I woke up to the sound of horses neighing. I got up and grabbed my hoodie. I pulled my boots on and stepped outside. I went straight for my animals. I saw Colt clearly in the early morning. He was out in the arena with his horse; his frame sat perfectly on the pitch black horse as he loped the horse around.
I put food in Reno's tray before giving Sully his food. I looked two trailers down. Stuff was being thrown and kicked. Max came out cussing. His horse was cautiously eating his breakfast as his owner made a mess of the area.
"Good thing that didn't wake me," I told Reno as I brushed her out, her red coat gleaming more and more as I continued. Once I was done there, I cleaned her hooves out. I braided her mane and tail neatly as she stood still for me. "Enjoy doing that?" I looked up to see Colt coming this way. "It's a great stress reliever for me," I said as I finished her tail. "Plus, it keeps it neat," I said, walking around her.
"Mind if I leave him here for a second?" He asked as he walked up to Reno and me. "Not at all." I told him as I tied her tail off. He tied his horse up and walked towards the commotion. He came back with the bay. His black horse was riding in the trailer with. "Yeah, it's best to keep the animals away from him when he gets mad," Colt stated.
"Let me guess, he got no action last night?" I asked as I checked Reno's legs, adding wraps to the areas. He chuckled. "I wish I knew." The radio was playing in the background. I turned it up. Something bad was playing. "Music soothes my pets." "Mine too." "If you're wondering if I only have red animals. I don't, these are just two of my many." "Got any black animals?" "At the moment, two black cats, one black dog, and about five different patterned black horses. None of them are straight black." "Nice, I got my black horse cause he goes with everything." His horse tried to nip at his ear.
"So what's your horse's name?" "Jet." "Cool and the bay?" "No clue what his name is. What did you think of Hellova night?" "He was a major bastard." "That's what I thought he was when I rode him last time I was here."
We talked until my phone rang. "Excuse me," I said as I walked to the front of my truck. "Hello?" "Hedli, baby girl, how are you?" Oh my gosh, it's Luke. "What do you want, Luke?" "Just checking up on my sweet little minion that is going to get the beating of a lifetime if she doesn't get back home. Now." I hung up quicker than I could blink.
I marched into my trailer and got my bridle. After putting it on her, I led her out to the arena and got on. I cantered her down to the middle of it. Luke texted me.
'If you're not home by morning, I'm hunting you down'
I called my phone carrier and had them switch my phone number. I had a pen in my back pocket for some reason and used it to write down my new phone number. Then I reset my number on my phone.
"Hopefully Luke doesn't find me." I blocked his number and texted my family that I changed my number. They understood the reason.
Luke took me in after my parents died and cared for me until I started to rodeo. That's when he started beating me. None of these men knew how abusive he was. They all thought he was an overly protective father or something.
I saw a black horse come running out. Jet. I slid off Reno's back and took the reins off. They played around. I found myself laughing when Jet purposely dropped to the ground. Reno followed, and before I knew it, they were both up again.
They took off running again before going into a bucking, squealing episode. For several more minutes, they acted like complete fools. I was almost on the ground laughing. Finally, they were tired. I put leads on them and took them back for a drink.
Colt was there waiting on his horse. I still had the goofiest grin on my face. He opened the gate while I led both horses out. After he closed it, I handed him his horse, and we walked over to the water troughs.
"Has your horse ever acted like that?" I asked him. "With other women or horses?" "Both." "Well, to answer the woman part, no. You're the first one he's let lead and touch and the horses part, sometimes. It depends on the horse."
I reached my hand out and ran it down Jet's coat. At first, he flinched, but then settled into my hand. I kept running my hand over and over on his coat until he was almost asleep.
"He's taken a real liking to you." I smiled after he finished.
Colt's P.O.V.
I can't believe a woman actually can handle my dark horse. She's just, she's pretty, fun, someone I can talk to when something comes up. Her eyes were what caught me yesterday. I feel that I can tell her anything. Her smile, her laugh, and the way she handles horses are just right.
She is a striking woman with blonde hair that often shone like spun gold under the arena lights and piercing blue eyes that held a fierce, unyielding determination. Her physique was athletic and strong, a testament to years of dedicated training and competition on the rodeo circuit. Every curve and line of her body spoke of power and agility, honed by a life spent mastering wild horses and pushing herself to the limits of her endurance.
I stood there as the horses drank. Once they were done, we walked back to our trailers. I couldn't help but smirk as I watched her walk to hers. Her dog bounded like he was excited to see her. I'd do that too if I was him.
I tied Jet up to the trailer before walking into my own. The door wasn't locked so I thought Max was taking a nap. I walked into a scene not to be described vividly but two naked bodies on my bed. I stormed out slamming the door in the process. I turned left at the truck. Heading for the arena. Several men were there just goofing off.
"Hey Colt did you already do that new filly?" I was about to lie when Max came storming up to me. "What the hell Colt?" Usually cussing someone out was easy. Cussing Max out was a little bit harder than that.