Jeff helped her get situated in the gates as Boots made a valiant effort to stay out. Once inside, he tensed like lightning ready to flash. The anticipation built, and she tried to remember Jeff’s coaching. Once the gate opened, Boots would take off like a rocket. All she had to do was hold on for the ride of her life.
Blake stood by the rail, eyes glued to the gates. Nervous. Anxious. Anything could happen to her. She could fall off Boots and be trampled by him or the other horses. He could take a fall and take her down with him and crush her. Every scenario in his mind ended with her lying dead on the track and him more alone in his life than he’d ever been.
Damn, but I love that woman. He needed to do something about making her a permanent part of his life. He didn’t know what twisted his gut more, the thought of buying her a ring, asking her to marry him, and her potentially saying no, or the possibility of her getting herself killed.
The gate swung open and Boots sprang out with the other horses. Blake’s heart pounded as fast and hard as the horses’ hooves on the track. Gillian rode Boots like a pro. At the first curve, she had one horse beside her and two in front of her. She took Boots to the rail and gave him his head.
Boots was fast, faster than Blake had given him credit for.
Gillian rounded the second curve just as Boots reached his pace. His hooves thundered over the ground and echoed in her heart. She’d never felt more alive. They passed the lead horse so close that her leg brushed against the other rider’s. She coaxed Boots on, the finish line in sight ahead. Boots seemed to know he was almost done. He lengthened out his neck and stride and picked up speed with a last effort that stunned her. They were flying.
They crossed the finish line, and Gillian screamed with glee. She reined in Boots and brought him down to a nice trot. The smile on her face hurt her cheeks. If she smiled any wider, she’d break her face.
She turned and found Blake in the distance with an astonished, but proud, look on his face.
She patted Boots’s neck and leaned down to give him a big hug. “That’s a boy. Outstanding,” she cheered him as they trotted down the track. Boots practically danced on his hooves. Sweat glistened on his shiny brown coat. Proud of him. Proud of herself. She’d done it. She’d ridden him in a race and won.
Definitely a far cry from offloading fish at the docks for cash.
She stopped Boots down the track from Blake, and Jeff grabbed the reins. He’d cool down Boots for her.
“That was amazing, Gillian. I didn’t think you’d win.” Jeff tried to get Boots to stop dancing. He brushed a hand down Boots’s nose and kept a tight hold on the reins.
“He wants to run. I told you. He wants to run like the wind. I can’t tell you how that felt.”
She jumped down from the saddle and didn’t understand the strange look in Jeff’s eyes until Ken spun her around and grabbed her shoulders to hold her in place. Still riding a wave of adrenaline, she didn’t notice right away the gleam of sheer rage in Ken’s eyes. Excited for Boots, she didn’t have her guard up.
“I’ll train Boots from now on. I’m taking him to the next race.”
Understanding dawned. “Get your hands off me. You are not training Boots.”
“Like hell I’m not.”
“He’s mine. I decide who gets to train him.”
Blake rushed in. Ken let her go and backed up a step. Blake positioned himself between her and Ken, then took two steps forward, forcing Ken to back away from her even more.
“Keep your damn hands off Gillian. I told you more than once to leave her alone. What the hell is your problem?”
“I’m taking Boots to the next race. I’m tired of you always getting the best horses on the ranch. I deserve a shot.”
“You don’t deserve shit. Boots is her horse.” Blake backed Ken up another step. “So back off. I make the decisions on this ranch. I tell you which horses you train. You don’t like it, quit.”
“No way I’m quitting.”
“Then go and cool down Diamond Deuce. He’s your responsibility today. Not Boots. Do your fucking job. This is your last warning. Get in Gillian’s way again, stand too close to her, and I’ll fire you. Touch her again,” he said menacingly, “and I will fuck you up.”
Blake hoped every cold-as-steel word he spoke pierced Ken’s small mind like a dagger. Something had to get through, right? The guy couldn’t be this stupid. Just in case he was, Blake stood with his hands fisted, chest out, ready to fight.
Ken tried to stare him down. With three brothers and several dozen scuffles with each of them under his belt, Ken didn’t even faze him.