Page 38 of Never Left You

“You sure? He loves the pasture. I have a hard time getting him back in the stable at night.” Abi laughed, using her now free hand to pet his neck.

“Quinn needs to get her ass on this horse. Would you be able to come get Charming once she’s on Hook?”

Abi looked behind my shoulder at the arena. “Sure, but…do you think Quinn wants to get on him? How long did it take her to gallop on Charming?”

“Too long. I gotta get her back on the horse she fell off of.” I motioned towards her, pulling Hook’s lead for him to follow.

Abi raised a brow. “Okay…I’ll be back for Charming.”

I gave her a wink before leading the black horse towards the arena. He protested slightly, pulling the reins towards the gate, but gave in with a grunt.

“Quinn,” I shouted, opening the arena gates. She turned to look at me. “Dismount.”

Quinn slowed, taking Charming over to the mounting block, walking him over the moment her feet hit the ground. Her face faltered as she got closer and closer to me. She knew exactly what I was doing.

“Are you afraid of Hook?” I asked, pointing to the black horse next to me.

“No,” she grumbled, avoiding meeting my eyes completely.

“Pretty sure you are. The past three weeks you haven’t ridden him once. He’s going to become a pasture horse if you don’t train with him, too.”

“He’s not going to become a pasture horse.” Quinn reached out and touched Hook’s nose, “I’m just…”

“It took me a bit to get back on another horse after my fall, too. At least with barrel racing you can ride your own horse, and Hook”—I held the reins out to her—“is a fantastic racer. Swap out the saddles and mount him.”

Frozen, she moved only her eyes, looking from her horse to me.

“Swap out the saddle and mount him,” I repeated, making sure to add the tone of voice that got her moving.

Quinn took a deep breath before moving to ready both horses. I stepped back, only feeling slightly bad for making herchange horses in the middle of training. Watching her, I leaned against the gate as she took her time talking to her horse, and reassuring Charming he did a good job today. Hook bobbed his head, seemingly ready to go for something more than the pasture.

“You’re tough on her.” Abi came up behind me, her arms coming into view on the gate next to me. Her eyes were focused on Quinn as she removed the saddle from Charming. “You really think she’s scared of Hook?”

“I do. She would always pick Hook over Charming, and now she won’t even come near him.” I didn’t take my eyes off Quinn as she took every piece from Charming and placed it on Hook. “Look at her. She’s hesitating.”

“And you’re just going to watch her hesitate?”

“Yup.” I folded my arms and watched.

“I’ll say it again, you’re a tough trainer.” There was a small laugh in Abi’s voice.

“She’s tougher.” I said with confidence, my focus on Quinn not faltering.

Abi shifted on her heels. “How did you get into barrel racing training? I’d figured you would go for something with saddle bronc. Thatwasyour event.” She stepped up on the gate, making herself a little taller than me as her focus stayed on Quinn.

“Yep.” I mimicked her action and took the step upon the gate, feeling that twinge of pain radiate up my leg. I sure as hell hoped Quinn never had this residual pain. She didn’t need this plaguing her for the rest of her life. I continued, “I thought about it, but to be honest, it may have been harder to become a trainer for that event than anything else.”

“Why?”

“I would want to get back on that horse.”

“Why haven’t you?”

I watched as Quinn ran her palm down the length of Charming’s back. Hook was almost ready to go, he just needed the bridle, and Quinn was still hesitating. She claimed she wasn’t afraid, but I could see it in her expressions. I could tell by the way her legs buckled once she got near Hook. Her breathing got heavier, and her movements weren’t as fluid.

I could see it in her because it’s exactly how I was.

Fear.

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