Page 109 of Saving the Halfback

“What got you through it?”

He paused for a moment, his eyes unfocused, before looking back at me. “The pitts.”

Thunderous rain, sinking at least a foot into sopping mud, playing games as kids and getting into major trouble when we came home absolutely covered in filth. “Really? That got you through this?”

He squeezed my hand. “When Ethan would take the ball from you, were you too afraid to go after him?”

I chuckled. “No, I think I may have tripped him at the ankles one too many times. He ate so much mud.”

“And when Lachlan would tackle you?”

I scoffed. “As if he could catch me.” Though, now that his legs were longer, I knew he could. “And you?”

“Yeah, I was untouchable.”

I made a fist and bumped his shoulder pad. “Not likely! Anytime you had possession, I always caught you.”

“Yeah, right! You may have been a couple inches taller than me then, but I used my size to my advantage. Ain’t no way you could catch me.”

I was getting riled up now. “One more game, short stuff. If I could challenge you to one more game, you bet ya you’ll be eating mud with Ethan.”

He threw his head back, laughing. “Short stuff? Look at us, Bails. Who’s the peewee now?”

I grinned. “No way could you escape me. Even with your growth spurt.”

“That”—he stood up straight—“right there, that excitement and fire in your veins and eyes, that’s my Bailey girl. Don’t let the nerves dull you down.” The crowd went crazy outside, and our team started moving, running out to the field. Chase squeezed my hand one more time. “You got this in the bag.”

We lost,seven to zero. The other team was built for performance. They moved almost robotically. However, Coach was prouder of this loss than he’d been of our previous win. He boasted how well we were working together. Nolan and Ethan got a spotlight for not fumbling the ball once. The defense had their praises sung yet again because of how quick they were to prevent any yards being gained.

Coach went on to say this was a top-tier team, and if we went after any of the other teams the way we had tonight, there was no reason why we wouldn’t make it to the playoffs.

I was so sore, from the number of tackles I had received, that once we dropped Wes and Beth off at the school, I curled up on the back seat, resting my head on Nolan’s lap, and fell asleep.

Saturday

Ethan arrivedat the farm first thing in the morning. I was sitting on the porch with Dad, having a cup of tea, when he pulled up in a car I hadn’t seen before. “Whose is that?” I asked.

“Rental, from the shop.”

“Can I get you coffee or tea?” Mom asked him from the doorway.

“No, thank you.”

“One thing about working here, son, is that we start every morning with a quiet cup of something hot. It will warm you up and starts the day off right,” Dad said.

Ethan nodded. “I’ll take a coffee, then.”

The last timeEthan helped me with barn chores, I’d found it relaxing to have him around. This time was much the same. His mere presence had me calm enough that I began speaking to the horses, taking my time with Titan in a way I hadn’t done since I got him.

“He likes you,” Ethan said from the doorway of the stall. I had been scratching Titan’s favorite spot on his neck. “Do you ride him?”

I dusted my hands off on my jeans. “Not anymore.” I walked out of the stall, pulling the door closed.

“Why not?” Ethan followed me as I grabbed more hay to put in the other stalls. He did the same. “I used to watch you in the rodeos. You won so many awards when we were kids.”

“I just don’t anymore.”

“Why not? You were really good, way better than most of the other competitors.”

---