All or Nothing at All(92)

"We had to walk almost a mile in the pitch-dark to get to the bathrooms, and your mom and I were freaking out about bears."

"And Dad lost one of his shoes and declared we were all going home the very next morning," Tristan finished, his golden eyes full of mirth.

She fought past the giggles. "No one talked to each other for the rest of the day, and we were hungry and tired and wet and miserable. And I swear, I think it was a raccoon that got Christian's shoe. Remember how he had to drive barefoot?"

Tristan laughed with her. "See, not every family outing is a good thing. Worst vacation ever."

Another memory flickered and teased her vision. "You kept me safe," she said quietly. "Do you remember?"

"What are you talking about?"

"In the raft. After Dalton went over the side and your mom dove in after him. I was scared and clinging to the raft, and you came right over. Wrapped your arms around me and told me you wouldn't let me fall off."

God, it was all coming back to her. The feeling of being safe with him, knowing he'd never let anything happen. His shoulders stiffened, and his voice sounded strangled when he finally spoke. "I don't remember."

"I do. Your dad and Cal were trying to help Diane, so I was left alone. You took care of me." The words stirred the air, wrapping around them like the breeze that sighed through the trees. Becca's chatter came from far up ahead. "Did you always feel like I was a responsibility to you, Tristan?"

He stopped the horse. Turned around. She sucked in her breath.

His eyes glittered with a fierce golden light, raw with emotion. "You were never a responsibility to me. You were a fucking gift. Never forget that."

And in that moment, she knew she'd do anything to win him back.

She loved Tristan Pierce with her heart and soul. Somehow she needed to believe he felt the same way. She had to fight to make sure they got their second chance, even if it meant pushing past uncomfortable boundaries and forcing him to take a risk.

"Mama? Daddy? Catch up!"

Turning back around, Tristan tapped his horse and closed the distance. "Come on, Bam Bam," she sighed. "Let's catch up." She gave him a kick.

Nothing.

He kept his bored, slow pace, and if she tried to kick, he got slower. The ride continued to get worse. Every time Tristan got ahead, Bam Bam would eat leaves, push her into trees, and jerk his head when she tried to tighten the reins.

"You're a big bully," she hissed against his ear. "I'm not giving you an apple unless you treat me nice."

He ducked his head low as if to jolt her off, and she let out a half shriek, clinging to his mane. Just as quickly, he rose back up and was standing with perfect innocence once Tristan turned around.

"Syd, you okay?"

"He's the devil," she accused. "He tried to knock me off!"

"I have an idea. Why don't you get ahead of me in line? Then I can help from the back."




 

 

"Fine. I can't believe you're taking the horse's side. He's lying."

Bam Bam docilely walked around Tristan, and the rest of the ride went without a hitch. She enjoyed her daughter's excited chatter and relaxed until the ranch came back into view.

Jim turned around. "We're going to try an easy trot up this hill. Nice and easy. Just follow me."

Jim's and Becca's horses fell into a graceful trot, and her daughter's giggles rose in the air. Bam Bam began to move at a bumpy clip, and Sydney's ass slammed up and down in the saddle, her body being thrown side to side as he seemed to deliberately make choppy movements and hit every rock and pothole along the way.

Tristan's horse lengthened his pace until he passed her, legs gracefully pumping into an almost canter with smooth, graceful motions that looked like poetry in vision.

And that's when it happened.

Bam Bam gave a mad snort and trotted faster, throwing her off balance until she clutched the saddle and prayed. She pulled up madly on the reins, but he ignored her, charging forward and then-

Stopped short.

Her ass collided back in the saddle with a sharp slap. Her teeth clattered together. Her body shook, off balance, and then he jerked his face around, saliva dripping from the bit he chomped madly on, brown eyes glinting with glee as he pulled back his lips and grinned at her.

"You did it on purpose!"

He snorted. Turned. Then began walking calmly the rest of the way, while the others gave her a thumbs-up sign.

They reached the top of the hill. "Did you see what he did?" she asked wildly. "He stopped short when no one was looking! He's manipulating you all!"

Jim, Tristan, and Becca gazed at her with a hint of sympathy and plenty of amusement. "Bam Bam has never caused any problems on the trail," Jim said with a frown. "He's one of the best horses we have."