Page 45 of Don't Take the Girl
I didn't wear white, but I did wear eat-your-heart-out yellow, fashioned in the same style I wore to prom the night we lost our virginity. London couldn't keep his eyes or hands off me that night, and while I may not have his heart anymore, I know he still looks. His eyes did a long, slow perusal the day we saw each other at the stables and again the night he told me to leave town, and I'm counting on them to do the same thing today when I show up on his brother's arm.
"Ahem," Sydney clears her throat, announcing her presence.
"Trigg, this is one of my oldest and dearest friends, Sydney Downs. I hope it's not an issue I brought her. We can stand under a tree…far away, and we won't touch any of the food?—"
"Stop. Dallas is a prickly fucker, no doubt, but there is plenty of food and drink." He extends his hand to Sydney. "You said your last name was Downs. Any relation to Rupert Downs?"
"Yes, Rupert Downs is my father."
"Really?" he says, a tad surprised but not fully. "Small world."
"How small?" she questions with a raised eyebrow.
"Trigg," a cheery female voice interrupts before he can respond. "Is this your new girl?" a petite redhead wearing a short red dress says, strolling up beside Trigg and wrapping her hands around his bicep.
"Madison," he greets. "This is Laney Hart and her friend Sydney Downs."
Her fire-engine-red lips part into a big smile. "So, it is you. You're the horse whisperer I've been hearing so much about."
Trigg coughs into his hand. "I wouldn't say that. I literally mentioned you once at dinner earlier in the week."
Dinner? They don't look related, but maybe she's family.
"Oh, stop." She swats his chest before stepping beside me and wrapping her arm through mine as though we've been best friends forever. Sydney's eyebrows rise in surprise when my eyes catch hers. Most Southerners are welcoming. You can meet someone forthe first time and feel like you're part of the family within seconds, but given the venue, I can't help but be hesitant about warming up to anyone here. For all I know, she's a sister I didn't know existed. She slowly starts walking us toward an elaborate wedding tent. "I know we only just met, and you don't know me, but I was wondering if you wouldn't mind looking at my horse while you're here."
"I'm not sure what Trigg told you about me, but I'm not a trainer."
"I know, but he did mention you have an eye for identifying a horse's temperament and retirement needs, and that's what I'm looking for. You see, I've been riding my horse, Gypsy, for years, but he's not keeping pace the way he used to, and it's causing me to dismount in the middle of my performance."
"Dismount? Performance… Wait, are you a competitive vaulter?"
She's a tiny little thing. Her hair and outfit tonight even foot the bill for a vaulter. This must be the friend Trigg mentioned before. I assumed his friend would be a man, though I'm unsure why.
"I am. Are you familiar with the sport?" she asks hopefully.
"Not really. I caught a performance two years ago and thought it was amazing. That takes a lot of skill to get on the back of a horse and do a full gymnastics routine."
She can't be more than five feet, two inches tall, lean, and toned, but now that I know her job, her outgoing personality makes much more sense. Madison is an entertainer. With her flaming-red hair, dress, and painted lips, she looks like a figure skater ready to take the ice. I wonder if she's here today to perform.
"Is your horse here today?"
"Oh no, but he will be in two days. He's currently being driven back from a show we did in California. So, what do you say? Will you take a look?"
"I'm sorry. I wish I could help, but I don't live here. I don'thave somewhere for you to drop him off, where I can take a look at him."
"I can bring him here to Hale Ranch."
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"And why not? I know Trigg wouldn't mind having you around more often."
"She's not wrong," Trigg tosses in from her left.
"It's not Trigg that I'm worried about."
Her hand tightens on my arm. "Then who?" she asks with concern.
"I don't think Dallas wants me around."
