One more deep breath, and then she kicked into high gear. Her braid slapped her back as she and Regina crossed the electric eye and raced toward the first barrel. Dusty gritted her teeth as she set Regina up to turn the first barrel without knocking it over. Then, in a whirlwind, the centrifugal force invigorating her, Dusty took Regina around the first barrel perfectly. Pursing her lips, she looked straight ahead and galloped toward the second, taking Regina around in the opposite direction. Excellent. One more to go. Running toward the backside of the arena, she aimed toward the third and final barrel, the sweet rush of adrenaline empowering her.
Yes, yes, she was doing it. Regina was in fine form as Dusty rounded the last barrel.
“Yee haw!” she heard from the stands, and she looked up briefly.
This wasn’t new to her. She often looked in the stands near the end of a race. It energized her to see the crowd cheering, and she was always able to keep her concentration.
But not this time.
Because she saw Zach, her Zach, in the arms of Angelina Bay. His lips were on hers.
Within a microsecond, Regina had knocked down the final barrel.
Dusty forced herself into the zone and headed for home, a straight shot back down the center of the arena. She had done well, and she could still take the gold. If only—
Crossing the electric eye, she noted her time.
13.4 seconds.
A personal best for her.
But she wouldn’t win. Knocking over the barrel would cost her a five second penalty. Her time would be calculated at 18.4 seconds. Sydney would take first at 14.9 seconds. Dusty wouldn’t even place.
She fought back tears as she left the arena and took care of Regina. She could cry later. Right now, her horse needed her.
Standing beside her horse in her assigned stall, Dusty brushed out Regina’s mane and curried her coat. “It wasn’t your fault, sweetheart,” she crooned. “It was me. All me.”
“Tough break.”
She looked up to see a tall man with tousled brown hair. Handsome. No Zach, but handsome nonetheless. And familiar. She had seen him before.
“It happens,” Dusty replied.
“That’s a fine mare you got there,” he said.
“Regina’s the best. Never knocked over a barrel before today.”
“I can believe it. She was amazing. So were you.”
“Yeah, well, not quite amazing enough.”
“As you say, it happens.” He held out his hand. “I’m Harper, by the way. Harper Bay.”
Of course, she had seen him at the Bay party. Angelina’s brother. Zach’s almost-brother-in-law. After today, they’d be on the road to relations again. She took his outstretched hand. “Dusty O’Donovan.”
“My sister mentioned you. I’m sorry we didn’t get to meet the other night. I hear you’re seeing Zach McCray?”
Not anymore. “No.”
“Oh.” His face brightened. “I came in here because I have a proposition for you. But if you’re not involved with McCray, would you like to discuss it over coffee?”
“Depends on what it is.”
“Come to coffee and you’ll find out.”
He smiled at her. A nice, genuine smile. Was this guy really related to that Mary Ann wannabe?
“Look, Harper”—Dusty continued to curry Regina—“you seem like a nice man, and I appreciate the invitation. But I’m not in the mood at the moment. I just lost a race I should have won. I’m sure you understand.”