Page 61 of Welcome Home, Cowboy
Three love songs later, they parked and headed toward a modest arena with bleachers lining both sides.
“Do you ride in these shows, too?” she asked, taking a seat beside him in the stands. Sabrina sat on her other side, snuggled close.
“I used to when I was a kid. Then I lost interest. I got much more interested in girls.” He winked, catching her eye. “I’m still much more interested in the girls.”
Heat burned her cheeks.
“One in particular. Thanks for joining me today.”
“Thanks for asking.”
He leaned forward and looked at Sabrina, who was consumed in playing a videogame on his phone. He lowered his voice. “I made a lot of apologies the other night, but I want to reiterate one thing I’m sorry about.”
“What’s that?”
“The way I left on Thursday morning.”
She laid a hand on his forearm. “Really, you don’t have to apologize.”
He looked out on the arena where the riders were preparing for their show. “My father always taught me that a man doesn’t show his fear. I guess I was embarrassed.”
“Do you have…a lot of nightmares?” she asked, wondering if he’d talk to her this time.
He nodded. “He also taught me that a man doesn’t talk about his problems.”
Julie frowned. “You don’t talk about what you’ve been through? With anyone?”
He shook his head. “Not usually. But I’ve started seeing a psychologist on base recently. It’s helped a little.” He looked at her long and hard. “Have you talked to anyone? Seems to me you chose yoga over talking about what you’ve been through.”
She glanced at Sabrina to make sure she was still occupied. “It’s not the same. What happened to you, what you’ve seen, it’s too much for someone to keep inside. I’m fine.”
“Pot, meet Kettle.”
She laughed, wringing her hands in her lap, uncomfortable with where the conversation was going. Daren needed to be in her past, but he wouldn’t be until she worked up the nerve to face him again. The only person she needed to talk to was him.
Lawson gestured toward the arena. “Hey, Sabrina. Looks like your mom is first up.”
Sabrina tore her gaze from the phone in her hand and smiled wide, bouncing lightly on the bleachers. “Yay! I hope she wins all the ribbons!”
Julie laughed, wrapping an arm around Sabrina’s shoulders. “Me, too, sweetheart. I hope so, too.”
Two hours and a box of peanuts later, Julie walked with Lawson and Sabrina down to the stables to congratulate Beth on her three wins.
“You were awesome,” Julie said, wrapping Beth in a hug. “I didn’t know Jax could do all that.”
Beth’s cheeks were rosy from the excitement of her wins. She scooped Sabrina up in her arms and held her against her chest. “Thank you. I have to say, it felt really good to be back in the saddle.”
Lawson’s smile faded. “Those words should never come out of my little sister’s mouth.”
She punched his shoulder. “Trust me, that’s not the kind of saddle I want to be back in right now.”
Julie shook her head. “As good as you are on a horse, you should be doing it professionally.”
Beth shrugged. “That was the plan before…” Her voice trailed off. “It’s still the plan. One day.”
“You bet it is.” Lawson knocked his shoulder against Julie’s. “My Uncle Lawson duties are over for the rest of the evening. What do you say we go on part two of this date?”
“Date?” Beth looked between them.
