Page 133 of Saving the Halfback

The fire was dying and the sun starting to glow on the horizon when we decided to head inside. Mom had already left out a stack of blankets, and we tossed them around until we all found a spot in the living room, on the couch or the floor.

This, I thought to myself,is how high school hangouts should end. I never wanted to fall asleep, because I wanted this peace that had fallen over us to stick around forever.

49

Bailey

Saturday

“You always stop there,” Ethan said.

We had gotten back from review not long ago, and though Ethan often worked in the shop after, he’d come back to the farm, saying he had the day off. I knew it was a lie. He chose what days he went in, and he chose right now not to. He specifically came over so I could try to ride…again.

“You bring him out, tie him up, brush him and clean his hooves, then put him back. Why?” He sat on a turned-over bucket, watching me.

“It’s just how long I last,” I admitted.

“Why?” he asked again.

Ugh.Because I can feel Ed all over me, all over my horse, all over this barn. It’s like he tainted it.But I didn’t want to say that, didn’t even want to think it, because if I thought it and said it, then it was true, right? And I loved riding. It was a passion that I missed with everything in me.

“Then, don’t do it,” Ethan said.

I stepped back from Titan and raised an eyebrow at him. “Then, I’m right back to square one. Last year, I could barely even touch Titan.”

A muscle ticked in Ethan’s jaw, but that was the indication something was bothering him. “Tell me what to do.” He pulled the bucket over and pointed to it. “You sit and tell me what to do.”

I smiled. “Okay.” I sat down, sure this wouldn’t last long. “In the tack room, there’s a saddle with a cover on it that has my name. The bridle is hanging up next to it.” I waited for him to come back empty-handed, telling me he wasn’t sure where the stuff was, but to my surprise, he walked out with my saddle over one arm and the bridle in his other hand. “Hang the bridle on the hook there.” I pointed. “I’ll hold the saddle. Titan needs the green blanket in the tack room.”

Ethan nodded and went right to work, not questioning anything or complaining. I instructed him through getting Titan tacked up, and Titan was only too happy to be going to work. He kept an eye on Ethan the whole time, calculating, waiting. It was going to be a fun ride if I could manage to get on him.

Watching Ethan work put all thoughts of Ed out of my mind, so when Titan started acting up, not letting Ethan put the bridle on, I took mercy on him and stepped up. I pulled Titan down, took the bridle from Ethan, and slipped it on in one movement. “He’s not exactly being bad, just wants to ride,” I explained.

Ethan nodded. I unclipped Titan, and Ethan walked him out for me. We said nothing as we got the mounting block. The Saturday sun was warm, but I felt a chill as I went up the two steps. I focused on how well Titan lined himself up, such a well-trained horse.

I reached out, my fingers touching the saddle, and then I froze.

“Don’t you forget why you got this far.” Ed spoke through clenched teeth, his breath hot in my ear. “Don’t you ever forget why you are here at all.” I had put hours, days, months into working with Titan, into improving my skills and time, but Edhad trained me. I owed him for that… didn’t I? At what point was my debt officially paid off?

“Please welcome to the arena, right from McCormick farms, the Fearless Titan and his rider, Bailey McCormick,” the announcer called, and for a split second, I didn’t think Ed would let me go. It was as if he was showing me just how much control he had over the one thing of myself I had left. How quickly he could take it away.

“Bailey.”I peered down into Ethan’s dark eyes, and he looked around for a moment before his gaze found mine again. “The way I see it, you can call the play, step in as quarterback, and run the play. Or you can back away and return to the safety of the sidelines.”

“What if I fumble?”

“I’ll be here to pick you up.”

I could feel my lips twitch. “Scoop and score?”

“Yeah, B. Scoop and score. Your call.”

I nodded, taking a deep breath and holding it as I slid onto the saddle. I had missed the feeling of leather beneath me, the reins in my hand, the paw Titan gave the ground, shifting his weight while I felt out his movements. “Just a little walk,” I said.

Ethan stepped back as I moved Titan forward. I could feel his muscles bunching and twitching; the need to go faster was palpable. I walked around the ring once, seeing Ethan climb the fence and sit on top. Two walks around the ring, and I finally relented, allowing Titan to go into a controlled trot.

“The first time I saw you ride, it was at the county rodeo show. My father had gotten drunk after the derby and left me at the park. I was sitting in the stands, bored, but when they called you, I couldn’t look away.”

“Why was that?”

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