West of Forever (Heartstone Ranch #1)(88)

She shifts on the fence and nods once. “Got it. Work with Cloud. I’ll be quiet as can be.”

I really hope that’s true, because if she starts asking me about Tristan, I might break down and cry.

Which I’ve done so damn much of.

I spend the next twenty minutes doing easy drills on the ground. Cloud is very responsive for a horse that hasn’t been handled much. He moves when I instruct him to and has passed pretty much every possible skill I can throw at him.

“Sadie, what happened with Cloud? Why did you fall off him that day?” I ask after he completes the last test. It’s the test that usually will upset a horse, though he remained perfectly calm.

“He spooked when I was riding, reared up, tossed me, and I shattered my leg. After that, Dad didn’t want anyone on him.”

“Why did he spook?”

“A snake. He really hates them.”

“As do I. I’m going to get on him now, if you want to get down and away from the side,” I suggest.

I walk back to Cloud slowly, rubbing his neck and talking to him softly. “Hey, boy. I’m going to climb up into the saddle now. I know it’s been a while, but I think you’re ready. I know Sadie misses you, so how about we just trust each other a little?”

He stays nice and still, allowing me to put my foot in the stirrup and get into the saddle.

I stay seated, keeping a loose grip on the reins, just allowing him to adjust to my weight. He’s honestly perfect.

I do a few more drills, using my body to see how he responds, and he obeys every command.

For a horse that hasn’t been ridden in years, I’m shocked at how great this is going.

“Is he doing good?” Sadie asks, climbing up a little to see into the corral.

“He really is. I have about thirty minutes before I need to go do something. I’m going to take him outside and see how he does in the pastures. You wait here, and if anyone comes in, just tell them I’m working on your horse, okay?”

She nods enthusiastically. “No problem. I’ll stay right here.”

“Okay, can you open that gate for me?”

Sadie jumps down and rushes over, unlocking it easily. I wink as I stroll out of the barn, glancing back to make sure she’s inside.

“All right, Cloud, let’s give you some freedom,” I whisper close to his neck.









Chapter 35





Lark




Cloud and I start off slow. I allow him to ease into the ride. We had a small hiccup that he worked through when we got into the first pasture. The metal gate had slammed closed, and it caused him to sidestep and fuss. However, with a little support, he settled fairly quickly, and we started to trot a bit.

He’s honestly an amazing horse. It’s no wonder that Sadie loves him as much as she does.

I’ve been riding him for about twenty minutes, and I adore him.

After ten more minutes at a consistent canter, I do a few more things that are more obedience based.

Each one, Cloud passes with flying colors.

There’s not a single reason I can find to not let Sadie or anyone else ride this horse.

I let him drink for a bit at the stream that runs through the property, patting his neck when he comes back up.

We’re at one of my favorite places to take the horses. The clearing is just big enough to let the horse run, but it has a tree line that will force them to stop before they get too far.

“You’ve done great so far, boy,” I tell him. “How about we have a little fun?”

Cloud turns his head to the left, and I smile. Yeah, I think he needs it.

“All right, let’s go.”

I kick his sides, and he immediately takes off. My hat goes flying, hair blowing behind me as the wind whips at my face.

My smile is automatic.

I live for this.

For the freedom. The sun shining down. The power of the horse beneath me, making me feel as though I’m flying.

I let go of the sadness that has consumed me for the last two days.

The way my heart has ached for Tristan.

The weight on my chest each time I think about never touching him again.

All of it goes with the wind. With each stride, the horse catapults me farther from my home and my heartache.

I close my eyes for a heartbeat, letting the sun beat down as we sail across the open pasture.

Then, suddenly, I’m not flying beneath the horse.

I’m in the air. I scream. My heart pounds as the ground rushes closer and closer.

I’m going to hit it—hard.

I brace, tucking myself like I’ve shown hundreds of riders.

“Fuck!” I scream out because I’ve turned my body the wrong way.

I slam into the ground, my head bouncing once, twice, and then again.

The pain is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.

My vision swims, and I can’t move.

I search for my phone in my pocket, praying I can keep my eyes open long enough to call my brother for help.

I can’t find it.

The world around me is spinning, and my head is throbbing. I need to tell someone where I am. To get my location to someone, because I’m fading and I don’t want to die here. I have so much to say to my family, my friends, to Tristan.