I hand the reins to Luke, and he heads to the other end of the arena from me as I move into the middle.
“What are you doing?” Dad’s eyes are sparkling with curiosity, and there’s a part of me that’s almost preening to be the center of his interest. Chuck was always hands on with me, so I didn’t miss out on having that fatherly interest growing up, but it’s nice to know that Brad is also invested in what I can do.
I wave him and Nana away. “Go back and sit down so you're out of the way. I don't want to worry about where you are,” I tell them and start rolling my shoulders and arms, warming up the muscles. This move I have planned always wrenches them a bit.
They hurry back into the stands, and once they’re seated, I nod to Luke. Seeing my signal, he waves the whip at Samson, the Friesian cantering toward me at a rapid pace. His hooves thunder across the ground, causing a ripple of vibrations that can be felt through the soles of my boots, his long black mane flying behind him.
I need to time this just right, and as he goes to pass me, I reach up and grab the pole, using his forward momentum to pull me up and over his back. I land smoothly in the saddle then circle him back around to the cheers of Nana, Poppy, Dad, and Kai. The others look stunned, and if I’m reading Jacinta correctly, there’s the tiniest drop to her jaw, like she can’t believe I did it. Before I can be sure of what I saw, she snaps her mouth closed, lips pressed in a firm line.Still in the negative on bonding points with that one.Thomas, Holden, and Oliver all join in with the applause while the other three continue their stony silence, but I can see the hint of admiration in both Declan and Jaxon’s eyes.
I circle Samson a couple of times before getting him to do a sliding stop in front of them. Using the correct cues, I have him bowing down, earning more enthusiastic applause from the spectators.
Next, he rises up onto his back legs to a soundtrack of gasps, but before I can give him the cue to drop, the saddle shifts. Without warning, it’s sliding down off his back and I’m falling with it.
Thankfully, I’m able to kick myself clear and land with a thud on the ground, the sawdust digging into my back where my shirt has risen up. Quickly, I crawl out of the way as the saddle gets stuck around his back legs. Samson doesn't like that, and he takes off down the arena, saddle dragging, until he finally gets clear. He canters back toward the stable, and I just hope Luke or Josh catch him when he gets there.
“Oh my god, Harlow! Are you okay?” Nana rushes over to me followed by some of the others. Of course when I look up into the stands, the terrible trio haven't moved. In fact, they all watch on with amusement, Jacinta's face made ugly by a smug smile.
Holden holds out a hand to me with a concerned smile, and without comment, I accept it so he can help me to my feet. Dusting myself off, I wave them all away as I head over to the saddle. I can’t believe Luke didn't check it to make sure it was done up enough. Most horses have a habit of blowing themselves out, and the girth has to be tightened after you've started working to make sure it doesn't slip. This is everyday procedure for readying a horse, and frankly, if he’s making mistakes that basic, I might need to put in a call to Chuck.
Picking up the saddle, I dust it off and start to undo the still closed girth, but I notice something. The leather girth isbroken. The saddle didn't slip; the girth snapped, and it got tangled. That's unusual; our equipment is all well looked after, so it shouldn't have been able to wear through, but when I look close, the rip is too clean.
It’s been cut.Someone has cut through far enough that the natural movement of the horse did the rest.
“Is that what I think it is?” I look up at Dad’s question to find him staring at the same thing I’d been studying, his jaw clenched.
“Yeah, it’s been cut.”
“Oh my god, but who would have done that?” Nana gasps in surprise, looking between Dad and Poppy. Behind them, Kai, Oliver, Thomas, and Holden all look at one another before turning to look at the stands.
My eyes follow theirs, and when I get to the three who stayed behind, a wave of anger rises. Jacinta is staring right at me, arms crossed, cold smirk on her face. I can’t believe she just did that. My pride and reputation are one thing, but my physical well-being is another. That’s hitting an all new level of low.
How can her animosity be so great that she stoops tohurtingme like this?I thoughtIhad issues...
Chapter Eight
Holden
Watching in silent amusement as Harlow manages to ruffle my older brother's very polished feathers, I can’t help but smile, though I quickly hide it behind my coffee cup. Declan strives so hard to be in control all the time, and sure, he can let loose and have fun, but he doesn't show that side of him in public. No, he shows the public the cold and icy demeanor he’s known for: the powerful head of one of the most elite production and talent companies around. Women flock to him, and he enjoys their company, but none of them ever have an emotional impact on him. Watching Harlow elicit any kind of reaction is interesting, and to be honest, I think it’s good for my brother to have someone who isn't scared of him, who isn’t willing to roll over and show their belly the minute he growls.
She’s such a delicious surprise. I’m finding I like her assertiveness, and that’s usually not what appeals to me in a partner. I like submissive, pliant people who are easy to control. But Harlow... well, she’s different, and I’m dangerously intrigued by the idea of having a partner like her. There’s something about her that makesmewant to submit, and that’s such a novel idea that I don’t know how I can’t pursue this. Even right now, my cock is showing how much it appreciates her, and I’m thanking god I’m sitting at the table and no one else can see.
I watch as she quietly eats her breakfast. She’s wearing a t-shirt that says ‘My other ride is a Friesian’ and a pair of black riding pants that hug her gorgeous figure in just the right way. Her beautiful blonde hair is pulled back into a braid, and she hasn't got a scrap of makeup on.
The first time I saw her, it struck me how beautiful she was. How beautiful and completely different to the usual women in our lives. Instead of artificial and made up, she was fresh-faced and natural, and the way she put Jaxon in his place after he’d attacked her had made my cock hard, but I ignored it for the sake of my family. The minute Jacinta declared war, I knew I wouldn't have a chance with her.
Our sister's determination to make Harlow’s life hell was a surefire way to get her to hate us whether we wanted that outcome or not. The way Jaxon and Declan cave to her demands all the time drives me nuts. I understand they never want to see her hurting like she used to when she was little, but I think they took it too far this time, and I’m thankful Dad has put his foot down. Now I can get to know her, and none of them can say anything about it. Even if they do, I’m not going along with anything anymore. I had to give up the most important thing to me when we came to this house, and I refuse to give up anything else just because someone might not approve or it might upset my sister. Nope, it’s time for me to have the things I want, and what I want is to get to know Harlow better. I’ll beg for her forgiveness if I have to. I just want a chance.
When Harlow finishes breakfast and disappears from the table, Dad turns on us, all smiles having disappeared the moment she did.
“You will come out there and watch her today and show her some support,” he growls, pinning us with a gaze that tells us he doesn't want any arguments, but of course Jacinta and Declan both have to give it a shot. Jaxon, the third musketeer, is strangely quiet.
“But, Dad, I don't need to see…” Jacinta starts, but her voice trails off when Nana holds up her hand.
“It’s not like you have anything else pressing, do you, dear?” Nana’s brittle smile and icy question make her meaning clear; she loves us, but she’sneverhesitated to put us in our places. Jacinta stops immediately, her eyes flashing with the annoyance that she’s no longer voicing.
Declan tries his luck next, the fool. “Dad, you know you wanted me to call and find out what’s delaying the set and when the horses will be needed?”
Dad frowns before raising an eyebrow, his expression clearly saying that he’s not buying where this is going. “Yeah, and so what?”
