What's Next?

Passion in the Saddle

Genre: Romance

Tags: Horse girl, Equestrian, Western, Rodeo Queen, Accident, ex-boyfriend, Trainer, Horses, Second love, Second family

Synopsis:

Alexia Calhoun, Rodeo Queen, to up and coming reigning champion, a name admired within the western community. In a horrible accident with her horse she is left a bitter shell of who she once was. All she lived for, robbed in mere moments. She always prayed that when she was hurt, it'd spare her precious fur-babies. Only on the fateful night, her prayers were left unanswered.

Tanner Cruz, single father to a precious young girl, Winnie. His pride and joy has admired Alexia and her skills for riding. On his way to a small town youth rodeo with his girl he manages to stumble upon what's left of Alexia. With little left to his name but his truck, camper, daughter and her old man of horse. He's left to wonder just what the good lord has in store for him and his little girl.

Maybe the bitter shell of a woman will find a spark of life in Winnie; and maybe she'll find more than idle conversation with the man who stumbled onto her property by accident. 

Excerpt:

"Lexi, would you just stop?" Chase yells from the doorway making me roll my eyes, frustrated beyond belief. What is his problem this time?

"Stop what?" I question, turning to face his bloodshot eyes. He's probably high again- like always.

"Riding," he spits.

"Riding? Why is it such an issue? It's my job!" His features are blistered red, smoke practically billows from his ears. I'm one of the lucky few who can ride for a living. Having made a name in the high school circuits growing up, I went big as soon as I could escape small town rodeos. I'm the breadwinner in this situation ship.

I can't even pretend either of us are happy anymore. "It's an issue because you're never home! Those damn horses are more important to you than your boyfriend," he hisses at me, I roll my eyes at him. It's nonsense. Of course my horses are important. I wouldn't be half the rider I am without them. I've stepped back from rodeos, stepping into the light of reining, I'm praying it'll be the next step of my career.

"They are my life! Listen, I'm sorry if you can't accept the fact that I work for a living. I wouldn't be half the rider I am without my horses," I argue, rubbing my temples in an attempt to keep from choking him. "You know what, I'm tired of running in circles with this argument. When you sober up, we can talk like adults," I walk out, slamming the door on his vile scream of nonsense. When will I throw him out? He's not some lost puppy.

Chase and I have been together for years, since high school. At one point he was the apple of my eye, just like my fur-babies. Now? I can barely stand the sight of him, his problem holding down a job. His addiction to booze and marijuana have gotten out of hand. I worry it's only a matter of time before he does something drastic, like stealing something and pawning it off for money.

I breathe in deeply as I enter my second home, my barn, a sweet four stall barn with an indoor wash rack, barn loft and nice cozy tack room joined office. The sweet aroma of timothy and shavings greet me. Home. The twenty acre plot of land has been my home for a few years now, every extra dime I make I put back into this place, and my baby's equipment.

They deserve it and so much more. My horses are athletes, performing to the best of their ability daily. They deserve to be spoiled rotten. Kid Outlaw, or Outlaw as I like to call him, is my newest prospect and still has a ways to go with training. His confidence still has a ways to go. The sturdy black beast of a quarter horse has some dreamy blood lines.

It's been an honor to feel him move, watch him grow and progress in our training. He has so much potential. His warm brown eyes meet mine as he swishes his tail lazily grazing on his offered hay. I could use a bit of a challenge today. "How's my Outlaw tonight?" I question, resting my arms on his stall door as he gives me his infamous sassy stare. Just like the chestnut momma he's got.

My trainer, Sasha Paget offered me the deal of a century by letting me breed her Champion, Daisy Dune's Hell Chaser, to her sturdy cattle driven stud, Black Behemoth. And wow, was it a mating in heaven. With a soft bristle brush in hand I enter his stall earning a delightful ghost whinny. It warms my heart and runs the rage right out of my soul. It's sad I enjoy the road more than I enjoy my own home anymore.

I know we've separated a bit, after his last failure of employment he's taken more time off to 'search'. And I can't stand the pile of ash all over my house to the beer bottle caps I step on in the middle of the night. I don't know if I'm the one that's grown lazy or he is. Chase has started drinking more, smoking even more. When I'm home, all I see is a bottle in his hand or a joint on his lips.

Habit's I can't stand. I don't need to be saddled with an addict- I'm plenty bad of one. The thought makes me shake my head, the horse bug is in deep with me, and I don't see it ever going away. Not before I'm dead anyways.