But now, as the new year crept closer, she was resolved to start living again.
‘We’re not going to be ready in time for our first run, are we?’ Skye asked.
‘Actually, I think you two could go pro if you wanted to,’ Sierra replied honestly. ‘We just need to figure out how to push you past that little mental bump. Move her out a little. Give her body space to navigate the barrel. Finish your turns. Trust your horse.’
Skye nodded.
She raised her hand and waved at someone.
Sierra glanced over her shoulder to see Benji approaching. He was so tall, so strong, his long legs somehow closing the distance between them quickly despite the way he casually ambled. His hair gleamed gold when he took off his ball cap and ran one hand through it.
He came over, leaned down and gave her a quick kiss before roping his arm over her shoulders in a casual gesture that was resonant of Before.
Sierra didn’t comment on it, and she didn’t wriggle out of the casually possessive display of affection. If anything, she nestled closer, cuddling into his big body and the warmth he provided. ‘Where’s Poppy?’
‘She wanted to help Deb finish setting up for the New Year’s party,’ Benji replied. He reached out to give Smokey’s neck a rub.
Mention of the party had Sierra’s body tensing. They hadn’t talked about it yet, but she knew that Benji was set to leave the next day. He had the job waiting for him in Utah, and as much as she didn’t want him to go, Sierra was terrified of asking him to stay.
She’d had a good few weeks in a horrific year, and while Benji was so quick to focus on the good, Sierra was too wary to be optimistic. It was unfair to ask him to stay if she wasn’t prepared to give him everything. She knew that. But it was such a huge step. Such an enormous risk.
‘How are they doing?’
‘Good,’ Sierra replied.
Right as Skye said, ‘Terribly.’
When Benji comically looked back and forth between them, his eyebrows raised, Sierra explained, ‘Skye is still holding back and taking the turns too tight. And Smokey is starting to get confused. But it’s fixable.’
‘I hate this,’ Skye said, her tone bordering on petulant. ‘I’m desperate to see what she can do—’ The moment the words left her mouth, Skye perked up in the saddle. Her gaze snapped to Sierra.
Sierra read the thought instantly. ‘No.’
She wasn’t ready, mightneverbe ready.
‘Please, Sierra,’ Skye whined. ‘You have the technique. Smokey has the athleticism. I just want to see what she’s capable of – whatwe’recapable of. I want something to strive towards.’
‘I don’t ride anymore,’ Sierra replied firmly.
Benji’s arm around her tightened. Before Skye could argue, he interceded. ‘Why don’t I give her a run? I’m not quite as good as Sierra, but I can show you how Smokey can open up.’
Sierra jumped on the offer. ‘That’s a great idea!’
Skye seemed appeased. ‘Yeah. Okay.’ She shrugged and slipped her booted feet from the stirrups.
While Skye dismounted, Sierra gave Benji the rundown. ‘Smokey is weaker on her left, so take her left first. Give her enough of a pocket around each barrel and let her use her long stride. She can take each turn in two or three strides if you let her.’
Benji adjusted the stirrups and swung into the saddle with the ease of someone who had spent a lifetime on horseback. It didn’t matter that Skye’s borrowed saddle was quite a bit too small for him, as was Smokey, Benji looked perfect. Like a model for one of Markus’s shoots.
‘Let me take her around a few times before we run the pattern,’ he said. ‘I’ll get a feel for her.’
Skye came and stood beside Sierra as he took off, guiding Smokey into a perfectly collected trot around the arena.
‘I know he’s yours, and he’s not my type anyway. Apparently, I only date assholes. Butdamn,’ Skye sighed, ‘he sure is easy to look at.’
‘Yeah.’ It wasn’t exactly conversation, but Sierra was too busy watching Benji as he accelerated into a lope to make small talk. She would never say it aloud, but he rode like he fucked: With skill and style and a gentle touch.
‘How long have you two been together?’
