AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She knew exactly who I was. And how much I’m worth.”
“Huh,” Mack said. “So?”
Liam scoffed. “What do you mean, so? The rest is self-explanatory.”
Goddammit no one got on his nerves like this fucker. He wanted to order him to grab his knees so he could tan his ass.
But shit. He was done with all that. Still, Liam needed to get his head out of his ass. Mack wouldn’t be here to watch out for Calla so Liam better step the fuck up. “And what she’d have to say about it?” With effort he kept his voice mostly level. “Did she try to ask for money for the baby or something?”
Liam’s face went red. “Baby? What fucking baby?”
“She didn’t even tell you she was pregnant? Jesus,” Mack shook his head, “you really fucked things up, didn’t you?”
“Me? You’re telling me she’s fucking pregnant! It’s even more proof she’s trying to trap me and get at me mon—”
Mack grabbed Liam by the front of his shirt and slammed him up against the side of the chute. The horse who was first in line at the gate snorted and stamped its feet, while the owner started bitching at Mack.
Mack ignored him. “You better not finish that fucking sentence.” He shoved Liam against the wall again, then let him go. He shook his head at Liam. “Christ, you’re what I’m leaving her to?”
“I’m going to have to ask you two to move away from the—”
“Shut the fuck up,” Mack growled at the arena volunteer and turned his back on Liam so he could watch Calla.
Liam was a fucking idiot thinking she was after him for his money. Woman like Calla, she didn’t want anything she hadn’t earned. She was as proud as she was stubborn. And too good for either of them.
She rode Painter out into the middle of the arena like she was born to sit on a horse. They moved together as one, like they’d been working together for years instead of just months. And the way Painter responded to Calla’s tiniest nudge or click, there was no way you could tell the mare had been a wild mustang not three months ago. Fuck Liam and all his digs about mustangs being inferior to other horses. Fuck Liam in general.
Calla had already made it through several obstacles no problem. She next directed Painter to do several turnaround spins in place, first clockwise, then, after a slight pause, in the other direction.
Then she had the horse back up several steps before taking off at a trot, then a canter, then an all-out gallop across the arena. She brought the horse to a sliding stop, pulled out a pop gun and let out several loud pop pop pops as she backed the horse up again. Painter continued through the steps without flinching at the noise.
Mack let out a low whistle. Damn, Calla was impressive. Mack had been proud when he’d been able to get his gelding to stand still for a whole five seconds. Meanwhile Calla’s horse was running circles around them all. She really had a chance at the prize money.
He found himself holding his breath as she approached the last set of obstacles. They were set up on his side of the arena and he could make out the concentration and calm determination on Calla’s face. First she led Painter through a veil of hanging streamers. Then she urged Painter up, hoof by hoof, onto a wobbly wooden platform that pivoted on a fulcrum.
Painter set her first two hooves on it, no problem. But when she moved her back hooves up, something went wrong. Painter’s neck suddenly jerked and her eyes went wild.
And then she bolted.
She leapt off the wooden platform, jarring Calla to the side and almost off the saddle.
“Calla!” Mack jumped up on the gate.
Calla righted herself on her saddle and was clearly pulling on the reins to try to get Painter to stop. But her eyes were wide with some kind of hellfire and she just kept going. Calla had enough control to get her to turn slightly left around the curve of the arena oval, but she was still galloping hell for leather. They flew past Mack and on down the arena.
Mack was about to jump the fence but one of the chute workers held him back.
“Please sir, get down! You’re not allowed in the arena during another contestant’s ride.”
“She’s in trouble,” Mack snarled, yanking away from the man as he tried to see what was going on with Calla and Painter.
They were reaching the opposite end of the arena. It looked like Calla was trying to get Painter to turn again since she wasn’t slowing down.
It didn’t work this time.
Calla’s body flew off the back end of the horse as Painter kept galloping off without her. Calla flipped once in the air before landing on the arena floor in a puff of dirt.
“Calla!” Mack shouted.
