Page 130 of Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek)

Ellie's been training consistently since the wedding two months ago, so it's always nice when I get her to take a little break and join me for the 4-H club.

I joined a local one as a leader and every Saturday morning, a dozen rowdy teenagers come to the ranch where I teach them various equine sports.

Today so happens to be a lesson on barrel racing.

To no one's surprise, more teens than usual showed up today. It makes me smile with pride how much they look up to her. She's wanted more than anything to make a difference and become a mentor.

And now she is.

Once she's finished going through her tips and tricks of barrel racing, I chime in. “Her top secret is having me as her trainer,” I gloat, standing behind her.

She jabs her elbow into my gut, and I grunt.

“Ignore him.” Ellie stands with her hands on her hips. “We don't let men take credit for our hard work, do we?”

“No!” Mallory shouts the loudest with the other girls because, of course, she'd come to annoy the shit out of me. She could get lessons from Ellie any time.

But I'm pretty sure she's here because of Antonio.

They're the same age and never stop talking during the meetings. When I mentioned it to Wilder and Waylon, they threatened to “talk to him” but Mallory begged them not to.

Then, Tripp warned her that being the youngest in the family meant she had four older brothers to protect her.

Noah told her it sucked growing up with older brothers, but considering she was the first sibling to get married, and the youngest, she doesn't have much to complain about.

“Let's tack up the horses and we'll get started,” Ellie says after going over some ground rules and expectations of the students.

I help the kids with their saddles and equipment, and then make sure their helmets are secure.

No concussions on my watch.

Ellie works with them on posture, holding the reins, and other various skills. Though I step in to help when someone needs it, I love watching her in an element outside of riding.

She excels at teaching.

More patience than me, that's for sure.

“Well, that was fun!” She beams once the last kid gets picked up.

“I enjoyed it!” Mallory exclaims. “Maybe I'll be a barrel racer.”

I fold my arms over my chest. “Last week you were gonna be a famous singer.”

“So? I can't do both?” She gives me an attitude like only a fifteen-year-old teenager could.

Ellie snorts, patting my chest before she walks around me. “Good luck with that.”

“Sure, go muck the stables and you can practice singing at the same time.”

She shrugs. “Jokes on you, I do that anyway.”

I spend the next hour cleaning the training center—putting the barrels away and sweeping the dirt to smooth it out.

“Hey, you done in here?” Tripp asks, popping through the entrance.

“Yep, just finished. Why, what's up?”

“Just caught Antonio and Mallory makin' out in one of the stalls.”

---