Page 82 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

Kaylani and Coach Ehren walked the course, mapping out strides, reviewing strategies for each obstacle, and sharing whatever other words of wisdom he wanted to impart.

It wasn’t even eleven, and it felt like it had been twenty hours out in this sticky and unforgiving heat.

The morning had been so busy that I almost missed the suits standing near the pavilion. At first glance, they could have been anyone’s guards. Security wasn’t unusual at an event like this.

The Florida qualifier had wealth and prestige. Sponsors. Politicians. Bluebloods mixed with new money and influence. Security normally blended in with the crowd. But not these men. They stood as if they had never been to a horse show before. Scanning the crowd like they were evaluating rather than protecting. That I clocked immediately.

I didn’t stare. I adjusted my angle closer to the rail and kept them in my peripheral vision. Then I pulled out my phone and snapped photos of them while pretending to text.

When Kaylani entered the warm-up area with Atlas, I followed slowly, pretending not to have seen them at all.

The ring was a blur of motion. Riders circled in every direction, coaches yelled instructions, and I still had no idea how no one collided. It looked like a swarm of bees. If bees were two-thousand pounds of muscle.

Kaylani’s eyes were hard and determined as she cantered past me. Atlas’s ears were forward and focused. The steady rhythm of his hooves sent faint vibrations through my feet, making me smile.

The steward performed a tack check and told Kaylani she was on deck. She glanced over and gave me a wink.

My heart slammed against my ribs, and I rubbed the ring on my finger.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, followed by a sympathetic murmur, as a rail fell for the rider in the ring. I made my way back to the competition arena just in time to see the top rail of the final vertical come down as well. The rider shook his head but reached forward to pat his horse.

Kaylani entered through the in-gate. Atlas flared his nostrils as he passed the exiting horse, as if he was issuing a challenge. He was full of himself today and looked like a fire-breathing dragon coiled to spring beneath her. Lani sat steady and composed, completely in control.

She nodded to the judges, then the bell rang, and she was off.

My heart hammered as tension filled me. With every jump, my muscles tightened as if I had any control over the outcome.

Today’s course was technical and difficult. It had an oxer, three tight strides, and a climb up a short incline, before descending to a vertical.

I held my breath as Kaylani rode through the section.

The two of them moved in perfect harmony, every jump smooth and effortless as Atlas sailed over them. I clapped along with the crowd as Kaylani rode clean and crossed the finish line. Every distance was correct. No rails. No hesitation. But she wasn’t quite as fast as yesterday.

Despite the time putting her in second she smiled wide and gave the reins to Atlas, patting him on their way out, I caught the disappointment in her eyes. She was always her harshest critic.

She hadn’t ridden to win. She had ridden to secure a top-three finish. Which, at this level, was still extraordinary.

I stood by the exit while Kaylani laughed with Corey and Ehren. She was glowing as she dismounted, burying her face into Atlas’s neck. They were truly special together.

For a moment, I just watched her.

“Did you see that last combination? Oh my God, it felt incredible. We were soaring. It was like he had wings. I thought the castle wall was going to give him pause, but he didn’t even look at it. He just trusted me. What a rush.” Her voice was energized as she talked a mile a minute.

Kaylani, Corey, and Ehren broke down the course stride by stride. I had nothing constructive to add, so I searched for the suits I had spotted earlier. They were nowhere to be found. I wasn’t sure if that made me feel better or worse.

The next few hours passed in a blur as Kaylani took care of Atlas and got ready for the banquet. I straightened my suit jacket while I waited outside the trailer.

Ehren stepped up beside me and nodded. “You seem tense.”

The corner of my mouth turned up. “When am I not?”

“Good point.”

Corey bounded over in a light summer dress and sneakers.

“Is Kaylani still getting ready? We’re going to be late.”

“You two go ahead and find our table. We’ll be along shortly.”