Page 86 of Never Left You

“And it’s a tight turn.” I walked to the other side, adjusting his foot there. He grabbed the reins and nodded, taking in each and every word, his eyes wide.

“Really tight. Charming may take them faster since you're so light.” Quinn took the helmet from Abi and handed it up to Stetson, who quickly buckled it under his chin.

“Choose left or right first…”

“It doesn’t matter which.” Quinn reached up and checked his helmet, knocking on it with her knuckles after making sure it was secure.

“Then go to the opposite side.” I patted his knee. His head was moving from me, to Quinn, back to me.

“Turn around the barrel, and make sure you don’t touch it.” Quinn pointed at the barrel.

“Then to the front.”

“Then to the back. I’ll meet you there.” Quinn smiled at Stetson before jogging to the end of the arena. “Come down here to get a good speed going!” She waved her arms in the air.

“How fast should I go?” Stetson looked down at me, his entire face beaming with pure joy. This boy was made for the rodeo.

“As fast as you’d like. Remember…” I raised a single brow.

“Posture. Not too stiff, not too loose. Left or right, hold on tight.” Stetson bobbed his head as he recited each thing Quinn and I had told him. Crash course in barrel racing. “Where will you be?”

“Where do you want me?”

Stetson hummed. “By Mommy.” Turning my back, I looked at Abi. She leaned against the metal gate, her arms crossed over her chest. “She doesn’t like it when I practice mutton busting, so she won’t like this either. But she’ll smile if you’re next to her.” Stetson whispered.

I grinned. “She sure does, but I’ll go keep her company. Now, go down by Quinn and round these barrels.”

With a loud “Yeah,” Stetson kicked Charming’s sides and rounded the corner to where Quinn stood. She gave him some final instructions before pushing Charming off as Stetson kicked his side. Then he was off, Charming probably going a lot faster than Stetson intended. At first the shock took over, but once Charming rounded that first barrel, and he headed towards that second, I’d never seen that boy smile so big.

“That’s it,” I muttered.

“You’re going to get him hooked on this. He’ll be the first male barrel racer.”

“Hey, men can race barrels, and it’s better than saddle bronc.” I nudged Abi’s shoulder.

She teased. “He’s taking after his Uncle Lachlan, remember?”

Stetson rounded the third barrel and made his way back to Quinn, who clapped and jumped as he slowly brought Charming to a stop.

“Can I do that again?” Stetson hollered.

“Go again!” Leo screamed back at his grandchild. “I gotta film this!”

“Make sure you send me everything, Dad!” Abi cupped her hand over her lips, and Leo gave her a quick thumbs up before setting up his camera to catch every single move of Stetson’s second run.

“He’s a rodeo natural. He’s going to want to ride bronc next, you know that right? I wouldn’t be surprised if he asked if he could do that tonight.” Folding my arms, I leaned against the gate, looking down at Abi.

Her eyes met mine, and she smiled. “He’s going to after watching you. Speaking of which…” I wiggled my eyebrows at her, and then without breaking my eye contact Abi shouted, “Stetson, I think it’s Cash’s turn to get on the dirt!”

“YES!” Stetson screamed, jumping off Charming. “I want to pull the chute!”

“I’ll help him.” Rhett jogged to the chute, making it right before Stetson did.

“Wish me luck.” I reached down and squeezed Abi’s hand for reassurance.

“You don’t need it,” she said as she squeezed back.

I made it to the chute and looked out on the dirt. Lachlan, Kyla, and Quinn had moved the barrels off to the side. Stetson and Rhett stayed by the chute, and I waited until Lachlan was on Onyx to be my pick up man to lower myself onto the horse. He started moving the second my legs wrapped around him, ready to get out of the small cage and let loose.

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