Page 17 of Reining Her In

C H A P T E R S E V E N

Reed

Much to my surprise, Constance pulls up to the barn in a white Suburban exactly two hours later.

That must have been a record discharge because she got a lot done is a short period of time. How do I know?

I see through the windows of the SUV the back seat is sporting two big suitcases. In the rear storage area I see two mahogany tack trunks, a couple saddles and a giant stuffed horse that looks like it’s been around a while.

“No mom?” I ask, opening the car door. She needs to understand there are things I will be doing for her from now on and opening doors for herself when I’m around is one of them.

“Thank God, no.” She groans dramatically and she makes me smile. “She was all set to come with me, blabbering on about everything and anything, trying to keep me under her thumb. I just packed up, dragged my bags to the car I pulled around the back of the house and left. I’m pretty sure she’s still sitting out in the front driveway in her car, waiting to tuck me into bed tonight. You would think I’m perpetually ten years old with my parents.”

“I think her heart’s in the right place.”

“I suppose. I’ve been her whole life for so long, but come on, time to cut the cord, Mom. I’ll buy her a dog, maybe two. This is good; I needed to make a break from them. I love my parents, but enough already.”

“Didn’t you go away to school?” I want to know everything about her.

“Not really. I went to college when I was sixteen, and finished in just over two and a half years, so they kept me at home. I had a driver who took me to classes every day at University of Michigan, they wouldn’t even let me get my license. I did it myself once I turned eighteen.”

“Well, we’re going to get you going. Ruby’s here and I think it would be best to get you two back together ASAP. I’ll have your bags taken to the house. It’s that one over there.”

I point into the distance. I put her in the house closest to mine. They are all white with green shutters. Mine looks like a plantation from the Deep South, with three stories, white pillars and a broad front porch that stretches right across the side of the house. The smaller houses are still comfortable, two bedrooms with cozy kitchens and comfortable cottage decor. I imagine her there, sprawled on the white linen sofa, naked while I—

I grit my teeth, trying to stay in the moment.

“You sure you want me to ride today?” I hear the quiver in her voice.

“Oh no, you won’t ride. There are many ways to communicate with a horse, riding is only one. Today we will reacquaint you. Re-build Ruby’s trust. Horses remember trauma, just like humans. She needs to associate you with safety and calm – you said before yesterday you’d never had a problem with her. So we will need to figure out what happened and work through it. Just follow my lead. This is my specialty.”

“Yes, I know. I’ve read everything I could about you over the years. I’m sorry about your injury. You were a great competitor, one of the best. I still can’t believe you are going to train me.”

Her voice turns sad and I’m suddenly very aware of the way I lean to the right, taking the pressure off my crippled left leg.

“We all have injuries, Constance, and we all need to decide how much they will affect our lives. My injury turned my life in a new direction is all. And now I do what I do and help other people and horses, and that is more satisfying than any trophy or ribbon I’ve ever won.”

We spend the next two hours moving slowly, walking Ruby around the arena on a lead rope. I have Constance start and stop without verbal cues, one hand always on Ruby’s shoulder, communicating what she expects simply with the calm energy that flows through her body.

It’s a stunning sight. I step back, taking in the majesty of them both. Constance is soft and small next to the hard, sleek power of the magnificent horse. It will take time, weeks maybe, before I put her on Ruby’s back again. But they will be far more bonded under my care than they ever were before.

I can promise that.

From watching them today, I’m more sure than ever that something is hinky with what happened at the show. Even with her injury and the trauma she went through, Ruby is a gentle giant, curling her nose around to nuzzle at Constance, asking for her approval, her acceptance.

I put them through some ground exercises that helps re-build their bond, and before long I know that this is not a horse that would just lose control and go against her rider’s commands for no reason. She wouldn’t do anything to put Constance in danger.

“Great work. Let’s get her back in her stall. You both deserve some TLC.”

I watch Constance guide Ruby down the long hall of the stable with stalls on either side. One of my grooms meets her and she hands off Ruby, who will get a nice cool hose down, a thorough grooming, and then grain and hay for the night.

The sun is hitting the horizon as I look out the open doors of the arena toward the houses. My belly flips trying to decide if I can keep myself from her tonight.

Parts of my body answer immediately, my heart being one of them. I’ve never wanted to have a woman the way I want to have her. I want to love her with all of me. I don’t just want to have sex with her; I want to mate with her. Bond with her. Own her and taste her and mark her so that she knows she will never be apart from me again.

It’s crazy, but it’s those thoughts that are running through my brain over and over, barely making room for any other civilized thoughts.

I fight that inner monster as Constance approaches.

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