I smiled up at him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Good morning.”
He gave me a squeeze. “You gonna fill me in on what you and Dylan are doin’ today?”
“Nope.”
“I figured.”
I patted his chest. “It’s all going to be okay, honey. But now I need to eat.”
I knocked on Dylan’s door, but it took thema little while to join us. I didn’t ask questions as we finished our breakfast quickly and headed to the fairgrounds.
* * *
Dylan
Addison, Asher, Jake, and I were heading for the stables when Jake asked, “Now what are you guys gonna be doing again?”
He was looking at me expectantly, so I glanced at Addison, who was shaking her head no. I could feel the weight of Asher’s stare as well.
I hurried my steps, desperate to get out from under their scrutiny before I said something that sent them over the edge. “Uh...it’s difficult to explain. The type of thing you have to see to really understand. The horses are kept in that barn. We should hurry so we can make sure Bucky’s ready.”
It wasn’t my smoothest avoidance, but it would have to do. Thankfully, we ran into Wyatt, and Jake’sscrutiny transferred to him.
“Hey, Wy, where’s our guy?” I asked.
He pointed down the row. “Third stall from the back. I just got him saddled and ready for you two. Even walked him and checked the cinch. You’re good to go.”
“Great. Any idea where we are in the lineup?”
“Fifth. Right after Brandy and Josie, so you better hurry.” He frowned. “They’re riding Dusty.”
“He’s here?” I asked,scanning the row until my gaze fell on my old horse. I ran to his stall, and he hung his head over, whinnying when he saw me. He looked great, just as I remembered him, and I was relieved to know Brandy had been taking good care of him. Scratching behind his ears, I kissed his forehead and told him how much I’d missed him and how sorry I was that I’d left him behind when I’d moved.
“Who’s this?”Asher asked.
I introduced the two of them, and Asher fed Dusty a peppermint and patted him down. Dusty whinnied his approval of my boyfriend. Then, because we had a race to win, I let Addison drag me away to get Bucky. With Bucky in tow, the four of us walked to the fence to watch the other racers.
“Why is he getting on top of the barrel?” Asher asked as we watched the first Buddy Barrel Race.
“You’ll see.” I squeezed his hand.
The gate opened and the rider—a thirty-something-year-old man I recognized as one of the clerks at Safeway—raced in. As he swung around the barrel, the guy standing on top of it jumped on behind him. Or, at least, he tried. The jumper practically strangled the rider before hitting the saddle awkwardly and racking himself. The crowd groaned as he grabbed hiscrotch and slid off the horse. The rider came back around to try and pick him up, but the jumper was done for. He waved him on and hobbled for the gate.
“That’s what you’re doing?” Jake asked.
“Yeah, except we’re better at it,” Addison replied.
And our horse bucks and bolts.Only I didn’t say it out loud. They’d see Bucky in action soon enough.
Asher’s gaze held way too much concern, soI kissed him and assured him, “We’ll be fine. We totally got this.”
“Totes,” Addison added.
Neither of the guys looked convinced, but the next pair managed to cross the finish line, so at least now they knew it was possible. The jumper had struggled with footing at the barrel, though, so their time wasn’t that great.
The third jumper made it onto the horse, but his rider took off beforehe was situated, dumping the jumper in the dirt. The guy grabbed at his back, struggling to get up as the paramedics ran out to help him.
I felt for the guy’s no doubt bruised bottom and banged up ego, and wondered if I’d be joining him in the dirt soon. Addison and I were counting on Bucky to follow the same pattern he’d followed every time we practiced: three bucks then bolt. But what if somethingchanged? What if he only bucked once? What if he bucked all the way to the gate? What if he bolted while I was jumping on? Before I could freak out too much about the possibilities, it was almost our turn.
