AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You know, there are several people even around here who dislike competing with the horses. Doesn’t matter if it’s dressage or the bronc riding at the rodeo. There are folks who think that the animals should only be used for work—that we show our love and respect for them rather than turning them into a show.” Brielle settled beside Athena in the grass and a soft smile touched her lips. “It’s similar to how people feel about entering little girls into pageants.”
“I take it you don’t feel that way?” Athena said.
Brielle shook her head. “Well, I don’t feel that way about dressage. I do feel that way about the bronc riding. Some of the things they have to do to those horses to get them mad should be outlawed. But dressage?” She sighed. “It’s more than just a competition. It’s more than showing the judges who’s boss. It’s about the connection we have to our horses. It’s like… you’re having a conversation with him. Or like you’re dancing with him.” Brielle turned to face Athena. “And if you can accomplish that without using the whip, then do it.”
“Then why are you pushing me to use it so much?” Athena demanded. “If you think it’s possible for me to do it without, then help me teach Beast without using it.”
“That’s just it. I can’t.”
“What do you mean, you can’t?”
Brielle pressed her lips together tightly. “I used to do dressage when I was a teen. I was pretty good at it, too. Won my share of national events. But I utilized every tool they offered me. I never had the kind of connection you have with Beast. You’re going to have to figure out a way to get him to understand in a way that makes sense for the two of you.”
Athena peered at the woman she barely knew. She’d figured that Brielle had a past working with horses and possibly competed, but the truth was far more impressive than she’d thought. “Why did you stop?”
Brielle laughed. “I became somewhat of a rebel. If my father wanted me to do something, I fought against it. If he didn’t want me to do something, then that was next on my bucket list. My father was a very strict man.” Her expression sobered. “I made several foolish choices that I’m not proud of and all because I didn’t want anyone to tell me what I could and couldn’t do.”
That sounded familiar. “And how did you fix it?”
She laughed again. “Sweetie, that’s not something you can fix. It’s part of who you are. You just realize that you have to prioritize certain things. When you can do that, then everything else falls into place.”
“You make it sound so easy,” Athena said. “What if it doesn’t? Fall into place, I mean?”
“Then I guess that’s not where your life is meant to be. There are paths we’re supposed to follow and those that we want to but that are meant for someone else.”
Athena hadn’t thought of it that way before.
“Anyway,” Brielle continued, “whatever you decide to do with your training is up to you. But I suggest that you do your own research. Maybe dressage isn’t something you can do. Perhaps you should consider being a middleman for someone who wants to take Beast as far as he can go. He’s calmed down a lot since you got here.”
Why did Brielle have to bring up someone else riding Beast? Even though Athena knew Beast didn’t technically belong to her, some part of her felt they belonged together. They were connected on a level that no one else would be able to replicate. She wasn’t just going to let someone else take the reins.
Athena shook her head. “I’m good.”
Brielle smiled. “Well, I look forward to seeing what you can do with him. Just keep in mind that we’re running out of time. We have to register in the next couple of weeks, and I don’t want to do that unless I know you’re ready.” She got to her feet. “Good work today. Keep it up.”
Athena watched Brielle leave, somehow feeling worse than before Brielle had shown up. If Brielle was right and Athena needed to step down, would she be able to do it?
She didn’t know if she could.
23
Henry
Henry stared at the message on his screen. Blood rushed to his face as he gasped. His hands went clammy and tingly all at once. He nearly dropped his phone, and he would have if he hadn’t glanced up and noticed Brielle had taken a seat beside Athena.
He’d wanted to check on her to assure her that he still cared about her. She needed to know that they were still just as strong as ever. From the looks of it, Brielle was doing a good job of helping Athena come to terms with what had happened earlier in the corral.
Now, he had even better news.
Athena had a sister.
Her name was Rachel.
Henry glanced up to find Athena alone. Her back faced him, making it difficult for him to gauge her current mood. At the moment, he thought this news might be just the thing that could turn everything around. Athena had a family—a sister who had been looking for her. She had someone she could call her own.
He took a step toward Athena and then hesitated, a memory coming at him like a swinging bat. She hadn’t wanted him to look for her family. He couldn’t remember the reason, but he did remember that she’d made him promise.
Yes, he’d gone against his promise, but that was because it had been ridiculous to keep it. They didn’t know if she even had family, so what was the harm in looking? If he’d found out that she was alone, he wouldn’t have said a thing.
