Page 33 of We Drank the Dawn

“Yep.” I did the moves in slow motion as I talked through them. “Stick your toe in the stirrup. Grab the horn with your left, the cantle with your right. Push down with the ball of your foot as you stand.” Sprinkles didn’t budge as I slowly stood. “Lean over the horn as you let go of the cantle and swing your leg over.”

She nodded, implementing my instructions and mounted Praline on her first try.

“There ya go.” I smiled. “Good job.”

She smiled too. “Thanks.”

We circled the ring a few times until I was certain she had the feel of it, then I led her down the gravel driveway and around a pasture.

TEN

Sarah

The tension in my muscles drained away as I relaxed into Praline’s side-to-side sway. Long green grass swished beneath his hooves and a warm breeze whipped my hair over my neck. Tiny white puffs dotted the infinite curtain of blue overhead. Yellow wildflowers lined the pasture fences. An earthy scent—like wet dirt and crushed leaves made my nose tickle.

Oh, I had needed this.

Time out in the open air. Time away from Peter.

Even though I wished he was with me, maybe it was better that he wasn’t. The conversation I’d had with Hollie early yesterday morning reverberated in my mind.

“I’m worried Peter’s reluctance will ruin the entire week for you.”

Hollie had nailed it. I almost felt foolish, the way I rushed to Texas with stars in my eyes. The way I’d hung my last hope on this—the fresh air at a remote ranch. My lungs ached as I emptied them on a long sigh. My “plan” was to daily propose an easy-going itinerary so that Peter and I could do one fun thing together then relax.

Yesterday we had breakfast at the big house then went swimming and had a picnic at a spot Hollie recommended on the Guadalupe River. Despite it being October, the water was deliciously warm. Then we came back, napped, listened to our audiobook in the hammock, and had dinner. It was a very chill, slow plan and should’ve been fun.

But it was so awkward.

Peter went along with everything I told him with zero heart or effort whatsoever. Even at the river, he got in, but he wouldn’t swim with me, play a game, chat, nothing. He just sat on the shallow bank and let the water flow around him. He made it crystal clear that he didn’t want to do anything, and worse…

He didn’t want me.

All day, my stress levels had wrecked havoc on my insides. I nibbled my food and balled my fists, trying to quell the anger burning me from the inside out. I willed the tremor out of my voice, and coaxed myself to stay rational.

But this morning, he wouldn’t even get out of bed for breakfast.

So I ate alone.

Then I went back to the fifth wheel to pump him up for the day’s plan.

But he put his ear buds in and told me to have a nice time.

If we broke, it would be Peter’s fault. How much more could I do? I was trying so hard.

Maybe he thought sitting in bed would ruin my day. Well, it wouldn’t.

I planned on having a fantastic time.

The best day ever.

Cooper slowed Sprinkles until she was in-step with Praline. “So, Hollie said you guys wanted a pretty easy ride. I planned to just go around the perimeter of Meadowbrook and stay near the pastures so that we wouldn't encounter any branches or slopes or anything.” He glanced up at me. “You still want to do that?”

“You know what, I’d love something more interesting.”

“I figured.” He made a soft kissing sound and pulled Sprinkles’ reins to the left. Praline followed her without any direction from me, matching her gait. “We can do the ridge then cross the creek and ride the hills on Kent’s property.”

“The neighbors let you trail ride on their land?”