Page 31 of Spur of the Moment
Beck looked at Reed next to him. “I’d rather fuck up my back having fun.”
Reed rolled his eyes at him, scooting up on his gray horse's sweat-slicked back.
Bailey and Callan were ahead of me, placing me at the back of the bunch with Rouge. Bailey was a bit behind Callan though, placing Nova’s black butt almost at Red’s shoulder.
Bailey glanced back at me like he was checking to make sure I was still there. As we crested the hill, Rouge let out a bark and took off, diving straight into the deep blue water.
The grass was tall around the pond, shaded by the pine trees surrounding the water. Beckham clicked his tongue, urgingButters into a trot. They headed straight into the water, splashing it high above the horse's head.
“You taking Red in?” Bailey asked me.
I nodded. “I didn’t come all this way not to.”
I passed Bailey at a fast walk, heading into the water behind Beck. Callan was on a four-year-old bay, and it was clear the horse was still green. Cal was always so gentle with them, but he preferred training people how to ride the horses, not the other way around with teaching the horses how to be ridden. He nudged his sides, easing him closer to the water.
Reed led his horse into the water with no problems. It was like the beast knew Reed wouldn’t take any bullshit and did everything he asked. Some cowboys just had that touch.
As Callan continued working with the bay, I urged Red deeper so the water was up past my knees. The horses settled while Rouge splashed around on the shore, his red fur covered in mud and water.
Closing my eyes, I took in the silence of nature, listening only to the sounds of the birds and the water. A slight breeze rustled the leaves of the trees around us, cooling us off even more.
All of a sudden, a huge wave of water washed over me. I rubbed my eyes, shoving my hair out of my face to find Bailey grinning at me from ear to ear.
“You’re going to pay for that,” I said in a cool tone.
“Oh, yeah?” he challenged.
“Yeah.” Without hesitation, I twisted Red toward him, then I shoved as much water as I could manage at Bailey.
“Children, please keep it civil,” Reed pleaded.
“Yeah, some of us have chickenshit horses,” Callan complained, having managed to get the bay’s front two hooves in the water. The horse was eyeing the ripples of water like they were going to eat him.
“Scaredy cats,” Beck joked before splashing Reed.
Rouge barked at the excitement, swimming over to us to join in. He came over to me and I helped him climb onto Red’s butt.
I turned to splash Reed, Beck and I ambushing him with as much water as we could shove his way.
Another wave washed over me and I screamed, turning to find Bailey rushing Nova to the shore.
“You’re not going to get away with that!” I yelled after him, clicking my tongue at Red to follow him. Rouge jumped off his back, swimming to shore next to us.
Bailey and Nova emerged from the water as Red and I approached fast. Bailey jumped down, leaving Nova with his lead rope looped around his neck. I followed suit, dismounting from Red and leaving him to graze.
I picked up a fistful of mud, chucking it at Bailey.
“Hey! There could be rocks in there!” he yelled as he tried to dodge the flying mud. It landed right on his toned stomach, splattering his skin.
“Should’ve thought of that before soaking me!”
I bent to pick up another fistful of mud, but before I had the chance to throw it, strong arms were grabbing my hipsand hoisting me up. Then the world turned upside down. I screamed, slapping at Bailey’s back. “Put me down!”
“No way, Huckleberry. I’m not getting more globs of mud chucked at me.”
“Globs?” I squeaked right before he was flipping me back over, landing me ass first in the water.
He turned to head back to Nova, but he wouldn’t get away that easy. I fisted the sandy mud under the water and threw it, the chunks splattering against his back. He froze, then slowly turned.
