Page 49 of Rainwater
“No! I’ll take her. It would be my pleasure to see her ride and win.” Who was he kidding? he thought. He would be so puffed up with pride that he would most likely explode. She had no idea what a monumental gift she had just given him.
He stood up and went to her. He had resolved not to touch her, but the compulsion was a force beyond his control. Something sweet and wonderful washed through him and that incredible feeling remained, filling up black, empty places, washing away darkness and despair.
His fingers brushed her face and she gasped. “Your trust is a precious gift beyond imagination.”
“Mr. Rainwater? We need you, sir,” a voice interrupted.
“I’m coming.” He never took his eyes off her when he spoke. “When I come back, would it be okay with you if I break my vow?”
For another second, he held her gaze, the shocked pleasure in her eyes twisting his heart, increasing his breathing. Happiness wasn’t something he took for granted. He was thankful for every little tidbit that came his way. He was thankful for Jennifer and her beautiful heart. Unfortunately, he could see no way to stop from breaking her heart. Or, for that matter, his own.
Chapter
Eleven
“Ellie, what are you afraid of?”
They stood outside the ring where she was getting ready for her first ride of the day. They’d arrived late last night, and she immediately went to sleep. This morning she’d been silent and hardly ate anything at breakfast. The big green eyes so like her mother’s pulled at his heartstrings.
“Failing.”
“Are you afraid of what your mom will say? She’ll love you no matter what happens,” Corey said softly.
Her serious little face twisted with powerful emotion and Corey leaned closer to her. “What is it, Ellie?”
“I’m not afraid of failing Mom. I’m afraid of failing you. My dad didn’t want me. He…just left. I never got the chance—” Ellie’s anguished voice broke off.
“Ellie, I just want you to do your best, darlin’. You won’t fail me. I’m so damn proud of you right now that if my chest puffs up any more, it’s going to explode.”
“Corey?”
“What?”
“I think I’m afraid of failing myself the most.”
He pulled the girl into his arms and held her as tight as he could without crushing her. “Ellie, all you have to do is try. Just that. If you don’t try, you’ll never know whether or not you can do it.”
Limelight shifted next to her and Ellie patted the animal’s neck. Turning back to Corey, she touched his arm gently and said, “I’ll never forget this day.” Then she climbed into the saddle.
The loudspeaker’s voice boomed. “Well, Molly Duncan hasn’t disappointed us today. She has the best time. But there’s one more rider, folks, to challenge Molly. She hails from Silver Creek, Texas. Let’s see what this little lady can do.”
Corey grabbed her booted leg. “Show ‘em what you can do, little darlin’.”
Ellie settled herself deeper into the saddle and gave Limelight barely a nudge. With the grace and beauty that Corey knew was in the mare, the horse pranced into the ring as if bred for display. Ellie sat erect, her black Stetson pulled low over her eyes, her slim jaw tight with determination. She was dressed in a dark green shirt with white fringe that brought out the red highlights in her tightly bound auburn braids.
Strapped to her jeans was a pair of dyed-green leather shotgun chaps with silver conchos threaded down the legs, an early birthday present from her mother.
Corey climbed the railing, his body tensing when Ellie reached the center of the ring and the horse burst into action, jumping forward with an eagerness that raced in Corey’s blood. The eagerness to beat time. Corey watched with a knot in his throat as all the grueling training he’d put her through coalesced into a breathtaking display of pure horsemanship. He watched her guide the horse with skill beyond her years. She was a natural-born barrel racer.
And he wished for the umpteenth time that she was his.
His breath caught while the crowd surged to its feet as she took a precariously close turn, nicking a barrel and causing it to sway. The mare careened skillfully out of the cloverleaf turn, her flying hooves kicking up clods of dirt. Ellie urged her on as they headed for the finish line.
The excited voice of the loudspeaker boomed over the ring. People were applauding and cheering so loud it was hard for Corey to hear. “She’s done it! She’s beat Molly’s time! I can’t wait to see this little lady in action tomorrow. Keep your eyes on this one. She’s going places.”
It all happened so fast that Corey barely had time to respond. Out of the corner of his eye, he’d noticed a man having a hard time handling a big black stallion. The horse broke loose with a sharp whinny and charged into the ring. Limelight pulled up sharply to avoid the big black, twisting her body around, but it was too late. Both animals collided and Corey watched in horror as Ellie flew from the saddle. Limelight and the black also went down in a tangle of hooves and sharp piercing cries. Corey hit the ground running, reaching Ellie’s still form first. His heart was in his throat as he turned her over.
Her sweet face twisted in agony. Between gasps of pain, she managed to say, “How about that for a dismount?” She tried for levity and failed miserably. He could see her fighting her tears and his heart almost broke for the brave front she was trying to erect.
