Holding You (Love Wanted in Texas 3)

Walking the horse onto the track I held him for a few seconds. “You ready, buddy?”

Mighty Mike started bouncing his head up and down as I laughed. “Let’s go.” One small kick and he took off in a full-on run. All I did was hold on and let the horse take control. He needed to get this out of his system and I was gonna let him.

Four and half laps later, he finally slowed down and began trotting. Giving him a good pat on the neck I looked over at Scott. The smile on his face was all I needed to see to know I had just earned respect from him. I couldn’t wait to tell Lauren.

Walking up to Jon and Scott, I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. Jon shook his head and let out a laugh. “Cocky little bastard, just like your daddy. You proved your point. I want you in on Mighty Mike’s training, if that is all right with you, Scott. I like his instinct with this horse. They seem to have a connection.” Mighty Mike bobbed his head as we all laughed.

Turning to look at me, Scott gave me a grin and said, “I’m more than all right with that, Jon. Colt here is wanting to come on board after college and help with the business.”

Clearing my throat, I said, “Helping alongside, Lauren.” Scott looked at me with a surprised expression before turning back and talking to Jon more about getting Mighty Mike started right away on a training schedule.

I handed the reins off to one of the high school guys Scott had working for him. Scott started walking Jon to his truck. “Give me a couple weeks with him and I’ll put him out to pasture with one of my broodmares and we’ll see if Colt’s theory is correct.”

“If you can make it happen and breed that stubborn ass horse, I’ll let you have a ninety percent control of the racing,” Jon said with a nod and smile before closing his truck door. Scott and I watched as Jon drove down the driveway.

Turning, Scott started laughing. “I want to kiss you right now! Holy shit, Colt. That damn horse ran four hundred forty yards in twenty-one seconds.”

My mouth dropped open. “Shit, I knew he was fast, but I didn’t think he was that fast.”

Scott rubbed the back of his neck as we headed back to the barn. “Could have been a fluke. Just him itching to get it out of his system, but I want you on his back every time that horse takes the track.”

Attempting to hold my excitement back, I played it cool. “Will do.”

“Now go muck out the stalls, Colt. Dinner’s at six. Your parents will be joining us.”

I stopped walking and stared at the back of Scott’s head as he continued to walk on. Once he turned the corner, I fist pumped and did a jump. Pulling out my phone, I sent Lauren a text.

Me: Hey sweetheart! Are you having fun?

Not a minute later, Lauren texted back.

Lauren: I am! I’d have more fun if Grace and Maegan would stop arguing about everything! What are you doing?

Me: About to muck out stalls but your daddy let me get a stallion on the track today. It was amazing. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

Lauren: Awesome! Can’t wait. Love and miss you.

Me: Love you more! Miss you the most.

Walking into the barn, I grabbed a pitchfork and got to work on the first stall. I couldn’t wait to get started on Mighty Mike. I had a feeling this was going to be the best summer yet.

PULLING UP TO the Strater Hotel, we all let out an “Oh!” The hotel was beautiful. “Nice pick, Libby!”

“Thanks. Wait until you see the rooms.” Libby pulled up to the front of the hotel. “I booked three rooms so we’ll draw names to see who is bunking with who,” Libby said as she parked the Tahoe we rented for the trip. Once we all got out of the car, we started stretching.

Taking in a deep breath of clean mountain air, I slowly blew it out as I smiled. Taylor came walking up to me and was about to say something when she stopped. Holding up her hands she gave me a weak smile. “Now, Lauren. I don’t want you freaking out.”

My eyes widened as I stared at her. “What? You can’t start a conversation saying that. What’s on me?” I started jumping around as Taylor yelled for me to stand still. I immediately stopped moving. Alex walked up and put her hand over her mouth.

“Oh my glitter. Somebody tell me what is on me! Where? Get it off!” I screamed. That’s when I felt it. There was something crawling on my neck. Grace walked up with a bellhop. They both looked at me and Grace rolled her eyes. “There is a bee on your neck, Lauren.”

Screaming, I tried to get it off. The only thing I did was piss it off. The sting felt like a knife in my neck. Okay, maybe not that bad, but pretty damn close.

“It stung me! It stung me!”

Now it was the bellhop’s turn to chime-in. “Well yeah, I mean you tried to get it off your neck, but dude, he’s still there on your T-shirt.”

Screaming, I pulled my T-shirt over my head and began running around the car. Oh my glitter! I hate bees! I really hate bees! Of course my show wouldn’t have been complete if I hadn’t been swinging the T-shirt around like a mad woman.