Page 13 of Begin Again
Shadow stamps his front feet, but to my surprise, he allows Charlie to take hold of the leather guides.
She doesn’t even try to hide the shock written on her face when I hoist myself on his back, swinging my leg over and landing in the saddle like I’ve been doing it my entire life. Shadow doesn’t seem phased by the added weight on his back, standing ready and waiting for instruction.
“You look surprised,” I say.
“I am.” Charlie laughs, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “This is…incredible. This is the first time he’s ever allowed anything like this. I can’t believe it.” Her hand raises like she’s going to pet the bridge of Shadow’s nose, but the horse takes a step back, forcing me to grab hold of the horn. “Still not a fan of me, got it. Here, you take the reins.”
We spend the next two hours going ’round and ’round the arena, even taking a few jumps (because Shadow didn’t feel like listening to Charlie’s instructionnotto go over there), before Joseph parks his truck under the carport and joins us.
“You seem pretty comfortable up there,” Joseph says, leaning over the fence. “You sure you’ve never ridden before?”
“I went with what I’ve seen in the movies,” I say, earning an eye roll from Charlie.
“A little unorthodox, but I like it.”
“Don’t encourage him, Dad.”
“So, is it safe to say I was right?” I hear Joseph ask when Shadow and I approach the two of them.
Charlie sighs, pushing herself off the fence. “Yes, you were right.”
“Wait, wait, can you say that again? I need to get it on tape. Xavier, hurry, get somethin’ to record it with!”
CHAPTER FIVE
September 2028
“WHAT IF WE TRY something different today?” I follow Charlie out to the barn. She had to work this morning, which pushed our riding time back to the evening before dinner. Not that I minded. I don’t need Charlie here anymore, but she likes to be, so I indulge her. Shadow and I have gone out alone a few times now that I know what’s needed. Sometimes, I prefer taking him across the property instead of the truck. It’s more relaxing, Shadow can stretch his legs and I can breathe without someone looking over my shoulder.
“Like what?”
“You go for a ride.”
“What kind of ride are we talking?” Charlie asks with a raised brow and a confident smirk.
Not the kind she’s thinking about.
“How about we start with Lady,” I say, trying to change the subject back to the matter at hand, but I can feel the flames of embarrassment rising in my cheeks.
“Wait, you want to give me a lesson?”
“Do youneeda lesson in riding?”
Charlie’s eyes light up. I swear the question wasn’t meant to sound as dirty as it did, but there’s no taking it back now.
Clearing my throat, I say, “I hear you used to be pretty good…At racing, I mean.”
Charlie scoffs. “A long, long time ago. I don’t—” She takes a deep breath. “That’s not me anymore.”
“Why’d you stop?”
The conversation takes a more serious turn than it had moments ago. “If you know I used to ride, you know why I stopped.”
“I don’t see what’s stopping you.” I shrug. “Everybody falls sometimes. Just a matter of getting back up.”
“What are you? An inspirational quote desk calendar?” Charlie laughs. She grasps the muscle of my bicep through the checkered flannel, giving my arm a playful shove.
While my “pep talk” may sound like one of those inspirational quotes you see on a poster inside a classroom or on a breakroom wall, it doesn’t make it any less true.
