The anger that radiated from her was palpable. Just looking at her, I knew her weekend didn’t go the way she wanted it to—but—I wasn’t going to press. I dropped my chin and looked at my boots, kicking the dirt before I twisted towards my bunkhouse.
“Alright,” I sighed. “Well…if you need me”—I pointed to the bunkhouse—“you know where to find me.”
She didn’t respond. She just stood and kept her eyes on me, holding my gaze until my back was turned and I couldn’t see her anymore, still gorgeous even through the frustration of whatever was plaguing her.
Nine
Quinn
Ialwaysthoughtitwas a cliché when I heard someone say the shower would wash away every bad thing from the day—or in my case, the weekend—but there I was, in my shower, standing under the hot stream of water, trying to let it do exactly that.
The weekend was a disaster to say the least. The stables I had booked for Hook and Charming the first night only booked me to have one horse, and since they didn’t have an extra stall, I had to beg for them to let my boys share. Then the hotel wasexpecting me the following night, so I ended up sleeping in my truck—which is not set up for camping—and I came in last on my first ride. During Saturday’s adventure, Charming and I pulled a seventeen point nine, bringing home a small check, but then I had a no score, knocking down all three barrels, on the third run. And who just happened to be there at that ride…
My mother.
With her current Miss Rodeo Montana, Kelly Fugal.
Of course, she was there the time I landed a no score.
She came up to me with a large smile on her face, wrapping me in her arms as gingerly as she could so as not to mess up her hair, congratulating me on a ‘good try.’ She asked about Alpine Crest—as she still called it—and how she just wished I could come home once in a while. And then she placed her hand on her queen’s shoulder and walked away from me. I stood, forcing the tears not to well in my eyes, as I held onto Hook’s reins as tight as I’ve ever held them.
I loaded both horses in the trailer, got them settled in the stables—each having their own stall this time—and went to my hotel. I canceled my Sunday ride, canceled the boarding and hotel reservations. Then I popped in my headphones and watched my favorite episode ofOnce Upon a Timeas I burrowed myself in the sheets, happy with myself in that the tears I kept in never fell. I slept in, went and ate brunch at a local café, and then drove—only to hit traffic on the way home.
Pulling into Hartwell Hills, of course, the first person I saw after a monstrous weekend was Wyatt. I just wanted to get my horses in the stable and climb into my own bed. Not get confronted. So—I did just that.
And now the shower would wash it all away.
I knew I could do this; I did it last year, so why was this time a complete disaster? How did I manage to set myself up for failure? I messed up booking two stalls, I messed up the hotelconfirmation, I knocked down a total of three barrels—in one ride—and managed to barely keep myself together after seeing my mom. How. The.Hell,did I manage all of that in a span of three days?
And why wasn’t the shower working?
Turning off the boiling hot water, I dressed and made myself a cup of tea. Curling up on the couch, I instantly turned on a comfort show. Shockingly—Once Upon a Time.Nothing would ever create the same calm that Captain Hook did, telling Emma he loved her for the millionth time. I wasn’t even a crazy romantic, but there was something about their relationship that had me glued to the screen the minute they came together. The moment the title hit, my mind slowed down. Same with the night before at the hotel—if it wasn’t for this show and becoming one with my bed, I most likely would have broken down.
A large part of me was saying I needed to double-check all my bookings for the next leg to make sure I didn’t make the same mistakes again. Five rodeos in seven days, I have two ‘rest’ or travel days—which now that I think of it might help. It wasn’t going to be travel, rodeo, travel, rodeo the entire seven days. I had seen other racers and cowboys compete twice in one day, and I figured with two horses, it was a no-brainer—I could, too. I knew I could do it—but right now…in the exact moment in time…I needed tonotdo it and just…relax. If only…
The heavy vibration of my phone, still shoved into my bag by the front door, made it hard to relax. With a groan, I retrieved it, not bothering to unlock it before I plopped back on the couch. A text from Cash.
Cash
You’re home?
Me
Saw me drive up, huh?
Cash
No. Wyatt texted me. Said you looked frustrated. All ok?
I dropped my phone in my lap, my head falling back on the couch cushions. I inhaled through my nose and exhaled through my lips, then raised the phone.
Me
I'm fine. Just a bad few runs.
Cash
I say this with love, but I don’t want to see you at the stable tomorrow. We got your horses. Rest and take the day. Restock your fridge and don’t think about rodeos. Recharge.
