Jackson narrowed his eyes and nodded. Clint nodded. And they finally let go.
I exhaled loudly, relieved. I couldn't imagine how bad it would be if Jackson had actually known which way the wind blew.
All hell would have broken loose.
I tried to picture what would happen if Clint introduced himself as my boyfriend. Daniel would be the peacekeeper, giving Clint a chance. He wouldn't like it, but he would listen.
Well, maybe he'd throw a punch or two first.
But Jackson? He would go to war. I grimaced, realizing we were lucky that Jake wasn't here. He was even worse.
Or at least, he was crazier.
Jake was the kind of guy who got into a fight he couldn't win. I'd seen the aftermath of him taking on a whole bar full of bikers. For fun.
He'd sit there grinning while I held a bag of peas to his face.
I smiled as my cousins wished me luck and wandered off to get something to eat. It meant a lot to me that they were here. Sure, they were famous horse breeders, so it made sense for them to go to shows, but this one was a long drive across multiple states.
They were here for me.
"You warm enough?"
I nodded, bouncing in place. It was almost time. Clint rubbed my shoulders as I closed my eyes and mentally ran my routine like he'd taught me to do, trick by trick.
Seeing it in my mind's eye clearly made me calm and reminded my body of what to do.
"It's time to show them what you got, darlin'."
I smiled at him and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. I resisted kissing his delicious lips, just in case they were watching. I mounted Apollo and looked down at Clint. My man.
I hoped he was anyway.
He winked at me, his blue eyes shining with pride.
"Go get em' wildcat."
Clint
I stood on the sidelines, staring at Pheonyx in the ring. She was performing her routine flawlessly. My heart sang with pride as she swung around the saddle like an acrobat.
She was perfect. She was poetry in motion. And she was mine.
There were twenty competitors here today. Many of them seasoned vets. But Phee had a level of showmanship and precision that set her miles above them.
Never mind how damn beautiful she looked out there!
I knew she was going to win hands down. Getting to Nationals was going to be easier than I thought. Hell, we might even be going to the World Champtionship.
Watching Phee stomp the competition was the best damn thing I'd seen in my life. And I'd helped her do it. She'd let me polish up her technique to the point where it was textbook. Oh she'd grumbled at first when I made her get down to basics.
But look at her now.
The secret smile she flashed me at the end send a shot of pure love right to my heart. Love… that was what it was, no doubt about it. Well, dang. I had been afraid to say it out loud but there was no denying it now.
I loved the little filly.
And she was going to learn to love me back, dammit. Come hell or high water, I was hearing those three little words from her.
And soon.
Even if I had to trick her into saying them.
She waved at the adoring audience as the judges tallied their scores. I held my breath, waiting for it. I had a good feeling- I hoped that maybe- just maybe- she'd get a perfect ten.
And she did.
The crowd went absolutely wild.
Too wild.
Some fool starting waving a gun around in the air, celebrating Texas style. My eyes were wide as someone else pulled out a firearm. Didn't these idiots know that was a good way to spook a horse?
A shot rang out and Apollo reared back. Phee held on with all her might, clinging to the saddle. It wasn't enough.
Time seemed to stop. I heard a dull roaring in my ears as I reached out for her. But I couldn't reach her in time.
I stared in horror as Pheonyx fell. With the horse on his rear legs like that, it was a good ten feet to the ground. I saw her land on her shoulder, her head bouncing against the ground.
I roared and was over the fence in a heartbeat. The crowd was utterly silent as I ran towards the still figure on the ground. I had tunnel vision, staring at her beautiful, still face.
No, no no no. Please God no…
I wanted to lift her up and hold her but I was no dummy. I could make things worse that way. I brushed her hair back from her face, checking for breath, a pulse, anything.
I said a prayer of thanks as I felt the faint warmth of an exhale on my hand.
She was breathing.
"Phee- come back to me, babygirl. Please darlin', don't leave me-"