Page 9 of Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek)

“Do you race?” Dad asks Noah.

“No, but I’ve been a professional trainer for many years. I got certified when I was eighteen, but growing up on a ranch meant I was surrounded by horses since before I could walk. I’ve spent several years hyperfocusing on horses and pretty much every equine sport.”

“Noah has a keen eye on fixin’ issues and knows how to help me evolve my skills,” I explain to my parents.

I’m not a beginner racer by any means, but I need someone like her to help push me so I’m ready to compete at those higher-level competitions.

“I have two other pro clients and they’re on their way to qualify for finals this year,” Noah adds.

“Wow, that’s incredible!” Mom wraps her arm around my shoulders and squeezes me into her side.

She’s almost more excited than I am.

“I’d work on your athleticism, too. You must be in shape just as much as Ranger, so I’d put together a workout schedule for you as well.”

“Oh…great.”

Noah smirks. “Nothin’ you can’t handle, I promise.”

“How often would you train?” Dad asks.

“That’s completely up to y’all. If you wanna board Ranger, daily exercise is included for the horses and then you can add on additional trainin’ in our facility. The two girls who are on tour right now board their horses when they’re not travelin’ and then we work together when they’re here.”

“I’d love that,” I say.

“And you’ll get to utilize our vet and farrier services, so you won’t have to worry about keepin’ up with that on top of everything.”

“Sounds perfect. Almost too good to be true,” Mom states.

“My family and I love horses and want to make it as easy as possible to care for ’em. I’m somewhat of a workaholic, so I never get tired of it.”

“When do you have time for social life?” Mom quips.

“Well…” Noah chuckles. “I’ve been single for a year and my best friend, Magnolia, comes and hangs out with me a lot. But besides that, I see my family every day and we have a special supper every Sunday.”

Everyone local and even outside of the area knows the Hollises. They’re well-known for owning the Sugarland Creek Ranch and Equine Retreat. There are five siblings in total and they each do various jobs on the ranch. Noah’s the youngest, but I’d argue the most talented and hardest working.

“Sounds like me. I talk to a few girls from my 4-H Club, but otherwise, I’ve been super focused on racin’,” I say.

“When can Ellie start?” Mom asks.

“A week too soon?” Noah smirks. “I have a boarder leavin’ in six days and then we’ll get it ready for Ranger.”

My face splits into the widest grin I’ve ever had. “That’d be perfect.”

Chapter Two

LANDEN

“Why’re you naked?” Tripp asks once I’m settled into the passenger’s seat of his truck.

“Yeah, it ain’t your birthday,” Wilder taunts from the back seat.

Of course he’d bring him to witness my humiliation. I sent my younger brother a 911 emergency text to come pick me up in town. Since the family ranch is a good fifteen minutes from Sugarland Creek, I hid in the stairwell of an apartment building and cupped my junk while I waited for him.

Once I’m buckled in, I throw my middle finger over my shoulder at my older brother.

Yep, I’m the middle child of five.Technically speaking, Wilder and Waylon are twins, so they’re both the oldest. Tripp’s two years younger than me and our sister, Noah, is two years younger than him.

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