I step back and watch him lead the colt out into the aisle, then toward the round pen in the growing dawn light.
Addie's truck pulls up just as they disappear through the gate. She hops out, bright-eyed despite the early hour, her energy a sharp contrast to the weight sitting on my chest.
"Morning!" She grabs her helmet from the truck bed. "How's he looking today?"
"Good." I force a smile. "Eli's getting him warmed up now."
We walk to the pen together. The sky's starting to lighten, streaks of pink and orange cutting through the gray. It's going to be a clear day. Hot by afternoon.
Good riding weather.
Eli's already moving the colt through groundwork when we reach the rail. Lunging him at a walk, then a trot, his focus absolute. Every cue precise. Every movement intentional.
Nothing wasted.
Not even a glance in my direction.
Addie starts talking about her plan for today's ride—working on lead changes, tightening up the pattern for Fall Classic, making sure the colt's responsive to subtle cues. I nod along, answering when she asks questions, but my attention keeps drifting to Eli.
To the way he's standing with his back to us.
To the way he hasn't looked at me once since we got here.
"Hazel?"
I blink. "Sorry, what?"
Her eyes narrow slightly. "I asked if you think we should add barrels to the pattern today or wait until tomorrow."
"Oh. Uh—" I refocus. "Tomorrow. Let's make sure the colt's solid on the basics first."
"Okay. Cool." She adjusts her helmet and turns back to watch Eli work.
He brings the colt over a few minutes later, handing the lead to Addie without ceremony. "He's ready for you."
"Thanks." Addie takes the lead and moves to mount up.
I step closer to Eli. Close enough that our arms almost brush. "You want to work him from the center or the rail?"
"Rail's fine."
"Okay."
I wait for him to look at me. To give me anything that feels like us.
He doesn't.
Just moves to the far side of the pen, positioning himself where he can watch Addie work.
I stay where I am for a second, throat tight, then move to the opposite rail.
We work like that for the next hour. Calling out instructions to Addie. Adjusting her position. Praising the colt's responses. Both of us professional. Efficient.
And with the entire pen between us.
The colt moves beautifully. Responsive to every cue, confident in his stride, trusting Addie in a way that makes my chest tight with something like pride. Three weeks ago he was green and uncertain. Now he's ready for competition.
We did this.
