Behind Her Eyes

10

"Come on, Nickel." I urged, leaning forward in the saddle, willing for him to go faster. We just turned the last barrel speeding past the first two when we reached the gate. I pulled back on the reins and eased him to a stop.

I looked behind me to see my time. 15.1. Not bad.

I leaned forward in the saddle signaling for him to walk.

"Good boy." I praised, patting his neck. I could feel his labored breathing from underneath me. "Let's go get you cooled down."

I leaned back in the saddle and dismounted once he came to a stop. I lifted the reins over his head and started to walk towards the gates that lead out to the campers and trailers.

"Cassidy!"

I turned my head to the sound of the voice and squinted, the brightness of the sun shining in my eyes from what the brim of my hat couldn't block out.

My frown vanishes and the corner of my mouth slowly curves up to a smile.

"Hey. I thought you said you couldn't come?"

She shrugged.

"I convinced my parents to let me go."

"I'm glad you could make it." I smiled and continued to walk Nickel to the trailer. Motioning for her to follow.

"Did you run?"

I nodded.

"Yeah. I ran the barrels and I'm doing pole bending around three."

"What time did ya get for the barrels?"

"15.1."

"Holy cow. You'll definitely win for that. I don't think anyone has gotten that low." She praised me.

"Thank you." I said. "I'm gonna cool Nickel down and give him some water, after that we could go and get my earnings."

"Sounds good."

Once Nickel was untacked, watered, and sprayed down, we all went to get my check.

"Why do you always bring your horse with ya?" Shy asked out of nowhere.

I tensed unintentionally. I didn't want to tell her about my past just yet. I mean, she's a good person, I just don't trust her to that level just yet. So I gave her the simple answer in hopes that she wouldn't ask anymore questions.

"I feel safe when he's around."

"Oh." She didn't look nor sound convinced until something went off into her head. "Does he help you with anxiety?" She kept her voice low, which I was grateful for.

"Something like that." I smiled. Like I said before, Nickel never liked Austin. It was worse when I would be with Nickel and Austin would come up to me and wrap his arm around my shoulders. Nickel could sense my discomfort and would always pin his ears back and bare his teeth. At times he would try and bite Austin if he ever got close to him.

We approached a cowboy who was sitting behind a desk, under the bleachers near the gate that entered the ring.

"State your name." he said in a gruff voice.

"Cassidy Chandler."

He looked up and smiled. He seemed to be in his late forties.

"You did good today, young lady." he said, stamping the check, ripping it out of the book and handing it to me. "Have a good day."

I smiled.

"Thank you, Sir." I turned and walked away with Nickel and Shy.

"How much did you get?"

"$1,500."

"Wow."

I shrugged. I never liked rubbing my earnings in someone's face.

"Soooo, I found out when the bull riding starts." She said suggestively.

I raised my eyebrows in amusement.

"And I found out it's right after pole bending. Right after you run." She dragged on.

"Okay?" I wanting her to say it.

Realizing that I wasn't going to take the bait she sighed.

"We should go and see them."

I nodded and smiled.

"Okay."

"Really?"

"Of course."