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Horse: Diamond Mine
Trainer: Jasper Cole
Hobbies: Singing. Hanging out with her best friend and watching the Kentucky Stallions.
Special Talents: Touching her tongue to her nose.
Goals in Life: To make the Olympic Team and to have a large family.
The announcer asks us to stand for the National Anthem. As the little girl sings, she reminds me of Lettie, with her hands stretched out to the side as she hits the high note. The crowd claps, and the first competitor is announced. The person with the least number of points goes first, and the person with the most points goes last, knowing the time they need to achieve a win as well as any deductions they can withstand. Lettie competes in the last group of fifteen riders.
The first fifteen knock over quite a few rails, resulting in faults, and their times are slower than the allotted time, especially in comparison with what I know Lettie did this week in training.
During the change between groups, they show live video of riders and horses in their barns, waiting. I see Lettie sitting on a bucket beside Diamond Mine’s stall. Her chin rests on a bent knee as she rolls my copper coin between her fingers. Then it pans to a male rider, bouncing on his toes and cracking his neck.
Two hours later, Lettie’s name is called. Well, Elizabeth Scott is called. She waits for the signal and when she gets it, Diamond Mine expertly goes over the first two obstacles, then clears the water jump with ease, and makes the combination jump without a hitch[JD3] . Lettie finishes the rest of the course with a clear round. Laying her head on Diamond Mine with a broad radiant smile, Lettie takes my breath away. I’m on my feet, clapping. This isn’t exactly a Stallions basketball crowd, so I have to temper my response—a little. I beat my fist against my heart, so happy for my girl, and, when she sees me, she’s overtaken with emotion and cries. How do I know? Because she and Diamond Mine saunter over, and she whispers, “I love you.”
She ends up in third place, but her time is equal to what she rode in training but with only two faults. When it’s over, I walk back with Lettie and Jasper. She dismounts Diamond Mine and gives Jasper the rope. I guess I need to give him kudos for doing whatever he did to shave time off her run.
“Jasper, whatever you did, it worked. Thanks for helping.”
He nods, and Lettie attacks him with her arms. “You’re amazing. Thank you so much.”
A slight smile turns into a full-blown toothy grin. I push down my feelings about how happy Jasper is. This is Lettie’s night, and I’m not ruining it.
“I’ll be back.” Lettie goes to grab a carrot for Diamond Mine.
Jasper takes the opportunity to say, “Elizabeth and Diamond Mine are special. I’m just asking that you take her training seriously. My job is to film her, watch her, analyze her. The same way you watch opposing basketball teams to figure out how to gain an advantage.”
My jaw tightens. “I’ve known Lettie for my entire life. I know she’s special.” I move into his personal space. “I’m asking you to keep it professional. She doesn’t need to be wined and dined.”
A stare off ensues. I have at least six inches on him and after a few moments, he steps backward.
“Lettie, baby, let’s go celebrate,” I call out.
Jasper shakes his head and glares at Lettie. “Elizabeth, we leave tomorrow afternoon.”
She bounces on her feet and suggests, “Jasper come with us. Let’s go to karaoke.”
“Hell no.”
Thank God. The last person I want to celebrate with is Jasper.
Chapter Thirty-Four
LETTIE
Celebrating with some karaoke, a few drinks, and bar food. Dane picks out a duet and asks, “How about this one?” He gives me an ear-splitting grin.
“It’s perfect.” We put in the request and in a few minutes, we’re singing the song we wanted to sing in the fourth-grade talent show. He remembers it too.
We take the stage and sing our hearts out. We even do our version of the dance that they did in Grease. I wonder if we look awkward because Dane’s so tall. I’ve only had one margarita, but I know he’s the one I want, forever.
The bargoers scream for us to do another. While someone else sings, we pick out one of our all-time favorite Luke Bryan songs, “I Don't Want This Night to End.”
I can't help but feel on top of the world, as the three hundred people in this bar are jumping with their hands in the air celebrating the show jumping performance of my life. Dane pulls me into his chest and kisses me like we’re the only ones in the room. I don’t know whether the room falls silent, or I’ve fallen so deeply in love that I can’t hear them. When he releases me from his perfect lips, beaming with pride, he says, “Give it up for my girlfriend, Lettie Scott.”
Everyone cheers, and I blow them kisses like I’m Taylor Swift. Dane picks me up honeymoon style as we exit the stage, and I wish I could stop time. In this moment, nothing else matters except for our love and happiness.
