were done.
August slammed the gate shut. “You maybe should sit, no?”
I shook my head. I didn’t think I could. “Hey, August?”
“Yes?”
“Got a guy. Coming tomorrow.” It took effort to fill my lungs. “For a job. Think you can size him up for me?”
The Latino popstar flashed a paparazzi smile. “You got it, boss.”
No question. I owed the man a top-shelf beer.