“Not like her.” I sipped my coffee. “Can't you see it? There's stardom written all over her, and she's just getting started.”
Dakota nodded slowly, watching her. "Yeah," he said. "Yeah, I can see it." He was quiet for a moment. "She's the real deal."
"She is."
"Gonna be weird watching her on a big screen knowing she learned to ride right here." He tilted his head. "Knowing she's been riding other things right here too?—"
I turned.
Dakota took one look at my face and took a full step back, hands up, coffee sloshing again.
"Okay, okay?—"
"Dakota—"
"I'm walking away, look, I'm already?—"
"Everything alright over there?" Daniela called from the paddock.
We both looked at her. She had Bishop pulled up at the far end, watching us with raised eyebrows. The horse's ears were perked up like Daniela wasn't the only one who'd been eavesdropping.
"Fine," I called back.
"Your cousin looks like he's about to run."
"He's thinking about it."
"I'm not running," Dakota called back, with considerable dignity. "I'm strategically relocating." He sidestepped toward the gate, still watching me. "She's great, by the way," he said, quieter. "I mean it. Not just the riding." He jerked his chin toward Daniela. "The way she is. With the family. With you." A beat. "Don't screw it up."
"Thank you, Dakota."
"I'm just saying?—"
"I know what you're saying."
He pointed at me. Then at Daniela. Then gave a thumbs up that she returned from across the paddock with a grin.
Then he left, whistling, hands in his pockets.
Daniela rode up to the fence.
"What was that actually about?" she asked.
"Nothing."
"He looked genuinely scared of you."
"Good.”
She cocked her head. “He look at me wrong or something?”
“Just making comments.” I shrugged. “I was raised to defend a lady's honor.”
She laughed out loud. “I amnota lady. What'd he say?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Well, I'm not gonna repeat it.”
She leaned forward, making Bishop shuffle with her until his nose was in my hand. “Didn't realize you had such delicate sensibilities.”
