Brian and the boys brought Evie’s horse in an extra trailer and I’ve got her saddled and ready to go. I tighten the final strap under the horse's belly andmake sure it’s secure. When I turn around my little barrel racer is ready to go. But she’s not the only one. She’s holding Dixie’s hand. This woman busted into our lives three weeks ago and somehow it feels like she’s been here forever.
“You ready to ride, princess?” I smile and hold out my hand, she places hers in mine and I help her onto her horse. Dixie limps over to the iron fence corralling the arena, and lifts her injured foot to sit on the bottom rung. She looks at Evie on her mount and mouths, “Go girl!” Evie pumps her fist back confidently, then looks up into the stands and waves to the rest of our family. I pat her horse on its side, and she moves toward the open gate that leads into the arena. Then I stride toward the sunflower blonde, standing just a few yards away.
We hear the announcer's voice over the intercom. “Next up is Evolette Cole riding on Peanut!” Then Evie races into the arena. We watch as she rounds each barrel with precision and fast too. I know she’s been practicing just about every day, but I’ve never seen her like this. She’s excellent. When she races back through the gate, the horn blows and her time is called over the intercom. “16 seconds!”
“Holy shit, that’s fast!” Dixie looks at me, eyes wide. “For a little girl who’s never been in a competitive race before? You gotta be kiddin’ me. She’s gonna win. I’m calling it.” I grin, because I’m calling it too.
I jog over to where Evie just halted Peanut, and help her down. “I’m so damn proud of you, princess!” She pulls her hat off and jumps into my arms. I spin her around, kissing the top of her curly, braided, hair. She’s got that buckle in the bag.
“Lettie girl, you badass rider! I knew you’d do it!” Dixie has a grin that’s spread ear to ear.Lettie?Evie pushes my chest to get down out of my arms and wraps hers around Dixie instead.
“Since when did you get a new nickname?” I ask, confusion written all over my face. Evie giggles and waits for Dixie to answer.
“Oh, haha—I uh, it just came out one day, and we both liked it so, we agreed I could call her that. I hope it’s okay?”
The corner of my mouth tilts up as I look at them both. “I like it too, it feels very—you.” I say, smiling at Evie. “Maybe you coin it as your racing name from here on out? Lettie Cole and her horse Peanut!”
Evie’s face lights up brighter than the fireworks are going to be tonight. “Oh. My. Gosh. Dad! That’s it! I’m never going back. I’ve got a racing name!”
Dixie throws her hand up for a high-five and Evie smacks it with her own hand. “Thanks, Dixie…I love you!” Evie beams, then wraps her in another embrace. My heart soars for my baby girl as I watch the exchange. I didn't know our needle and thread would show up as Dixie Wilder…but every time I see her, I catch her sewing a part of me or my girls, back together. As I crane my neck to see who is coming up on us, Addie barrels around a corner and straight into their hug. Within seconds Blythe is at my side with little Jake in a baby carrier attached to her front.
“She was fantastic! No contest. She’s going to win the buckle tonight.” Lythie is just as giddy as the other girls.
Justin strides up behind us and puts his hand on myshoulder. “Who’s been teaching her how to do that? My eyes bugged out of my head when she took off.”
We both chuckle. “She was born to ride.” I say, admiring my two daughters and the woman who so easily fits into our picture. I can hear another rider in the arena and they’ll be announcing the winner as soon as the last race is complete. When the final contestant races through the gate, we hear her time. A few moments pass and the announcer speaks over the microphone again.
“Congratulations to every rider and their horse. You should be proud. It’s been an honor to have you compete in our Amber Ridge Fourth of July Rodeo, junior barrel racing event. The winner of this year's trophy belt buckle, finishing with a lightning speed of sixteen seconds on the buzzer is—Evolette Cole and her incredible horse Peanut!”
The crowd roars and so do we as I wrap my large hands around her tiny middle and hoist her onto my shoulders. She throws her fists high above her head while she cheers facing the crowd from our spot below. The announcer invites Evie and Peanut back into the arena to accept their award together. I’ve seen my little girl happy, overjoyed even, plenty of times. But this is different. It’s her firstactualdream to come true. Every person within earshot of the announcer's microphone is clapping for her. Even the event photographer is capturing every second, every angle. I’m so damn proud of her.
The fireworks ended our evening, Addie under one of my arms, Evie under the other—Dixie sitting in a fold out camp-chair with her ankle up on a hay-bale next to us.Blythe and Justin took the baby home early, so it was just the four of us.
With the thirty-minute drive home, both girls were sawing logs in the back seat before we even made it halfway. Dixie’s elbow is resting on the center console next to mine—but we hit a bump as I turn onto our dirt road, and with the flatbed trailer hitched on the back, the entire setup jolts. My arm rams into hers and she instinctively grabs onto my hand. It’s late, and without thinking, I lift her hand with mine, bring the back of her soft skin to my lips and press a kiss there.
“Don’t worry, blondie. You’re not going anywhere.”
Shit. What’s gotten into me? She pauses, stunned, and I let go as she pulls away. I’m getting too comfortable. I know she feels this, I’m not an idiot. This isn’t just a one-way street between us. But we’re both in opposite lanes and if I drive reckless, there’s gonna be a fuckin’ crash.
“I’m sorry. I just…” I say, my mind scrambling for an excuse for why I did that.
“It’s alright.” She chuckles. “I think it's been a long day. I’m tired.”
When I put the truck in park, she opens her door, gets out, and moves toward the house. I should've just let her hold on to me, but I got greedy.Fuck.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Miss Wilder…are you there? I know this is terrible and sudden news, but I need to know when you’ll be arriving. As his attorney and executor of the estate, I would prefer that we take care of this swiftly and accordingly… Miss Wilder?”
“I’ll be there. Give me the weekend to travel. I’ll keep in touch. Bye.”
He’s dead. The man who picked my mama up at a truck stop in Georgia one night, then fathered me thirty-three years ago—the man who let us live in his home, but acted like we werethe help, died and left me everything.
He was like a ghost in the house. Sometimes he was there, most of the time he wasn’t. When he was home, he always had a different woman with him. I was his only child. Somehow my mama was the only one he ever got pregnant. God’s mercy on a lot of unborn children I suppose. The only mercyHeever gave me was my mama. She named me after where she was from, in Brookscounty Georgia. I’ve never been, but she told me how beautiful it was with all its green grass and sunflowers.
When I was about six, my mom became really sad. Not sure why? I was too young to dig for the reason, but I think it was my daddy. I think she really loved him, but all we were to him was an obligation. Some deep-seated guilt he held over what he’d done kept us around and fed. But none of that matters now. My mama has been gone since I was a little girl, and now the man who hardly ever looked me in the eye is gone too.
I hear a throat clear at the bedroom door. “Everything alright? I don’t mean to listen in, but it sounded like…” I cut him off quick and hard like a punch to the gut.
