Page 142 of Lost Trust

I stop the watch.

“Fifteen point five seven.”

Jaci pulls Butter Bean up, her face breaking into a grin, and I can’t help but grin back.

“That was it!”

She laughs, relief washing over her face.

“See?” I call. “When you and your horse work together, you’re gonna be unstoppable.”

From the look on her face, I think she finally believes it too.

“That’s enough for today. Go put Butter Bean up and get some lunch.”

Jaci pats the mare’s neck. “Thank you, Marina. I know I have to relax in the moment, but as soon as I make that first mistake, I spiral.”

“I get it. I was the same way until I realized I was trying to play an all-physical game when eighty percent of it is mental. You’re good. Start trusting yourself.”

I watch her lead Butter Bean from the arena, her shoulders a little straighter than when she came in. Good. She needed that last run.

Once they disappear through the gate, I glance over my shoulder at the barrels.

Three bright markers sitting exactly where they should.

I look down at Rowdy and lean forward, running my hand along the thick muscle of his neck, feeling the familiar warmth beneath my palm.

“What do you think, boy?” I murmur. “For old times’ sake?”

His ears prick forward.

Then he snorts.

I laugh under my breath. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

I gather my reins and back him up, settling into the saddle. The moment I give him the slightest cue, his entire body changes beneath me.

He knows.

We’ve done this a thousand times.

I turn him toward the alley, take one breath, and let him go.

Rowdy explodes forward.

The arena blurs around me as we charge toward the first barrel. I drop into position, keeping my eyes up and my body centered, and Rowdy flies past the barrel before melting into the turn. Smooth, tight, and effortless.

We shoot toward the second.

“Come on, boy!”

His hooves thunder against the dirt.

I can feel the rhythm of him beneath me—the power, the timing, the trust we’ve built over years of doing this together. We clear the second barrel. Then we’re gone.

I lean forward. “Go!”

Rowdy digs in.