Chapter Eighteen
I wasn’t going to go for a run today, but after everything that happened yesterday, I had to get some nervous energy out. I woke before the sun, dressed in tight black clothes, and slid on my sneakers.
I assumed, and hoped, the rest of the house was asleep, and slipped out of the bedroom.
The door to Colton and Dean’s room was cracked open.
I couldn’t resist peeking in.
He wasn’t kidding about the bunk beds.
Dean was on the bottom, the blankets pulled to his chin, and snoring softly.
Colton was on top, his long legs hanging over the bedframe. His arm hung over the edge, dangling in Dean’s face. He looked too big for such a small bed. His mouth was wide open, but he wasn’t snoring.
He was, however, shirtless…in boxers.
I swallowed dryly, my eyes beginning to wander down the length of his body before I caught myself and turned on my heel.
I shoved my headphones in my ears and turned the volume up as loud as it would go. The house was dark and still, giving me the relief that I was the only one awake.
I shut the squeaky door as quietly as I could and, without bothering to look back, I took off.
The ringing in my ears had finally subsided, now replaced with thumping music and my rhythmic breathing.
The stunning pastures, brushed by the morning sun, created a perfect ambiance to clear my head. I took long, deep breaths, the freshness of the Oklahoma air clearing the fog out of my brain. Horses stood at the edge of the fences, watching me as I ran.
The gravel crunched under my heels. It reminded me of home.
My thoughts were racing as fast as I was.
I thought about my mom, about our once-a-month phone calls that would inevitably turn into a fight every single time.
I thought about Jo, about how she already claimed me as her family.
I thought about my dad, about how badly I needed him, and wondered how differently my life would’ve been if he hadn’t died that day.
But mostly, I thought about Colton. I thought about his electric touch. I thought about his gentle eyes and crooked smile. I thought about the way he called me, “Ally.” I thought about his fingers under my chin, forcing me to look up at him.
Before I knew it, I was sprinting, hard and fast, down unmarked gravel roads. I pumped my arms, kicking rocks behind my tennis shoes.
I was breathing hard, but I couldn’t slow down.
The image of the height marks on the pantry door made me want to scream. Jo kissing her kids every chance she got, Dennis wrapping his arm around his sons and daughters-in-law every time they entered a room, it was all slowly crushing me.
I forced myself to turn back to the house and ran just as fast down the path.
I came to a halting stop a few feet in front of the porch, panting so hard I thought my lungs were going to burst. My heart was pounding. Usually, I did a leisurely jog around the park. Today, I had sprinted as if my life depended on it.
After I finally caught my breath and my heart rate dropped to a regular beat, I climbed the porch and wandered inside.
The living room was dark. I stood in the middle of it, staring up at the pictures.
My music was screaming so loud in my ears that it was beginning to hurt.
A hand dropped on my shoulder, making me jump in surprise. I took out my headphones and whirled around. “Oh my gosh, Dennis. You scared the life out of me!”
Dennis was wearing black pajamas and a blue flannel robe.
His hair was wild on one side and flat on the other.
He smiled and took his hand off my shoulder.
“Sorry, Allegra! I said goodbye to you when you left, but I wasn’t sure you heard me.
” He shuffled into the kitchen. “You’re fast,” he called back.
I put my hand on my chest, forcing my heart to calm back down. “Not usually.”
He came back to the living room with a bottle of water and handed it to me. “Do you run every mornin’?” He groaned as he sat in one of the armchairs, taking a long sip out of a mug with “Rodeo’s best dad” on the front.
“Thank you.” I took a seat on the couch, clutching my water bottle like a lifeline. “I try to. Clears my head.”
He nodded. “Did you sleep okay?”
I nodded again, though it was a big lie.
I tossed and turned for hours. My mind was racing.
The idea that Colton was asleep in the other room made the butterflies in my stomach explode.
My mom called twice in the middle of the night, but I truly couldn’t handle that, so I ignored it.
A toilet flushed around four, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Colton was awake too.
I had given up around five to go for my run.
“Yes, the room was perfect. Thank you so much for your hospitality.”
He itched his cheek. “Oh, Allegra, we’re glad you’re here.”
I took a long drink of my water. “Are you going on the horse ride this morning?”
“No,” he whispered, his voice tired. “Unfortunately, I can’t do the horse rides anymore.”
My interest was piqued. “Oh? Why not? Is everything okay?”
Dennis leaned forward and pulled a warm rice pack out from behind his back. He shook it with a sad laugh and put it back. “Rodeo life is not kind to the body.”
“Did you have an accident when you were competing?” My posture was perfect, my grip on the water so tight it was beginning to crinkle under my fingernails.
I could practically hear the sirens, feel the blood rushing through my body, taste the panic.
Dennis shook his head. “No, thank goodness. Abnormally quick aging comes with jumpin’ off a horse multiple times a day for decades.”
I let out a breath. “Oh. Well, I’m glad you weren’t ever seriously injured.”
Dennis gave me a fatherly smile. “Thanks, kiddo. Me too. You know, Jimmy is getting close to retiring. His neck has had enough, and it’s startin’ to take a toll on him.”
A sense of empathetic relief for AnnaJane flooded me. I shook it away. “That’s too bad.”
He gave me a knowing look. “Rodeo life is not easy on the loved ones.”
I pretended not to notice his look. “I’m sure it’s tough to watch the people you love get hurt…over and over again.”
Dennis took a deep breath, laced his fingers together, and leaned forward. “Listen, Allegra-”
“Oh, hey!” Colton’s voice bounced off the walls.
Dennis and I’s attention snapped up.
He was dressed in a white t-shirt and Wranglers, his hair combed back, waiting for a hat. He leaned against the wall, doing his best to look casual, but the twitching in his fingers gave that away.
I swallowed. “Hi.”
Dennis patted his knees and stood. “AnnaJane called. The kids are just eatin’ breakfast, and they’ll be right over. I’ll go get dressed so I can help you load up the horses.”
Colton nodded. “Thanks, Pa.”
Dennis winked at me before disappearing down the hall, into his bedroom.
It was just Colton and me now. He finally pushed himself away from the wall. I stood, his presence pulling me to my feet. “How did you sleep?” Colton asked, his voice low and heavy.
I was suddenly aware of my lack of makeup and sweat-drenched clothes.
I was also painfully aware that I was wearing nothing under my jacket but a sports bra.
I thought about his no-shirt boxers look and crossed my arms over my chest. “I slept great.” I motioned toward the hall.
“I’d better get dressed so we can get going. ”
He nodded quickly. “Yeah, uh, for sure. I’ll go get everything ready.”
We were face-to-face, inches apart, in the middle of the hallway. He gave me a soft smile, his fingers brushing mine, before he stepped out of my way.
I took the quickest shower of my life, let my hair down, and dressed in a floral blouse. I did more makeup than I usually would for a horse ride, hearing Martha’s teasing voice in my head.
By the time I was finished in the bathroom, it was seven o’clock.
I rushed down the hall and outside.
The Nash property continued to amaze me with its impressive size and beauty. The yard itself was huge and perfect, but it was the countless pastures, corrals, and the black barn that floored me.
I was dying to see what was in the barn. It was enormous.
“Can I help?” I asked as the screen door slammed behind me.
Colton was trying to saddle horses and keep the kids contained. He looked up, a wide grin on his face. “Kids, introduce yourself to Allegra while I finish this up.”
The little boy, Cash, ran up to me, his arms outstretched in an expected hug. His tiny cowboy hat was flapping in the wind, threatening to fall off at any moment. I crouched to his level and let him throw his little arms around my neck. “Ally, do you get to go horse ridin’ today?” He screamed.
I nodded. “Yes, I am so excited.”
“Well, I’m Cash. You know that. This is my sister Ellie, and my brother Hunter.” He leaned back to point at his siblings.
I smiled at Ellie. She was wearing a flannel button-up, floral cowgirl boots, and her hair in twin braids, making my heart ache. She was the cutest little girl I’d ever seen. “I believe I’ve had the privilege of hearing your voice, Miss Ellie.”
She grinned, revealing her missing top two teeth. “Really?”
“I think it was in Arizona. You sang the National Anthem at a rodeo, didn’t you?”
Colton had just finished saddling the last horse and wiped the sweat off his brow. “Ellie will sing anywhere that’ll have her.”
“Well, you have a beautiful voice,” I said with complete honesty. “I would love to hear you sing again sometime.”
She nodded enthusiastically and looked at Colton. “Like now?”
He laughed. “Not now. We gotta get goin’. It’s gonna rain later, and we want to be home before then.” He nodded at the boy, who couldn’t have been older than two, digging in the dirt. “Hunter, can you say hello to my friend?”
The boy waved without looking up, wearing his own matching cowboy hat and boots.
I waved back. “Hi, Hunter. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Alright, let’s get goin’,” Colton said excitedly.
“Alan’s kids aren’t coming?” I asked as he picked up the little boy and set him on the jet black Murgese horse.
“Nah, Erin is taking full advantage of him being home, and she went to see her folks so Alan could watch ‘em.” He lifted Cash up and onto his saddle, making the muscles in his arms jump excitedly. I could practically hear the stitching in his shirt pop against the strain.
“I’ve got you on Gracie,” Colton said, throwing me a hesitant look. “She’s a great horse, real gentle.”
“Thank you,” I responded, taking the reins of the Paint Horse and rubbing her neck. “She’s gorgeous.”
She was identical to my horse growing up, even had the same chestnut spots. I already loved her so much.
“Ellie, I’ve got Marty saddled, but are you sure you don’t wanna ride with Ally or me?” Colton asked, his hands on his hips like a stern dad.
“Yes! He adores me!” She assured. She lifted her arms, and Colton helped her onto the speckled Appaloosa horse. He was huge, and from the way he held himself, I could tell he was in charge.
I slid my foot in the stirrup, grabbed the saddlehorn, and swung my leg around. Muscle memory flooding my veins.
By the time I was settled, I looked over at Colton. His mouth was open in a surprised smile. “Alright, well, we were gonna go over the basics of horse ridin’, but clearly we don’t need to.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I laughed, not sure how else to respond.
“There’s a nice trail ride through the woods. We’ll just go as long as y’all want.” He climbed on his own horse, between the two little boys, and gripped the reins.
Hunter was in front, clutching the saddlehorn and grinning like a chimp. Cash sat on the back of the saddle, holding his hat above his head and yelling “yee-haw” over and over again.
Ellie caught my eye. “Boys, am I right?”
I snorted. “You are right.”
I tightened my reins and followed Colton and Ellie. He was right about the horse, Gracie. She was a sweetheart, walking as gently as she could and letting me control as much as I needed.
Ellie’s horse, Marty, on the other hand, was a menace. He fought every command, stopped to eat whenever he wanted, and even tried bucking a few times.
“Ellie, why don’t you hop on with Ally, and I can just lead Marty?” Colton called, his eyebrows knit together in tight concern.
Ellie tightened her reins, squeezing her legs together on Marty’s shoulders. “No! He needs to learn!”
Colton caught my eye. “I don’t know which one of them is more stubborn.”
I smiled. Ellie was so mad that she was red in the face. Marty was whining and stomping his feet, making me feel as nervous as Colton looked. “Ellie, why don’t we switch?”
“If you guys would stop talkin’, I could get this sorted out!” She yelled back.
“Alrighty, then,” Cash muttered.
“Let me know if you need anythin’,” Colton called as we continued.
The dusty pastures had faded into a giant wood. With towering trees so green I could barely see through them. The air was so fresh, it felt as though it was clearing the fog out of my brain for good.
“So, you didn’t tell me you were an expert rider,” Colton said as we trotted through the forest. “You continue to amaze me, Ally.”
Ally.
The smell of the animals, the feel of the horse under my body, the muscle memory flooding my veins, “Ally,” it was all getting too familiar.
I rubbed Gracie’s neck. “She’s just a good horse,” my old accent flooded the sentence.
I swallowed and cleared my throat. “Did you train her?” A classic corporate strategy, shifting the subject with a personal question.
Colton repositioned Cash’s arms around his waist, keeping one arm around Hunter. “My dad did. He can break any horse; it’s a gift. But quit avoidin’ me gettin’ to know you!”
I smiled in surprise. “I am doing no such thing.”
He tilted his head. “Sure, Ally, sure.”
We all rode in silence for a few minutes, taking in the picturesque beauty that surrounded us. As much as I loved the city, the business and predictability, I couldn’t deny my yearning for wide open spaces.
Deep in the distance, dark clouds were gathering, confirming Colton’s theory of rain. I was busy looking up at the leaves, dancing in the wind, when I heard the grumble of thunder.
“Marty, no!” Ellie screamed.
I shot my attention toward the little girl and the huge horse. He threw himself back, letting out a loud whinny, and took off.
“Ellie!” Colton yelled.
Ellie held on to the reins, but the horse was gaining speed and darted off the path.
Colton looked terrified, but helpless, with two toddlers on his horse; going anything over a trotting speed could be dangerous. He stood, trying to maneuver his body around the kids to get off the horse.
He was going to run after her, but he wouldn’t be fast enough.
I didn’t think twice. I leaned forward, tightened my thighs on her shoulders, and whipped Gracie’s reins hard.
In no time at all, we were flying.