“Yeah.” I reach over and take hold of one of Everly’s fingers. “Hello, sweetheart.”
She blows me a bubble in response.
“Why’s she playing?”
“Alex was short on his team.” I peer around again. “Where’s everyone else?”
“They’re getting drinks.”
The whistle blows. The ball’s dropped and hooked by the number three on the opposite team, who smashes it up the field.
Ruby hesitates for a second, which allows Alex to charge past her on Messiah, galloping along the far side, but he doesn’t getthere quickly enough. When they score, I can see how annoyed she is.
“Fuck.” I hiss and cup my hands around my mouth like a megaphone. “Come on, Otters.”
This time, the Otters are ready for the drop and Ruby—determined to make up for her hesitation—hooks the ball and powers it toward Alex, who’s spun around to receive it in the Otters’ deep end past the forty-yard line.
The other two members of the Otters flank him, positioning themselves, ready to bump the two ponies heading their way.
Ruby spins Maverick, racing after them.
“Come on, Trouble. Remember, sit back. Let Mav do the work,” I mutter, my eyes never leaving her.
“Move, Ruby! Fucking move your ass!” screams Haven, as Alex hits the ball wide, but within Ruby’s path.
She captures it, knocks it over to the Otters’ number four, who hits it forward just before the whistle blows, and the ball speeds between the posts.
Clementine, Haven, and I all jump up and cheer.
“One all.” I clap loudly. “Let’s fucking go.”
When the second chukka begins two minutes later, a fresh set of ponies gallop onto the field, and I don’t recognize any of them. They don’t belong to me, that’s for sure.
Now that Ruby’s playing, I’m way more invested in this game than if it were just Alex. Pulling out my phone, I dial the grooms’ office on the yard.
“Hey, boss,” Charlie answers.
“I’m at the Otters game. Can you bring Chester, Calamity, and Clover down?”
There’s a pause on the line because he’s supposed to be getting them ready to load for Hampshire. Twenty ponies are heading down this afternoon with ten grooms, and we’re helicoptering later this evening.
“Sure, I can switch some things around.”
“Great, we’re just starting the second chukka. Can you bring them for halftime?”
“No problem.”
Haven’s heard every word and turns to me, brow raised. “Clover?”
I don’t letanyoneride Clover.
I miss the throw-in because that’s when Hendricks, Story, and my mother all show up, and trying to see around them as they pass me is impossible. Billy, Jack, Diego, and Juan also arrive to support, taking the row behind us.
With added people comes more chatter.
“Will everyone stop yapping so I can concentrate?” I snap and ignore their shared glances as Ruby thunders up the field. “Fucking go, Ruby, go!”
Hendricks leans into me. “She looks good out there.”
