They’d mentioned dog food.
I’d told them I’d run away and never come back if they did.
The old owner accepted my piggy bank of change just to be rid of him.
And I’d found my only friend who helped remind me that school and the current crap I was living was only temporary. That soon, I would be a farmer full time, and we’d spend all day together.
“Git. Go on.” I growled. “Faster.”
He hauled his bulk to an insane speed, just as crazy as me.
I merely held on, allowing him to race.
I let him race because when I gave my very existence to him, I found the freedom I was missing. I wasn’t thinking about Dad or Mom or school or gossiping townsfolk.
All I thought about was grass and horse.
Forrest’s hooves thundered to the final fence blocking off the turnaround bay by the stables.
Aunt Cassie ran toward us in the distance, sprinting like she always did to try to prevent me from doing what I’d been doing for years. “Jacob. No!” She reached the gate, hauling it open. “Come this way. For the love of God!” She waved her arms, but Forrest was locked on a different location.
The fence at the highest point on the crest of the hill.
“Do it.” I flattened myself on his back, forced my legs long and low, held my breath, and died, lived, laughed, cried as he flew over the final fence, sharing his power with me as he clattered onto the pebbles, kicking up stones as I sat up and finally took control, bringing him to a trot, then a walk just in front of Hope.
Her jaw landed in the dirt. Her eyes bugged.
Leaping off, I grabbed her inert hand, wrapped it around the halter of my heavily breathing crazy horse, then vanished into the stable.
It only took a second to grab a Western saddle with a high horn and deep seat and the lunge line. Squinting in the sun, I was back outside and tossing the saddle onto Forrest before Hope had uttered a word.
Cinching the saddle into place, Forrest danced on the spot, not used to being so roughly tacked up—and without a brush—poor him. But he tolerated my snappy behaviour as I snatched the halter from Hope, clipped the lunge line onto it, then grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her up.
“Wait, stop—” Her hands planted on my shoulders, fingernails digging deep as I shoved her into the saddle. My arms shook under her weight, struggling with how tall Forrest was.
“Leg over,” I grunted, breathing hard as I waited until she did as I asked.
“No, I don’t—”
“Just do it.” I boosted her the final way.
She cringed, hunkering into the saddle as Forrest pranced, making her clutch onto the pommel with white knuckles.
“Let me down.” Her face turned colourless. “Please.”
“Jacob, what the hell do you think you are doing?” Graham tried to grab Hope, but Forrest shied away, his metal shoes clattering on pebbles.
Hope squealed, jamming her knees into the horse, the stirrups far too long for her.
Graham glowered at me. “Get her off that thing. Immediately.”
“No.” Clucking my tongue, I urged Forrest into a trot, whisking Hope away from her father and out of reach of Aunt Cassie as she jogged toward me, about to prevent me from doing something I most likely shouldn’t do.
Hope whimpered, clinging to the saddle horn as she bounced.
“Jacob. Stop!” Aunt Cassie shouted, angrier than she’d ever been. “This is insane. Get her off that creature!”
Ignoring everyone, including Hope as she sniffled on top of my horse, I guided Forrest as fast as I could into the arena, made my way to the centre, then uncoiled the lunge line and looked at Hope.
Her eyes met mine, terrified and wide. “Jacob—”
“Just trust me.”
Adults gave chase.
Curses were screamed.
I had only a few seconds to get things organised before they ruined this.
Hope wasn’t wearing a helmet.
She had no experience.
She was on a horse everyone said would be better in a can than being ridden.
But this was what she needed.
“Ready?”
She shook her head furiously. “No! Let me down.”
“Can’t. Not yet.”
“Wha-what are you going to do?”
“Give you what you want.”
“I want down!” Her cheeks flushed red with rage.
“No, you don’t.” I stepped away, putting distance between me and Forrest’s legs. “You want this.”
“No. Stop.” She squealed as I clucked my tongue, and Forrest immediately kicked into a lope. A nice easy canter, forward and smooth. “Ahhhh!”
I didn’t let her screams stop me. I didn’t let the pressure of disappointing my dead father make me second-guess. He was all about pushing limits and being brave.
This was Hope’s moment.
“Jacob!” Aunt Cassie yelled from the arena entrance, knowing better than to run into the circle of a lunging horse. “Stop this before you hurt her!”
“She won’t get hurt!” I yelled back before shutting her out and focusing on Hope and only Hope. “If you listen to what I tell you, you’ll be fine.”