Page 24 of Ride the Sky

On the photographer’s orders, I climb out of the water trough. Someone unhooks the pearl clasp in my hair, letting it tumble around my shoulders.

I scowl. “After this, no more endorsements,” I tell Pappy. I thought I wanted to be famous. But all it’s been is a pain in my ass. “I nearly got killed filming that damn boot ad,” I grumble.

Pappy guffaws, his big stomach quivering. “Do you think I’d put you in danger, my girl?”

I snort. “Would you?” I bare my teeth as the photographer gets in my face with the camera. “Hurry the fuck up.”

Taking a draw on his cigar, Pappy says, “You’re my little ticket. My moneymaker.”

I roll my eyes.

Pappy always has his eye on fame, the next big thing, the next deal to be made. He’s like a shark in the water when it comes to money.

We finish the shoot. I step beneath the eave of Vic’s casita, getting out of the warm May sunlight. I find my cellphone on the wooden table and swipe my screen lock.

Fuck.

In my DMs, a new message.

You ride, you’ll regret it.

The unsettling messages have been coming ever since the article about my upcoming ride was published. All from one spammy account.

I worry my lower lip between my teeth.

Probably some asshole trying to scare me out of the competition.

The crunch of gravel has my head snapping up. Has me spying Vic, coming across the ranch.

Inhaling a steeling breath, I hurry over to him. He’s given me the silent treatment for the last week. Even when we practice, all he does is grunt. To make things worse, he’s doubly unhappy about the number of people that have descended upon his ranch for today’s shoot.

“Vic,” I find myself calling out.

He turns. Stops.

Breathing hard, I scrape my wild hair out of my eyes. “I did every chore. Slopped the pigs. You saw me today. I stayed on Mastermind seven seconds.” I stare him down, trying to get him to crack. Vic’s cold shoulder is unbearable. “You could at least throw me a bone of conversation.”

Side-eyeing me, Vic shakes his head. “That bull was small. And it’s number eighty-nine. Not 100.”

My nostrils flare, my lips pressing into a flat line of annoyance.

“You should be spending your time practicing instead of prancing around in high heels.”

Vic’s sneer is directed at Pappy. Everyone who meets Pappy hates him. Even more than me.

Vic’s shrewd gaze flicks to Pappy, who’s reviewing the photos with the photographer. “He made you a star, kid, but none of it matters if you don’t keep it.”

“Stars go out.”

“They got a thousand million years in their lifespan.”

“Who made you an expert on the sky?” I toss back.

“Fallon, I’ve lived under the sky my whole damn life. I know when things are getting ready to fall.” My breath hitches as Vic steps forward to curl his massive hands around my shoulders. “Tomorrow. You have got to ride as if your life depends on it, because it does.”

A shiver goes through me. “I know. I will.” I look up into his tan and weathered face. My defenses lower. Hope flutters in my chest. “Will you be there?”

“I promised you I’d train you, and I’m obligated to look out for you.” A curt nod. His hard face softens. “I’ll be there.”

---