by Toni Mari
Cory continued stroking Windsong’s face and glanced at me. What was I doing? Oh right, tack. Where was my tack? I glanced behind me, under Windsong’s belly, then shook my head. It was still in the tack room, idiot. I tossed the brush randomly on the floor and rushed off to get my saddle and bridle. When I got back, I started putting the saddle pad on Windsong’s back, but I couldn’t reach up high enough because of all the things in my hands and it slid back down. I grabbed for it but wound up jabbing Windsong in the side with the saddle. The pad dropped to the floor as he stepped away. I turned and dumped all my tack on the floor in a heap and bent over to pick up the saddle pad.
“Hey, are you alright?” Cory asked softly.
I jumped. I had almost forgotten he was still standing there. My laugh was brittle. No, I wanted to shout. I am a basket case. Getting back on Windsong was scary and nerve-racking. And then you showed up and turned me into a puddle of mush with your gorgeous blue eyes and curly black hair, those muscles, those lips. But I didn’t say anything. Instead, I dragged my eyes from his lips to focus on his eyes and just shook my head.
For just a second, it seemed like he might hug me again. He looked down the aisle at the other people. He took the saddle pad from my hand and put it on Windsong’s back.
I smiled grimly. I finished tacking up and went to the tack room and pulled on my tall boots. I tugged my pony tail down to the nape of my neck and smashed my helmet onto my head. After slowly pulling my gloves on, I reached for my whip. My hand froze. No, I didn’t think I’d trust myself carrying a whip. I left it where it was. Then, there was no more stalling, I had to go.
Cory held Windsong’s reins and, with silent agreement, kept hold of them as we walked to the outdoor arena. I didn’t have to ask, and Cory firmly held Windsong still as I climbed up onto the mounting block. I took a deep breath but still hesitated to put my foot in the stirrup.
“Fake it until you make it,” Cory said, nodding encouragingly at me.
My lips lifted slightly. Pretending a confidence I didn’t feel, I proceeded to do just that. I picked up the reins and settled softly into the saddle. “Okay, I’m good.” I felt self-conscience with Cory watching, so I kept a tight rein on Windsong and did tiny circles at the walk. I didn’t trust him and I didn’t trust myself. Cory had climbed up on the fence and was sitting on the top rail with his elbows on his knees. He gave me a thumbs-up.
I started some trot work and concentrated on keeping Windsong slow. He danced sideways but in general seemed a bit subdued as well. Maybe yesterday’s fight worried him too. I decided to risk trying a canter. When he struck off on the long side, I chickened out and turned him on a small circle. I did a few small circles, never letting him have a chance to build speed. The chirping of Cory’s phone caught my attention and I gratefully used it as an excuse to quit. I rode over to him.
He snapped the phone shut as I came close.
“Looking good out there,” he said as he tucked the phone into his pocket.
I smiled weakly and shook my head. How much did he really know about what I was supposed to be doing? I was glad of his support, but I hadn’t done anything difficult.
“That was my trainer, I gotta go. Look, it doesn’t matter that you didn’t do all the hard stuff today. Windsong knows that you rode, he had to behave, and his acting up wasn’t going to stop you. Save the hard stuff to do with Kate. Let her help you through it.”
My mouth dropped open. Of course he knew. Big baby Jane can’t ride her horse without a babysitter. I kicked Windsong into a walk. “Right. Thanks. See you later.” I didn’t look back and rode to the gate and dismounted. By the time I pulled the reins over Windsong’s head and opened the gate, Cory was gone.
Cory sat astride Jet outside the arena, arm across the saddle horn, hat pulled low over his brow. Delicious. My gaze snagged on him and I couldn’t concentrate on the directions Kate was giving me.
Kate looked over her shoulder and grinned. “Hello, earth to Jane. Looks like the lesson is over.”
I looked at her blankly. “What?”
“Go.” She waved her arm, still smiling. “Go, cool down with Cory.”
“Okay.” As long as Jet was there, riding Windsong on a trail ride sounded way easier than this lesson had been. I had sucked even worse today.
Kate opened the gate for me.
“How did it go?” Cory asked as he sat up.
I glanced at Kate. “Not great. He feels so out of control to me.”
“Well, come for a walk. Take your mind off of it for a minute.”
I let Windsong follow along behind Jet. When we reached the bottom of the small hill, Cory stopped Jet and let Windsong come alongside. He looked like he wanted to say something. I waited, not looking at him. Was he going to say something about me wimping out the other day?
“How’s your friend?” he blurted out.
“My friend? You mean Megan?” Where did that come from?
“Yeah, the Barbie doll.” He wasn’t looking at me now.
I knew it! He wanted Megan. Deflated already, my heart sunk lower. Of course he wanted Megan. She was beautiful; I was shallow, incompetent, cowardly. Wanting him to feel bad too, I spoke with derision. “She’s happily glued to John, the star quarterback and Mr. Popularity.” I meant to make Cory feel disappointed that she wasn’t available.
“What about your football player?”
“My football player? I don’t have a football player.”
“The guy you went to the dance with.”
That was ages ago and he still remembered? What else did he remember?
“Bobby wasn’t really my type.”
“No? You don’t like jocks? He had, uh … big shoulders, handsome, popular, I guess,” Cory said, trying not to be too sarcastic.
I giggled. “He did have big shoulders. And a big head.” And he kissed like a moose, unlike you. “But how do you know what he looks like?” I didn’t remember Cory and Bobby ever meeting.
“Couldn’t miss his big head in the car when he dropped you off.”
My eyes popped open, but I laughed and tried to swat him on the arm. “Stop talking about his big head. He was nice, sort of. He used to give me rides everywhere.” And then I added, “If you like big heads,” and giggled again.
“Used to?” Cory asked.
“Well, not anymore. I pissed him off.”
“You did? How did sweet little you piss him off?”
“Well, I, uh … wouldn’t, you know, do it with him.” I looked away. My face was burning up. Did I just talk about sex with Cory?
Cory grinned. I barely had time to register his joy at my answer because he nudged Jet into a little trot. Windsong immediately trotted too, and I let him but shortened the reins and checked him back. My heart thudded in fear. My face set as I worked on keeping Windsong slow and behind Jet. His trot got short and choppy, and he started to swing sideways. When he braced his neck against the reins, I really got worried. Cory glanced back and noticed my troubles. He easily slowed Jet to a walk, and Windsong immediately walked too.
“You know what you need?” Cory asked. “Some experience with speed.”
“What do you mean?” I tried to sound casual, but my voice shook. I hated being afraid.
“Well, you need to gallop a horse fast. One that you trust so that you can get used to speed and power. You know, at the rodeo, we do everything at a gallop. It’s just a matter of getting used to it.”
“Yeah, well, if I had a nice little horse like Jet, maybe going fast wouldn’t be such a big deal,” I countered. “Don’t you remember how fast this horse can run?” I asked, pointing down at Windsong.
“Yes, I do,” Cory answered. “And I’m pretty sure Jet would beat him in a race. But you just gave me an idea. Are you coming to the barn tomorrow?” Cory asked.
“Yeah, usual time.”
“Well, don’t get Windsong out. Wait for me. I’ll bring Jet down and you can get on him and learn what speed is.” Cory grinned. He looked
at me with a challenge in his eye.
There goes his bossy side. I wasn’t sure Jet could go that fast, but it would be nice to get on a horse and relax. It was clear to me that Jet was well behaved. “Okay,” I agreed. “Jet’s such a sweetheart, I would love to ride him. But, Cory, would that really help? He’s small and so mellow, he doesn’t seem so speedy to me.”
“My man has got the speed, trust me,” Cory said, mysteriously.
I was turning Windsong out when I realized Cory had never asked for Megan’s phone number.
Chapter 20
I sat on the arena fence, pretending to enjoy the sun. Really, I was impatiently waiting for Cory, and when I spotted him riding down the path from the western barn, I turned my face up to the warm rays and closed my eyes. I opened them and casually looked over as Cory opened the gate. I expected him to be on the ground, but he was easily handling the gate from atop Jet. I watched him ride Jet across the arena. He was a beautiful sight to see on the back of a horse. He sat tall and straight and moved easily with the horse’s motion. He tipped his hat toward me and hopped down.
He grinned at me and said with a flourish, “Your steed, madam.”
Ignoring the flip in my stomach, I laughed and slid down off the fence. “Very charming, cowboy.”
I put my foot in the big leather-backed stirrup and mounted Jet from the ground. It was so easy compared to climbing aboard Windsong. The big western saddle felt like a huge couch compared to my smaller dressage saddle.
“Remember,” Cory instructed me, sounding like a teacher, “don’t wrap your legs around him like you do your horse. And keep the reins loose. If you want to stop, you just have to lift the reins. Don’t pull on his mouth. And you have the horn to grab on to if you need it.” He had a playful smile on his face.
“Cory, I do know how to ride. I think I’ll be okay,” I said as Jet moved off.
His stride was shorter than Windsong’s but bouncier. The western saddle had thick leather under my whole leg right down to the stirrup, so I couldn’t feel Jet’s sides when I laid my leg against him. He apparently could feel me though because he bounded easily into a lope. Too easily. I tightened my leg for security, but that just made him run faster. What did Cory say about my legs? Right, off the horse. I stuck my legs out to the side and stepped heavily on the stirrups. Jet smoothed out but kept up a speedy gallop around the arena. It was fast but very smooth. I liked this. I turned to smile at Cory. Jet followed the shift in my weight, did a flying lead change that felt like a dance step, and galloped just as fast in the other direction. My mouth dropped open, wow! That was fun. What did Cory say about stopping? Lift the reins. Because they were so long, I lifted them five or six inches. Jet tucked his hind end under and slid to a stop, leaving fifteen-foot-long skid marks in the sand. Whoa, I almost took the horn of the saddle in my gut but caught myself just in time. Cory was laughing.
I use my legs to steer Windsong, moving him left by pushing him with my right leg and so on. I pressed my leg on Jet’s side, intending to send him toward Cory so that I could give that boy a piece of my mind, but reining horses respond differently to the leg. Jet whirled around on a circle as fast as his legs could go, spinning like a top. I grabbed the saddle horn, listing to the side. I lifted the reins to stop him and it did, except then he ran backward. Usually I’d close my legs around the horse to send it forward, so I closed my legs and Jet rocketed forward into a gallop again. Oh crud! I gave up, grabbed the horn with both hands, and yelled for Cory to stop Jet.
Cory, still laughing, stepped into the middle of the ring and Jet ran right to him.
“You knew that was going to happen,” I fumed. “You didn’t warn me. Are you having a good laugh?”
“Yep.” Cory was still grinning.
I looked down into his blue eyes sparkling with mirth and caught my breath. I grinned too. “Damn cowboys.” That was amazing.
“Speed is not such an evil thing, is it?” Cory teased.
“He’s so sure footed. He was flinging me around like a rag doll, but I never really worried about falling off.”
“Were you scared?” Cory asked.
“No. He knew what he was doing. I just enjoyed it.”
“That’s my point. The horse knows his stuff; just tell him where and when.” Cory rubbed Jet’s neck. He had such a sweet smile on his face, I wanted to lean down and kiss him.
“I’m gonna do that again.” I said and I gave Jet a little squeeze. It didn’t take much and we were off and running.
I aimed right for Cory and signaled a slide stop, laughing out loud. I threw myself on Jet’s neck and gave him a big hug, rubbing both hands on each side of his neck.
“Cory, he’s a Mercedes Benz, and I’ve been riding Buicks all these years.”
Cory chuckled. “He’s one of a kind.” He gave Jet an affectionate pat on the neck. His tone became serious. “I couldn’t imagine life without Jet. We’ve been through so much together. He’s got integrity and heart. He inspires me. Someday I hope to be as good a man as this little horse is.”
Oh, wow. I wished I was Jet. “You are,” I breathed.
Cory just shook his head.
I slid off and followed Cory up to the barn to help take care of Jet. We were hosing him off when two guys walked up.
“Dudes,” Cory said in greeting.
“Yo, you riding this weekend?” the blonde kid asked.
“Brandon, this is Jane. And the other guy is Len. Just catch riding, no events,” Cory answered.
“Cool. Not bringing Jet?” Brandon asked.
“Nah, Dale’s lending me a ride.”
“Even more perfect. Len, we’ve got a fighting chance to be into some money this week.” Brandon punched Len lightly in the arm. “You wanna ride with us? Room for her, too.”
“Sure.” Cory turned to me. “You wanna come with us to the rodeo, Jane? It’s Saturday night.”
Did he mean it? Like a date? Or was this an accidental invitation just to be polite? I played it cool. “Uh, yeah, I think so. I’ll check it out.”
The boys talked for a few more minutes about which events they were competing in and which horses they were riding.
After they walked away, I said without actually looking at Cory, “It’s okay if you don’t want me to go. You know, guys night out and all.”
“No, I think it would be good for you. More exposure to speed, and all.” Cory grinned.
“Like a working field trip? As long as I wouldn’t cramp your style or anything,” I agreed.
“Girl, you are my style.” Cory flashed a charming grin at me. His tone was light. My heart sped up. He was joking, right?
“You’re on, cowboy.”
Chapter 21
We rode in Brandon’s blue pickup hauling a little horse trailer with two horses in it. I sat up front between Cory and Brandon, and Len sat in the back.
“Brandon and Len are a roping team and Len is riding broncs tonight,” Cory explained.
“Yeah, and thank goodness this dude ain’t riding ’cause maybe I have a shot at something. There isn’t a bronc that Cory can’t ride,” Len said.
“Or a friggin’ steer that he can’t rope,” Brandon chimed in.
“I’m taking it you’re pretty good at this rodeo stuff?” I teased.
I watched the color rise up Cory’s neck. “It’s how I paid for Jet. I had to win to make money. These guys just blow their money on beer and girls. I had purpose. I was motivated.”
“Like you never spent your money on beer and girls,” Len ragged.
“No, I think the damn girls bought him the beer!” Brandon exclaimed.
“Shut up, assholes.” Cory reached back and smacked Len in the head.
We helped Brandon and Len unload the two horses and tack them up. We followed as the two of them rode through the gates to the warm-up ring. After closing the gate behind them, we stood leaning on the fence, watching the riders. Lots of people stopped and chatted with Cory, shaking his hand or slapping him on
the back. And I swear every girl looked at Cory like she knew him, or wanted to. It was like hanging out with a celebrity or something. Cory didn’t seem to notice it. He introduced me to some of the people, but not one name stuck in my brain—they were all Slim or Tate or something.
A couple cowgirls rode up to Cory as he leaned on the fence. The one in the middle was beautiful, dark haired, slim, bright turquoise chaps and a sequin studded shirt. Her saddle glinted with sequins and even her spurs sparkled with glittery decorations. Flashy. She smiled coyly at Cory but didn’t even glance toward me.
“Cory, baby. How are you? I’ve missed you this winter,” the beauty crooned in a southern drawl.
“Doreen. Good to see you,” Cory replied neutrally.
“What are you riding tonight?” she asked.
“Just catch riding. No events.”
“Yeah, you’re too big for this little rodeo anymore.” She winked at him.
“You know I love it here, Doreen,” Cory drawled.
“Well, be sure to give me a big congratulations kiss when I beat these girls tonight.” She smirked at the other girls next to her. “I’ll catch you later, ’kay?” There was a promise in her words. Cory glanced at me, but I pretended to be studying my fingernails. I was floored. If she could have, I think flashy Doreen would have flipped Cory onto the back of her horse and ridden off into the night with him.
“Yeah, see ya,” Cory said as Doreen rode away. “Doreen is a great barrel racer. She wins a lot of money here. She’s one of the best barrel racers in the country.”
“Sparkly.” I held in a grin at his obvious discomfort.
“That’s just Doreen.”
I smirked at him. “Who seems to be available for your future pleasure. Should I catch another ride home?” I was half teasing him and half worried about his response.
“Doreen’s always like that. It doesn’t mean anything.” Cory quickly changed the subject. “The girls go first, running barrels, then comes the roping events. They end the night with the bronc and bull riding.”
