Page 51 of Never Left You

“I thought you said you weren’t going to ride again?” I asked when I watched Stetson use the mounting steps to hoist himself up on Marshmallow.

“I never said that.” Stetson situated himself on the saddle, grabbing onto the reins tightly. He was on the horse, but he was as stiff as a board.

The kid had somehow convinced me to let him up on the saddle after brushing down Marshmallow. A bath could wait. Stetson wanted to ride. So, we were going to ride. Stetson was determined, brushing the horse down and making sure he had plenty of snacks before resaddling him. Even Marsh looked excited to ride, bobbing his head up and down after each step.

“Your exact words were ‘I’m never getting a horse again.’” I air quoted.

“Are you going to take a ride with me, or am I going alone?” Stetson looked at me, and at that moment he was his father. His eyebrows raised to the rim of his hat, the smug look on his face one I had seen many times when I had told Sylas no to something. And I had to tell Sylas no a lot.

The resemblance made me laugh. I missed Sylas everyday, but here he was in his boy.

“Oh, I’m going with you,” I grumbled. “You’ll fall off again.”

“No I won’t.” He glowered at me.

“Give me a minute to get Nova. Good thing I kept her saddle on, and we aren’t going to go far. I have a training session this afternoon.”

“You’ll stay for dinner, right?”

“Sure will. I’ll never turn down your grandma’s cooking.” I hoisted myself up on Nova and looked at Stetson, who was still sitting on Marshmallow as if he had no idea what he was doing. He was holding onto the leather so tight , his knuckles were turning white. “You gotta loosen up.” I said, bringing Nova up to his side. “Marsh can tell you’re stiff. He can feel your unease—”

“I’m not stiff.”

“Stet, you fell off that horse less than twenty-four hours ago. I wouldn’t blame you for being stiff, but now, your horse can tell.” I rolled my shoulders in demonstration. “Loosen your body, let him know you’re comfortable in that saddle.”

Stetson copied my motion, watching me intently. I rolled my neck. He rolled his. I arched my back. He arched his. I moved my ankles, then so did he. I dropped the reins and wiggled my arms. He did the same. Picking up the reins I laughed, shaking my head as I urged Nova forward.

“What’s so funny? I’m loosening up.” Stetson kicked Marsh forward. He moved with a jerk, causing Stetson to stiffen once again. “Whoa, boy.”

“Don’t say ‘whoa.’” I pointed at him, glad that Marshmallow missed the command. “That’s his cue to stop right?”

“Yeah…”

“Do you want him to stop?”

Stetson looked at the large horse under him, and then at me, his brows pinched. “Yes.” He hesitated. “Maybe. No.” He took a deep breath. “I want to ride.”

“Then let’s ride.” I kicked Nova into a trot, hoping Stetson would follow. When I heard the hooves behind me hitting the Earth, I laughed. There was no way this kid would let his horse stand there while I trotted away.

Marshmallow caught up to me in no time, Stetson seeming a little more relaxed.

“There ya go.” I watched, slowing my mare down just a fraction, allowing Stetson to set the pace. “Now, where to?”

“The lake?” Stetson suggested, already turning Marsh in that direction.

“Lead the way.”

We made it there in record time, running into Lachlan and a few of the ranch hands along the way. We sat and rested the horses while we ate the granola bars I had shoved in my saddle bag, and once those were done, Lachlan wrangled both of us into helping fix a fence that got knocked down during the winter.

Keeping a close eye on the time, knowing Quinn would arrive sooner rather than later, I held the pole as Stetson helped nail the board into it. You would never have guessed this kid fell off his horse just yesterday. He was favoring one leg, that was for sure, but he was running, laughing and working just as hard as if nothing had happened. He got back on the horse and worked double time.

Watching him only made me want to get back to the arena. Maybe another ride was in the cards for tonight.

Maybe I could convince Abi to help at the chute again.

I would want Abi there; she wouldhaveto be there. Either at the chute when I nodded my head, or when I was jumping off the horse after the eight seconds were up. I knew I needed to see her there. She inspired me that night, she urged me to do something I’d be too afraid to do. And she allowed me to hold her, to feel something I hadn’t felt in years. With every single interaction since, even when she wasn’t paying much attention to me, I felt it.

In my mind, I was playing out Quinn’s timeline. We’ve been here for three weeks, almost four. Her injury was starting to heal. Her PT was going strong, and with the added acupuncture appointments, her limp was gone. With every training session, she got stronger, and soon she would be back at full speed. Wehad four, maybe six weeks left of training here before we were back on the road and in the circuit. My to-do list with her was about to get longer, and all I could think were ways I could extend the time here.

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