Page 30 of Will to Run

“Don’t get your horse, get one that needs work!” she shouts after him. I don’t miss the way Hazel and Molly exchange a smirk, like they know something I don’t.

“What?” I say.

“Oh, nothing,” Hazel replies.

But Molly gives it up immediately. “This brings the total number of times Jax has come out to work the horses this year to,”—she checks her watch—“one.” They laugh, but I can’t help but feel butterflies. Maybe I’m not making things up in my head about our chemistry.

He comes out with the biggest horse I’ve ever seen; bigger than Orion, and hops on without the mounting block that I used. It’s so smooth and practiced that my mind reverts to the first thing that crossed my mind when I saw him, and it stands.

Cowboy porn.

16

JAXON

Today, I try to make it to the barns earlier to see her, but work keeps my in my office. The sunrise viewing crowd will trickle out over the next week, and the two weeks after that are full prep for high season, and I can’t afford a distraction. It just… you can’t. It’s not allowed.

And I’m sure that if I say it enough, it will land. It hasn’t yet because I find myself wondering what Della is up to at least a dozen times throughout the day. Plus, I almost called her last night, but refrained. I’m still not sure why.

When I wrap work up at around five, I head right to the barn, hopeful. Hazel is supposed to show her the ropes, and I’m sure they’re done for the day, but maybe they’re hanging around. This place has a special way of encouraging you to waste time. I can’t text my sister because she’s already onto me, and asking if she and Della are there is additional fodder for her. But when I pull into the barn, I see my sister’s golf cart next to Molly’s car, and get excited that I’m not too late.

I head into the first barn and don’t see them, but when I go out the back to where the paddocks are, all three are there. Molly is already on her horse; Hazel is holding Storm in place next to the mounting step, and I watch Della hoist herself up. I can’t help the smile that overtakes my face watching her willingness to go for it.

“Impressive, Tatroe,” I say, announcing my presence. All heads spin to me, but the only one I look at is Della. If I didn’t think her smile could get bigger, I was wrong. And I don’t miss the way she checks me out. No, I’m not the only one feeling this energy crackling between us.

When they say they’re going for an evening ride, I offer to come too. I don’t love the idea of Della going out when we are still conditioning, but she’s on a horse that’s been out enough. Or maybe she’s some kind of riding phenom, and I’m about to get schooled. I grab Thor because he needs a couple more loops, saddle him up, take him out of the barn, and swing my leg up. This isn’t my horse, but I love this guy. Trotting over, I strategically position myself next to Della.

“So are you going to blow me out of the water with your riding skills, Del?” I smirk.

She nods before her retort. “Well, probably. And that’s going to be even more impressive because I haven’t ridden a horse outside a handful of times at summer camp.” My smile disappears as I look at my sister, who gives me a dismissive shooing.

“Is this safe?” I ask.

“It’s almost like you forgot this is what I do. Like, for my job, Jax,” my sister replies with sarcasm so thick I’m surprised she didn’t choke on it.

And I get it, but these horses all need to get back in the groove here. If this were the end of summer, I wouldn’t bat an eye. Okay, maybe I would, but it’d be a hell of a lot less likely.

“Regardless,” my sister’s voice cuts off my thoughts, “we’re only doing a short loop. Quit your worrying. So anyway, Della, here’s what you need to know,” my sister says, and takes Della through some basic commands and how to ride. She’s right. I am being dramatic. I tune out the instructions and do some mental calculations about what needs to be done tomorrow.

“Ready?” I hear Molly ask, and I check back in.

“Lead the way,” I say.

Hazel takes off, Molly follows, then Della, then me. It’s a cool view because I can watch Della relax as we get into the ride. We’re going just under four miles around, but within the first few minutes, I see the tenseness of her shoulders disappear. When we get into a much more open area, I decide to pull up next to her so we can chit-chat. Though I know it’s not what I’m supposed to be doing, because we never let our guest horses ride two by two, I want to flirt with this woman, and I have waited all damn day to do so.

“Coming up, Del,” I alert her, and she startles a little. She must have been zoned out. “What do you think?” I ask.

“This is wild that you get to do this whenever you want to. How do you not do this every day?”

“Well, Hazie does it every day. I’m out a couple of times a week.”

“What’s your horse’s name? I’m assuming you have one. And what color is it?” she asks with genuine excitement.

“I do. Wyza, and she’s a beautiful, deep brown.”

“Wyza? How do you spell that?” she side-eyes me with a knowing smirk. I fucking love that she picked up on it immediately.

“W-Y-Z-A.”