Ever

Chapter 5

Breathe I thought.

My tension was affecting him from my position outside the round pen. He pawed his chipped and dry hooves into the earth. His neck shined with sweat. His tail swished with anxiety. His eyes stayed locked with mine.

Breathe I thought.

I pulled the halter positioned on my shoulder closed to my neck and gripped the apple firmly in my worn hands.

Thoughtfully, I slid the rusted metal peg up and pushed the door inwards. Behind my back, I pushed the gate closed and preceded forward. The stallion started to weave, stepping back and forth with hiss front legs. I extended my arm slowly and stood under the hot summer sun. Our experience with each other three days ago wouldn't curb my drive to break him.

I rolled my tongue the way we were taught to our r's in Spanish class. He jumped back his neck tense and high in the air. His hind contacted the fence and he jolted forward. I backed quickly to the gate and slipped out to the safety of the grass. I let the halter slip to the ground, and I chucked the apple to Coal in the pasture. I flopped to the ground letting my face soak in the sun.

"Lazy bum" smirked Ty as he stood over me. "I heard you and Blake are a thing."

I smiled up at him, "Yea."

His smile faded in disappointment but he laughed trying to save face. "So how's your shoulder feelin'" he recovered.

I shrugged then winced, forgetting how deep the horse bit. Ty gave me a hand up, brushed me off, and kissed my forehead.

"Slow down and take your time." He said as he walked away.

Tyler

I walked away from her, mad at myself. And Blake. She's one of those girls who don't consider themselves pretty but is smokin' hot. Her tan skin and soft curls were to die for. I would do anything to save that girl, even if it meant my own death.

I left Rene a note.

Barn done

Checked the tubs, fence line,

checked horse weights-recorded

-Ty

I left the post-it on the notebook page labeled with the date, and walked out to the truck pissed off at on my best friend. It was hard to think he had his arm wrapped around my other best friend.

The old blue and red pick-up rattled awake and I drove home my mind still stuck on Kelly.

By the time I got home it was almost 4:30, so I jumped in the shower to scrub off. The cool water on my sun-burned skin helped me relax a little. When I got out, I wrapped myself in a white towel and heard my phone beep on the countertop.

It wasn't a number I knew but I looked at the text anyway.

If this is Ty, please call this number -Thanks

I knew right away who it was, but hesitated in calling. I walked to my room, pulling through my drawers looking for underwear. The laundry from the past week was pushed into the corner. It desperately needed to get done. I tugged on a pair of jeans and grabbed my phone of the bed.

I thought a moment before I hit call. It rang once... Twice... three times and just before it went to voice mail a familiar voice said hello.