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"Is he a good rider?" She asked.
"He is one of the best I've seen. The man was practically raised on horseback," he said, then turned to see Nicole's eyes trained on him like she was waiting for him to realize something. He shook his head and waved the thought away.
"I don't think that's something you should worry about. I don't think it is something you should stress over. Let it go, yes?" He asked, and she nodded slowly.
"I don't think I am being paranoid. I think the closeness between you and this man is what is blinding you. He will be able to totaldeystroy everything that we have worked on if he races. You are the best out there, but what if he is better?" Nicole asked him. Austin paused and looked at her then he shook his head.
"You have angered him, his loathing for you and that will make him do things that he normally doesn't do, and that will make him compete in this race, and a possible unfavorable outcome," she said.
"He won't compete. Little Hayden is scared of actually taking on these kinds of challenges. He prefers sticking to things that he understands, things that he is familiar with. You understand?" He asked, stuffing his hands in his trouser pockets.
"He will. That is the thing. He will compete. Didn't you see anything in his eyes? Whatever you and him might have done back there, it wounded his pride, and you can be sure as hell that he is not going to back away from it," she said. Austin shrugged.
"Cursing doesn't suit you, Nicole," he said and fell into a brooding silence.
CHAPTER TEN
Lenanee was sitting on the bed when Hayden walked through the door, and one look on his face told her that he had done what she had feared he would do. His eyes were fierce, and his jaw was set in the manner of a man who had made his decision and wasn't going to change his mind no matter what she said.
"Why are you doing this?" She asked him.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"This, why are you doing it? Why do you want to challenge him so badly? I think you're making a mistake, and you might just lose yourself in this," she said.
"You won't understand,"
"Then make me," she replied. Hayden stood there for a while, then he blew his breath through puffed cheeks.
"I was beaten like a child. Do you understand? I was roughed up and beaten like I was a child, and that has maybe faded in your memory, but it hasn't faded in mine. It is the only thing that I think of. It is the only thing that goes through my head, and I am unable to remove it. There are times when I relive those memories in my dreams, of the way that I was humiliated andinsulted very thoroughly and had he wanted to hurt you as well, then it would have been all too easy for him. You're the woman that I love, and I couldn't even protect you. He…he wasn't even armed" he said.
Lenanee saw the pain and the shame in his eyes, and it was then that she understood how deeply it must have hurt him. She stood and started walking towards him. She placed her hand on his chest and then shook her head.
"I am sorry. I didn't know that it meant that much to you. I didn't know that it wounded you in that way. I…I'm sorry, Hayden," she said, resting her head on his chest. His heart was beating very fast, and she could tell that his anger was still very much alive.
"You want to race against him," she said. It was no longer a question. She knew that he did.
Yes, beating him in a race is the only thing that can put my thoughts to rest. It is the only thing that can make me feel like my old self again," he said.
"It is not what I would call Ideal, but if you are convinced that this is the way to go, then I won't stop you," she said. It hurt her to even say those words because she knew that if he lost this, then it would lead to even further conflict.
"I just want you to…" she stopped.
"I will be careful," he said, reaching out to cup her cheek. She saw the warmth in him again, and she prayed within her that this would not be the start of his dimming until it that warmth finally went out.
"You promise?" She asked, and he chuckled a little, then nodded.
"I swear it," he said, and she felt the softness of his lips on hers.
Austin looked at the track for what must have been the thousandth time. He could feel the energy and the excitement that filled the air. Many pockets would be lined by the outcome of this race, no matter who won, and he intended to be the one that would win. Nothing like it had ever been done before, and that excited him. A part of him was still worried that Hayden was participating, but he would talk to the man and try to make him see sense. Or that was what he was thinking when he suddenly heard Hayden talking with someone behind him.
Austin turned, schooling his emotions, and just watched as they spoke. He felt anger rise in him. Why was it that they didn't want to let him be? Why were their tongues always in his business, and why did they insist on his ruin? He felt a deep bitterness in him, too similar to hatred. He shoved his hands into his pocket and watched silently.
"What is your problem?" He asked Hayden, who now walked up to him and stood beside him.
"That is hardly any way to greet a friend,” Hayden replied.
"Mm, being cheeky, are we?" He asked.
