Page 13 of Reining Her In

“Oh my god. You went and saw her?”

“Is she important to you?” He tips his head with the question.

“Yes! She’s the most important thing in my life. My best friend. I love her. I texted Travis like ten times and asked him to tell me how she was, and he never got back to me.” I grunt the final words with an irritated huff.

Tears spring to my eyes looking at the photo. This stupid horse. I’m so in love with her. And I’ve been so worried about what happened between us yesterday and how hurt she might have been.

“Well, things that are important to you are now important to me.” Reed shifts his weight back and forth like he’s uncomfortable standing.

Just when I think I should offer him a seat, he fixes his cane in front of him and continues. “I have to be honest, I didn’t take the picture myself. I’ve been in the downstairs waiting room since yesterday, just rushed home to change and get back here. But I sent my own vet over to put his eyes on Ruby and give her the once over. He texted me that pic and I printed it for you when I ran home to change.”

“What did he say? Your vet I mean?” The tips of my ears are hot. Reed is making me nervous in a way I’m not familiar with, and combined with my anxious need to know if Ruby is going to be okay, I’m an over-eager mess.

“Said she'd need some rest, but she looked bright eyed. A few stitches here and there. She was eating and drinking. Had a nasty gash on her head. Kinda like that one on yours.”

“Yeah, I’m sure I look like I should be on the cover of Franken-gurl Monthly.”

“Don’t say that. You look beautiful.” He pauses and so does my heart. “But, Ruby will recover. Just like you. That’s all that matters.”

His tongue darts out to lick his bottom lip and I see him draw in a quick breath. He closes his eyes for a long moment and I hold my breath, waiting, because he seems lost in thought I’m not sure what I’d said that may have upset him.

“You are breathtaking.” The words come out of him quick, like they’re all part of one long word, his eyes still closed, and there is a thumping in my ears drowning out everything else. When he finally opens his eyes, the words I’d like to say crowd in my throat.

He takes another step toward the head of the bed and I swallow hard, my knuckles white as I put down the photo and fist the sheet once again.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get to you sooner yesterday. I only wish I could have prevented your fall. I regret that very much.” The radiating energy coming from him envelops me, and I feel washed in a safe warmth because I don’t just hear his words, I can feel the sincerity in them.

“It wasn’t your fault. It all happened so fast, I knew Ruby felt off when I warmed up. I shouldn’t have taken her out.”

“Your trainer should have noticed that.” He growls. His eyes flare with anger and his jaw sets tight. He has one hand behind his back and one grips the silver horse’s head at the top of his cane.

Before I can stop it, the words are tumbling out.

“I told Travis. I guess he thought I could handle it. He’s tough on me, but I need that.”

“Being a good teacher is not about being tough. It’s about making you safe and confident and always doing what is best for you. And your horse. Always. He put you in danger and that is fucking inexcusable.” Reed’s eyes turn dark. I think for a moment that he’s not someone I would wish to make angry.

A low rumble comes from him that has me tensing into the bed. I draw my knees up and hold my breath. But I’m not afraid of him. On the contrary. I feel like I can say whatever I like and he’d respond with the same calm, collected demeanor he’s wearing now.

“He’s an accomplished trainer, though.” I honestly don’t know why I’m defending Travis, and my words just cause Reed to stifle a dark chuckle.

“I know him well. And I also heard how he spoke to you before your ride. Saw how he looked at you.” He sets his teeth into his bottom lip for a long moment, his eyes narrow. “I don’t want you training with him.” Reed looks up and down the bed, then back to my face. “You shouldn’t train with him. I’ll train you. I don’t trust anyone else.”

The way he’s talking should scare me. I mean, we barely know each other, and it sure sounds like he’s making decisions for me. As though he has some authority over me. Some kind of dominion.

But coming from him, it just sits right. The great Reed Sawyer is looking out for me and all my girl parts seem to like what they hear.

Still, I think I should object. It only seems the appropriate rational response, even though rational is not what I’m feeling.

“Maybe I don’t want to train with you. Maybe I don’t want to ride anymore.” It’s what I think I should say, but deep inside I know that the way Travis treated me bothered him. It always bothered me, but for some reason I just felt like I was lucky to be allowed onto his team. It’s the same way I feel with my father, and it sucks.

My parents were so proud when Travis agreed to take me on and get me into the professional circuit. I had enough amateur points, but I just lack that killer instinct they keep harping about.

I don’t have a financial sponsor yet, so all my funding comes from good ol’ Mom and Dad... I’m a grown woman. Well, twenty is technically an adult. But even with the trust fund stipend I’m allotted each month, it wouldn’t come close to paying for all the expenses of my career.

“Look at me, Constance.” Reed brings the cane he’s been leaning on in front of him, his hands stacked on top of the silver horse’s head that tops his cane. “Do you want to ride again?”

My belly flips and flutters, but I can’t help but raise my eyes as I shift uncomfortably under the sheet. I lower my knees again because I’m not sure what else to do with them. I can’t believe I’m laying here in my hospital gown, no bra or panties, my hair pulled in some twisted knot on the opposite side of my head from where they stapled me up.

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