West of Forever (Heartstone Ranch #1)(105)

Fragile? I never thought she was fragile. If she were any stronger, she’d be Athena, the goddess who came from Zeus.

“I’m very aware of your strength, Lark.”

“Then trust it.”

I wish it were that simple. “I’m the one who isn’t strong.”

She huffs a laugh. “Oh, love, you’re the strongest man I know, if only you could lead with your heart instead of your head.”

“Well, my heart says it can’t handle losing either of you,” I tell her.

Lark steps closer and leans in. “Then we’re just going to have to make sure that doesn’t happen.” She kisses me quickly. “Now, are you going to watch or go?”

There’s not a chance in hell I’m going to let her do this alone. “I’ll be right by your side,” I inform her.

“Exactly where I want you to be.” She winks and grabs the lead, taking Cloud to saddle up.









Chapter 43





Lark




Tristan is sitting on the fence, watching Sadie come to join me in the ring of my training arena. After I rode Cloud successfully for three days, I pushed that it was time for Sadie to come into the ring with me. She’s already aware that neither of us thinks he’s ready for her to ride, but she can do some drills for twenty minutes, and then she’s going to ride Olympia.

I don’t know that I’ve ever been as nervous as I am now. Tristan already expressed to both of us how hard this is for him, and I hate it.

I also know that horses feed off our energy, and Cloud will only pick up on it.

I do a box breath. In for four, hold for four, out for four.

Again.

I feel my body start to settle.

Again.

Sadie opens the gate. “Hey, boy, it’s me, your old friend,” she says as she approaches.

“Keep talking to him,” I encourage.

“I’ve missed you, Cloud. I know you’ve had it rough, but I promise I won’t hurt you.”

I pet his neck, keeping him calm. Sadie gets close, extending her palm to him. He sniffs it, turns his head, and then sniffs again.

“Go ahead and pet him.”

She does, and he allows it. “Good boy,” I praise him.

And he is a good horse. The two times he’s had issues, he was in an open field. Knowing this, I’m not sure that he’ll have that chance for a while, but we’re going to build up to it.

Sadie comes a little closer, rubbing his neck and nose. Then he drops his head, and she scratches it with a smile. “You like that, I know,” she says with a giggle.

Tristan’s eyes meet mine, and I smile. He doesn’t return it, but at least he’s not leaping off the fence, tossing Sadie over his shoulder, and running away.

Progress is slow.

But it’s at least moving forward.

“How about you and I walk him on the lead?” I offer.

Sadie bobs her head. She’s done this before—it’s how she got Cloud to me and out in the pastures in the first place. Still, she’s done it behind her father’s back, and we’re going to move at a glacier’s pace in front of him.

The two of us make a few circles, and Sadie determines where he goes. I’m just standing on the other side in case she needs me, which she doesn’t.

Then we move on to some turning drills, all of which he does well, and I start to fall back a little, letting Cloud know that Sadie is the leader.

I pull myself back little by little, and she continues to show great strength. Cloud is doing fantastic. Sadie is as well, and Tristan hasn’t had a nervous breakdown.

All seems to be going okay.

Time to stop it before any dominoes start to fall.

I walk back over and smile. “You guys did amazing. Truly. Let’s put Cloud up, and how about we get to the next part before your dad loses his patience?”

She laughs a little. “Okay.”

We get Cloud back in his stall, and I grab Olympia. Sadie helps me get her saddle on and talks to her, and then we go into the corral.

Tristan is in the same spot, gripping the edge of the wood so tightly I can see his knuckles turning white. He’s struggling, and I need to help ease this situation and get him involved.

“Tristan?” He looks at me. “Do you think you can help Sadie up?”

“I don’t—” Sadie starts but then stops when she sees me tilt my head and wink. She looks over at her dad. “Could you, Daddy?”

God, she’s good.

He exhales deeply and hops down, then walks toward us.

This is the man I love. The one who is willing to do anything for the people he loves. Even though this is hard for him, he’s pushing through—for Sadie.

“How do you want to do this?” he asks. There is a small shake in his voice, but I ignore it.

“I’ll hold Olympia. You just help Sadie into the saddle.”

“You ready, Cupcake?” he asks.

“Ready.”

I keep hold of Olympia, although she wouldn’t move without my permission. First, she’s old and over it. Second, because I used her as my training horse when I first got into working with the horses for the special needs camp.

She’s a pro.