Page 30 of Reining Her In

“How do you know that?” My father grumbles.

“Because, Black Gold is in a pasture in Florida right now. Recouping from a hock injury. One of my former students bought Black Gold two months ago, then he got his foot stuck in a fence and he’s been recovering since. This horse is not Black Gold. And anyone that would put your daughter on this unbalanced animal is not looking out for her success nor her best interest. So, I’m sorry to cut this little get together short, but Constance is returning with me. Right now.”

I’m shaking. All the men are caught in some kind of showdown and whoever talks first loses.

“Come on, babe.”

“But, wait.” For some reason I don’t think I should go with him so easily, but I clearly don’t belong here. And in the short time Reed’s trained me and been with me, I’ve never felt more safe, loved, nor protected.

“No waiting.” He looks down with a smile. Even in the midst of all this tension, his focus is purely on me. “We’ve wasted enough time. Besides, you and I have unfinished business, don’t we?” He loses a bit of his smile, but my body flushes with heat knowing I should have never run out on him like that. “Are you okay?” Without another word to either of them, my father or Travis, Reed sets his arm around my shoulders, waiting for my answer.

I nod. “I’m fine. I’m not sure what’s going on here. And I’m so sorry.” My voice falls, remembering my tremor and my immature reaction. “Are you okay? I can’t believe I pushed you like that. I’m so sorry.”

“Shhh. We’ll talk about it later, but I’m fine and we are fine. You understand what I’m saying?”

He’s talking to me like no one else is around, completely focused on me, even as the other three hop around in the background.

I nod again, my heart beating triple time, my palms sweating. My father is saying something to me but all I do is look at Reed. He reads my eyes perfectly, giving me a soft nod, then steps up a bit more toward the open door. He stops there and bends down to where his cane is laying in the sandy ground of the arena a few feet away.

“I won’t pay you! If you leave, Constance, you’re cut off.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Reed bellows. The raw emotion in his voice is in stark contrast to his well-cut persona and I love the duality. Just more jaw-dropping sexiness I’ll have to put up with I guess.

My father’s eyes go wide. His jaw drops, leaving his mouth gaping.

I doubt anyone has dared speak to him like that before.

“All of you. That horse is drugged. I know you paid a shit ton of money for him, but he’s worth none of it. That horse just came in from out east, name is Franklin off the Mark, and not only is he not sound, he’s never been in an international competition in his life. I don’t know how you expected to get away with this, Travis. You must have known you would have been found out. And trust me when I say this, all your horses will be tested. I don’t foresee you having much of a career in this world going forward.”

“What the fuck do you know?” Travis breaks in. “You don’t know this horse.”

“If you would treat your people better, Travis, they might be more loyal.”

I look from Reed to Travis, then back to Reed.

“How do you know?” I ask, because from the way Reed’s talking he’s one hundred percent sure of his words.

He hesitates, looking into my eyes, then turns back to Travis. “The groom you sent over to pick up Ruby. Bethany Thompson? Yeah, she’s an old friend. Seems you don’t treat your people very well, nor your horses. She was with you when you loaded up Franklin here as well. Watched you pump him full of sedatives and painkillers before you put him on the trailer, then sent her over to pick up Ruby. He didn’t react the way you wanted him to, did he? Sedatives have the opposite effect in some horses, you should know that, but you’re too greedy to care. How much did you make off the sale of Ruby and then selling them this horse? Netted yourself close to a million didn’t you?”

Reed steps to within a foot of my father, who has steam blasting out of his ears.

My dad glares at Reed as he speaks, jabbing a finger in the air at him. “You’re making this up. Travis said you were looking for an in with the family. You won’t find it. Travis brought Constance to where she is now and—”

Reed reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a folded piece of paper and shoves it at my father.

“You don’t have to believe me. Take a look.”

Travis’s eyes can’t seem to find a place to light as my father quickly looks at him, then down at the open paper in his hand for a long moment.

“What is this?” My father grunts.

“This,” Reed leans in and points to something on the page, “is a stimulant. A powerful stimulant that is considered a performance enhancer. Raises a horse’s heart rate, pumps adrenaline through their system. Some horses jump higher and go faster when irresponsible owners choose to use it. Other horses, like Ruby, have a disastrous reaction. A reaction that could have killed her. And could have killed your daughter. I’m sure Travis thought it would get Constance a sure win. He was wrong.”

“That’s bullshit. I never—” Travis steps forward, bracing off with Reed, who hits him in the center of his chest with a pointed finger.

“This isn’t the first time, you asshole. The proof is right there. I had Ruby tested that day. I’m sure you thought you would show your shining new star to the world. Constance, the up and comer, under the tutelage of Travis Houghton, wins her first ever International Competition. What attention that would bring you. Endorsements. Backing from the Montgomery family. Constance was your golden ticket. I know what a doping reaction gone wrong looks like. I also know you’ve sold them this horse with fake papers.”

“Constance.” Travis turns. “You aren’t going to believe him, are you? You hardly know him, I’m practically family. Your father and I were just talking about things. How I wanted to be more than just your trainer, but as a gentleman, I wanted to talk to him first, but I think I love you.” Travis words are flat, desperate.

The whole scene is surreal.

Reed explodes and belts Travis in the jaw. My mother screams and Travis’s hands fly to his face, but Reed just turns and takes my arm like we are taking a summer stroll, leading me from the arena.

“Keep walking.” He says as I lean into Reed and flutter my fingers in a playful goodbye wave over my head without turning around.

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