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“She deserves a treat, Dad.” Hank rolls his eyes, then looks at me. “It’s fascinating to watch you out there. I know this jump is significantly smaller than what you’re used to, but the control and precision in how you move with Dolly is impressive. You have a knack for training horses, Hattie.”
He and Otto smile at me as I consider Hank’s words. I’ve enjoyed working with Dolly, and I always loved teaching during our youth summer camps. If I decide not to compete, maybe I could do that instead. I’d lose my sponsorships. No more Burberry goodies. But I think I’d have fun.
The crackle of tires on gravel has us all turning to find Poppy’s small SUV bumping down the long dirt road that leads to Hank’s ranch. She pulls onto the pavement, parking in front of the stallion statue. Poppy steps out of the vehicle and opens her back door to let Tripp fly out of the SUV with a big grin on his face.
Poppy runs after him, waving at me with a smile.
Tripp runs straight toward Otto, wrapping his legs in a tight hug. The older man pats him on the head with an adoring gaze. “How’s my favorite boy?”
Hank jumps down from the fence and hoists the boy into his arms. “Hey! Where’s my hug?”
Tripp laughs and wraps his arms around my dad’s neck.
My dad. When did my mind go from Hank to Dad?
Sadness tugs at my heart, watching Hank with Tripp. I missed this with Hank. I missed how he would’ve carried me as a toddler, held my chubby hand on my first day of school…I missed how he’d tuck me in and read me a bedtime story. Tears prick at my eyes, but I force them away with a blink.
Tripp squirms out of Hank’s arm and climbs up on the fence, scratching Dolly’s nose, then looking at me. “Miss Hattie, Mama says you’re teaching Dolly to jump. I wanna see.”
Resting my hands on my hips, I shoot Dolly a look. “What do you think, girl? Are you up for one more?”
She gives me a sidelong glance, then blinks and nickers. I chuckle at her sass, hoping she has one jump left in her for Tripp’s sake.
Hoisting myself back up into the saddle, I grip the reins and take Dolly around once more. “This is the last one, I promise.”
Dolly cooperates through one more jump and our small crowd goes wild. Otto climbs over the fence, still surprisingly limber in his old age. He ambles toward me with a smile. “Good work, you two. I’ll take this tired girl in for a brush and a rest.”
“Thanks, Otto,” I say, sliding off her back and striding back toward Tripp, Poppy, and Hank.
I wink at Tripp when I get close. “Pretty cool, huh? Dolly’s a natural.”
He nods, his eyes comically wide. “Yeah! She’s not as fast as Spirit, but she’s close.”
We all laugh.
“I don’t think any horse is faster than Spirit,” Poppy tells him.
Tripp’s expression goes adorably serious. “That’s true.”
Hank leans in, keeping his voice quiet. “Don’t let Rocky hear you. He’d cry himself to sleep.”
Tripp arches an eyebrow. “Horses don’t cry.”
Hank shrugs. “Okay, you’re the expert.”
Poppy shakes her head, smirking. “I hope it’s okay that we stopped by. Linc mentioned you’ve been working with Dolly on jumping, and Tripp begged to come watch after school.”
My heart skips a beat just at the mention of him. And that he talks about me. I’ve barely seen him all day as he’s been in the stallion barn reinforcing the fence and roof for the winter.
“You know you’re always welcome,” Hank tells her. “I’m heading in to catch up on emails.” Hank sighs heavily. It’s clear he hates that part of running the ranch.
Poppy shakes her head. “The man needs to hire more help,” she says, once he’s out of earshot.
“Yeah, he really does.” My mind wanders to how I could help, but as always, I come up with nothing. My skill set is in training and show jumping, that’s it. I’ve never had a brain for numbers and business—and I’d make a lousy ranch hand.
Tripp grows bored sitting on the fence and takes off in a run toward the jump in the center of the paddock. He runs and jumps over it.
Oh, for life to be that simple.
