Only Her

“Do I need to be concerned?” Skylar asked.

Skylar saw Majestic’s owner coming up the drive. His truck was obvious in the distance. Isaac saw it too. Their time was limited. Whatever else he had to say he had to make it quick.

“We just wanted you to watch your back. He made some serious threats as the Chief escorted him out of town hall.”

“Great,” Skylar replied. She opened the gate near Majestic so Isaac didn’t have to go back through the barn. He stepped out and D.L. Hartley, approached the fence where they stood. He was the owner of Majestic. A Real Estate developer from downtown Cincinnati who dabbled in horses on the side.

He was wearing a ball cap. Five feet eleven, tight fitting jeans. A cotton tee shirt that fit him well. A nice looking man in his forties. His wife of twenty-five years left him for a rodeo bull rider, ten years younger than her; she met at one of their shows. Skylar felt sorry for him. His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. He had sole custody of their two teenage boys and one eight-year-old girl. He had his hands full right now.

D.L. had asked Skylar to ride Majestic in shows for him as her parents were expert show people but she had refused. She was a trainer only. She never wanted to leave Ava the way her parents had left her and her sisters.

“D.L. this is one of Haley Cove’s finest Isaac Haines, also a lifelong friend.”

“Nice to meet you,” Isaac extended his hand to D.L.

“Nice to meet you Isaac. Everything okay?” He asked Skylar. He knew about her injury. She was honest with him about why she wanted to start his training with Majestic early.

“Everything is fine,” Skylar reassured D.L.

“I’ll take off now,” Isaac told them. “Nice meeting you.”

D.L. went into the ring and got on Majestic. He stayed where he was for a moment, near the fence where Sky had perched. They had become more than acquaintances but less than intimate confidants. He had told her about his wife. On occasion asked her about girlie things in relation to his daughter. She gave him the details of her attack.

She felt she owed him because of Majestic. He was a prize horse.

“You okay?” He asked.

She smiled at him and covered her eyes so she could see him better. “More drama with Tag. That’s all. He was forced out this morning and made threats against me and Ava.”

He leaned over and took her hand. “I’m so sorry Skylar,” he told her.

“Me too.” They both turned at the sound of the truck’s doors slamming shut to discover Ava and Luka walking towards the practice ring.

Ava climbed up on the fence by Skylar. “Mr. Hartley, how are you?” She asked him.

“Hi Ava, nice to see you again.”

Sky turned to Luka. “Luka, this is D.L Hartley, Majestic’s owner. You’ve not been around this week taking care of finances for me while he’s been here working the horse. D.L. this is Luka Shaw, Ava’s father.”

Luka extended his hand to D.L. who was grinning from ear to ear. “I have two sons who would love to meet you,” he said to Luka.

Ava glanced over her should at her father with a look of pride on her face. “Would you mind Luka, if he brought them to our next session?” Skylar asked. “They are teenagers who apparently follow MMA fighting.”

“They do,” D.L. replied. “I’ve seen a few of your matches with them since you’re an Ohio boy. You’re a beast in the cage man.”

“Sure, bring them,” Luka replied off-handedly. The fame and the notoriety didn’t faze him one bit. He was still the small town boy even if he did have to escape this small town to find himself.

“Man, they are going to be so excited. We’ll be back on Friday.”

“D.L. why don’t you bring Celia too?” Skylar suggested. “She could play with Ava. I know she’s been lonely since Bunny left. It would be good for her. Maybe the girls could ride some of the other horses while I work with you. Luka is great with horses himself.”

“She would love that,” D.L. agreed.

She saw Ava’s shocked expression. Skylar hoped that seeing someone else, a younger person even on one of the horses would encourage to let go of her fears and start riding. Luka had worked wonders by getting her back on the horses but she was still afraid of riding them.

“We better get started,” Skylar suggested. “I know you take off mornings for these sessions.”

“Can I watch?” Ava asked.