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I put the truck into park in the lot outside the barns. Gambler let out one last kick for good measure. I hopped out, the crunch of gravel beneath my boots a familiar welcome. The scent of hay, horses, and a hint of manure filled my nostrils, and I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face.
This was where I belonged. This was my world, the place where I felt the most alive. The place where I could let everything else fall away and focus on my horses and my rides.
I took a deep breath, savouring the moment.
“It’s about time you got here!” Maisey jogged over.
We hugged each other.
“How was the drive?” She tucked her straight shoulder-length brown hair behind her ears.
Maisey was a barrel racer, like me, so we were competitors in the arena but also best friends outside of it. We had an unspoken agreement to never let the sport come between us; no matter who won or lost, we’d always be there cheering each other on. Our friendship meant more to us than any buckle or title.
We’d grown up together on the rodeo circuit, spending long days training our horses side by side and pushing each other to be better riders. Sure, things got heated sometimes when we were neck and neck in a competition, with both of us competitive by nature. But at the end of the day, we left the rivalry in the arena. Win or lose, we’d crack open a couple of cold ones at the bar later, toasting to each other’s success.
“Long,” I said. “I need to get on a horse and run.”
“Well, let’s get you unloaded and saddle up!”
The kicking in the trailer grew louder and impatient. “Oh, enough already! I’ll get you out.”
“Is that him?” Maisey asked, her eyes round. She went up on her toes, trying to see through the small window of the trailer.
“Yep, letting the whole world know he’s here.” I rolled my eyes and walked to the back of the trailer.
“Geezus, Kinsley, what have you got in there, a dinosaur?” one of the rodeo regulars called from across the yard.
“Close enough!” I called back.
“She bought the demon horse!” Maisey shouted over to him.
“What? No way!” He strolled over. “Are you crazy?”
“I think demon is a bit of stretch.” I unlocked the trailer.
Thanks to Maisey’s announcement, more people wandered over to catch a glimpse of my monster.
Behave, I willed him as I opened the door.
His kicking stopped. He looked at me as if to say, Finally.
Gambler stood calmly, so I relaxed and unlatched his divider and secured it on the wall. I ran my hand down his neck and gave him a little scratch on his withers. It was his favourite spot.
“See, there’s no reason to make a fuss; you’re not new at this.”
Originally, he’d trained for roping events and even did well for the cowboy who owned him, but then his speed caught the attention of the man’s barrel racer wife, who retrained the horse. Gambler excelled at that too, but only when he wanted to. She got fed up with his moods and sold him. Sherry bought him and he really started getting a reputation, but we all knew how that had ended.
A lot of people would call me crazy for buying him, but I didn’t care. I hadn’t been able to resist him. Tall, dark, and handsome was just my type.
I tugged on the worn nylon lead rope, freeing it from the metal hook on the trailer wall, and urged Gambler to turn and follow me down the ramp. He suddenly leapt forward, charging out of the trailer in a blur, and pulled me along with him.
I barely had time to gasp before a large, calloused hand wrapped firmly around my bicep, halting what would have been an epic face-plant in the dirt. Gambler’s lead rope was yanked from my grasp as I got pushed aside.
I stumbled, regaining my balance just in time to see Gambler’s front hooves shoot upwards as he reared.
“Oh gawd, he is not rearing right now,” I said under my breath, my heart pounding.
It couldn’t get any worse than this, but one look at Wyatt Collins’ hardened face as he held tight to Gambler’s lead told me I was very wrong. His jaw was set, eyes blazing, and the muscles in his forearms corded from the effort of controlling my wild horse.
