Page 39 of Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek)

Chapter Nine

ELLIE

The local fair is one of my favorites to attend because even though it’s on the small side, they go all out. Almost everyone from Sugarland Creek will be in attendance, which makes it even more fun to watch the other events in between mine.

“Hey, Ellie!” As I jump out of my truck and walk to the back of the trailer, someone shouting my name grabs my attention.

Harlow jogs toward me in her show-jumping clothes. She’s one of Noah’s clients that I see at least once a week at the ranch. We don’t talk much, but she’s always been nice when we do.

“Hi, Harlow. You look good.”

She slides her palms down her navy show coat. “Thanks! I’m headin’ to the fairgrounds now to get Piper ready but wanted to tell ya good luck tonight. Delilah and I will be cheerin’ for ya.”

“Appreciate that. Good luck with yours, too.”

Although she’s only been training for three years, she’s pretty good for only being nineteen. Her older sister is a trick rider and used to date Waylon, so he avoids her every time she’s here. Delilah performs at the rodeo tonight before the barrelracing event begins, so I’ll watch her from the waiting area, but it’s a fun way to get the crowd amped up beforehand.

“Thanks! Piper’s been a little moody lately, so I’m hopin’ she cooperates.” She quickly checks her watch. “But I better run. I’ll see ya later.”

“Sounds good.” I watch as she rushes off across the lot. Since show jumping isn’t a rodeo event, the fair hosts it at the fairgrounds in a large building.

Once I open the trailer door, I step in and grab Ranger’s halter, then give him some scratches. “Hey, boy. Ready for another win?”

He rubs his nose against my face, and I laugh.

I snap on his lead rope and walk him out of the trailer, then tie him to the side of it.

“Gonna get you some water, buddy. Be right back.” Grabbing the bucket, I head toward the hydrant and wait behind another racer.

Since the event begins in just over an hour, we’ll head over to the waiting pen soon until it’s our turn. Both my parents are here and brought Aunt Phoebe since it’s so close to home. I’m excited for her to watch the show since it’s been a couple years.

“Ellie, hey!” Delilah finds me as I approach the hydrant. She’s dressed up in her trick-riding gear, which is super cute on her. Purple fringe and glitter suit her well.

“Hey. Just saw your sister a few minutes ago.”

“Oh yeah, I’m on my way over there now to watch as much as I can before I haveta go to the arena. Our poor parents are gonna be racin’ from her event to mine.” She laughs.

“It’s nice they can be here, though.”

“It is! I just ran into Noah and Magnolia. They’re pushin’ the babies around in an adorable double-stroller. I can’t believe they’re gonna be a year old soon.”

This kind of small talk makes me anxious, but I smile and nod along as expected. If Noah’s at one of my races, she’ll swing by before I go on and give me a little pep talk, which is always appreciated.

“Oh, maybe you’ll know since they didn’t. Do you know Landen’s date’s name? We saw ’em by the Ferris wheel, but none of us had ever seen her before and he’s ignoring his text messages.”

My head spins with the news, not because I have any thoughts about his dating life, but because she thinks I’d know anything personal about Landen. Besides what I learn against my will.

“No clue,” I say honestly. Though I am surprised he brought a date tonight after he admitted he’d not had one in months. But I’m not too shocked since his playboy reputation was known to almost everyone in town when we’d first met.

She puts her hands on her hips and sighs. “Damn. Well, I’m sure Noah will get it outta him eventually. Waylon and Wilder were useless, but that’s because Waylon runs in the other direction as soon as he sees me.” She rolls her eyes, and I don’t have it in me to ask about their past, but mostly because I don’t care to know about it. Delilah and Waylon are eight years older and live in very different worlds than me when it comes to relationships.

Perhaps if I had my own social life that included going on dates, I’d have more of an interest in that type of gossip, but right now, all I can focus on is this race and then the next one and one after that.

“Anyway, good luck tonight. I’ll be rootin’ for ya!”

“Thanks! You too.”

I carry Ranger’s water bucket back to my trailer and then grab all the tack and equipment to get him ready. I’m in my usual pink attire, but since tonight’s extra special being at a localevent, I brought some equine-safe glitter to rub on his coat and down his legs.

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