Page 5 of Unbroken

“Okay, folks, here we go,” Josh said as he logged into the reservation software. “We’ve got a busy few weeks coming up with some criticalrides on the books. I’ve booked some influencers as well as some corporate decision makers who I’m hoping will turn our operation into a regular company teambuilder. So far Eli has been tackling the smaller group rides solo but as word is getting out and we’re getting busier, I’m adding more riders to each group. That means I need a front and tail for all of them.”

“But I’m better suited to teaching, you know that. Why can’t one of the hands do the trail stuff?” I asked, mentally kicking myself for sounding like a whiny complainer.

“Because the hands are already doing what I’m paying them to do every day. Handling trail rides isn’t a part of their job. Besides, I need people who know how to manage folksandride, and that’s been difficult to find. We trialed two different people. One decided it wasn’t for him and the other, well, he shouldn’t be working with people. Ever.”

When he put it that way, I could see why Josh would want me involved. I’d always had a big personality, the kind that could keep a group engaged and entertained. That was good for teaching horseback riding to a bunch of easily bored kids, but I could see how it would be useful on trail rides, too. On the other hand, if that was what the trail riding program needed, why wasEliin charge of it?

Eli had always been so quiet and steady; a preacher’s son through and through. When we were younger, I could always tease the fun side of him out, but that had stopped after the prom debacle. And from what I’d heard about how his life had worked out over the past few years, I was pretty sure that part of his personality was long gone. It looked as though he could barely crack a smile. Sure, he was a hard worker, but how could he possibly be a good fit for interacting with guests?

“Hold on a minute,” Eli said, finally speaking up. “Josh, I’ve been running the program just fine since it kicked off. I don’t need Fiona’s help. And the fact is, she’d probably be more of a dead weight.”

“Excuseme?” I managed to squeak out.

Eli closed his eyes like he was already losing his patience with me. “I meant that from a skills perspective; you’re probably a little rusty. How long has it been since you’ve ridden? And do you even know the trails?”

“You bet your ass I do. Better thanyou,for sure. I grew up here, Eli, I know every inch of this place.” I glared at him. “And as for skills, if you want to go head-to-head, I’d be happy to.”

“Would you two stop it?” Josh sighed like we were bickering children. “I’ve given this a lot of thought and having you two work together makes sense.”

“No, what makes sense is me running classes for the kids,” I said. It was obvious that working with Eli would be a disaster. So even though I was sure I’d be flat-outamazingat it, I’d leave that part of the business to him and handle lessons instead. “That’s what I thought I was going to be doing, Josh. It’s where I should be.”

“Exactly.” Eli nodded to me like I’d made a good point. “We agree. She’s not suited for the program. She’d be better with two feet on the ground teaching kids basic horse riding in a secure paddock.”

“Hold on.” I narrowed my eyes at Eli. “Are you saying that’sallI’m capable of?”

He shrugged. “I’m just saying I don’t see you navigating the rocks on the cliffside trail.Maybeyou could do Breezy Run, which is all flat, but the more advanced trails are probably too much for you. You haven’t been on the back of a horse in years, let alone spent hours in a saddle.”

I turned to Josh with my mouth hanging open. “Are you hearing this? Coming from a guy who didn’t start riding until high school. I waspractically born with boots on. I couldtotallydo the cliffside trail. I could do all of them with my eyes closed.”

Josh looked like he was hiding a smile. “You think so?”

“I know so!” I shot back.

“Okay, then, that settles it,” he replied triumphantly. “You’re now partnered with Eli to ride all of the trails, eyes closed or not. But I’d recommend that you keep them open.”

We both exploded with protests as Josh grinned at us, not saying a word until we sputtered into silence.

“This is my final decision, guys. Eli can lead the groups and you can bring up the rear, Fi. You’re so good with people that you’re a perfect fit for the caboose.”

I glared at him. “Stop trying to butter me up.”

“I really don’t think this is necessary, Josh,” Eli added. “Have I not been doing a good job or something? Is that why you want to add her to the program?”

I knew there was no way Eli was doing anything less than a perfect job. He was an overachiever through and through. His father had made sure of it.

“No way, you’ve been doing fantastic out there. That’s why we’re expanding. But in order to keep up with the growth, we need more butts in the saddle keeping everyone safe, and that’s where Fi comes in. You’re going to be an amazing team, I can feel it.”

Josh said it with such conviction that for a second I almost believed him. But then I looked at Eli and saw the old fire in his eyes and I had to wonder.

Were we going to be allies or enemies?

THREE

ELI

“He said my car won’t be ready for another forty-five minutes,” Fiona said, pointing over her shoulder at the garage. “Sorry, I didn’t think it was going to take so long.”

It was the day after we’d discovered we’d be working together, and I had offered to drive her into town to pick up her car while I ran a few errands. I thought we could start hashing out the details of how we were going to make our new partnership on the trail rides work, but Fiona only seemed to want to catch up on life around Poplar Springs, and it was getting on my nerves.

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