Georgia's Gamble [A Historical Fiction Novel; The Pratt Chronicles Book 1]

Chapter 18

Georgia Pratt

Chapter 18

The crisp autumn air clung to the night as Ben and I finished up in the stables, the soft sounds of the horses settling in for the evening filling the quiet space around us. The sky outside was dark now, the stars just beginning to peek through the velvet blanket above, and there was a stillness that only came with this time of year—a calm that made everything feel a little closer, a little more personal.

I watched as Ben moved around Arlo's stall, making sure everything was in place. He always had this focus, this quiet dedication to his work that I couldn't help but admire. The way he moved around the horses, the way they responded to him—it was like he belonged here in this world, even if he didn't quite believe it himself yet.

I leaned against the stall door, arms crossed, feeling the warmth of the stable keeping the autumn chill at bay. "You know," I said softly, "it's nice, being out here like this. Quiet."

Ben glanced over at me, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Yeah, it is. Beats the heat of summer, that's for sure."

I chuckled, nodding in agreement. "No kidding. Fall's always been my favorite time of year, though. Feels like everything's slowing down, getting ready for winter." I paused for a moment, thinking back on my family, the life we'd always shared out here on the ranch. "My family loves it, too. We always used to have these big bonfires, roast marshmallows with all the kids. The little ones would run around until they were too tired to stand."

Ben gave a small nod, but didn't say much. His hands were busy adjusting a saddle, his gaze focused on Arlo, but I could tell he was listening.

"Family's a big thing here," I continued, my voice soft. "It's not perfect, but I don't know what I'd do without them. There's always someone around, always something going on. Even when they drive me crazy, I'm glad I've got them."

There was a silence that followed my words, and I glanced over at Ben, noticing the way his shoulders had tensed ever so slightly. He kept working, but something in his expression had shifted—just a little, but enough for me to notice.

I hesitated for a moment before speaking again, my voice careful. "What about you, Ben? What's your family like?"

For a second, I thought he wasn't going to answer at all. He stayed quiet, focused on his work, and I could feel the change in the air between us. But then he spoke, his voice low and controlled.

"Not much to say, really," he muttered, shrugging it off as if it wasn't important. "Never really had much of a family."

I blinked, caught off guard by his response. There was something in the way he said it—so casual, so detached—that made me think there was a lot more beneath the surface. But I didn't press him, even though curiosity gnawed at me. Instead, I just nodded, waiting to see if he'd offer anything more.

But he didn't.

Before I could decide whether to push the topic or let it go, Ben turned, a smile creeping back onto his face as he moved away from the stall. "So, what about you?" he asked, clearly eager to change the subject. "You always dream of running a ranch like this?"

I raised an eyebrow, catching the shift in the conversation but deciding to let it slide. "I guess I always knew I'd be here," I said, my voice thoughtful. "But I don't know if I ever *dreamed* of it. It's just... what we do. You grow up around horses, around family, and it all just sort of becomes part of who you are."

Ben nodded, wiping his hands on his jeans before leaning back against the stall door, his eyes on mine. "I get that. I mean, I didn't grow up like this, but animals... they've always made sense to me."

I tilted my head, curious now. "Is that why you wanted to be a jockey?"

He shrugged again, his expression thoughtful this time, a little more open than before. "It wasn't really something I planned. I just... ended up here. I was good with horses, and it seemed like a way to make something of it. Something about working with them—it's the only thing that's ever made sense."

I watched him closely, hearing the honesty in his voice. There was something about the way he spoke about it, like the rest of his life had been a series of confusing turns, but this—being with the horses, being out here—was the one place where everything clicked into place.

"Seems like you've got a knack for it," I said softly, offering him a smile. "You're good at what you do, Ben. Real good."

He looked at me then, his eyes meeting mine with a quiet intensity that made my heart skip a beat. "Thanks, Georgia," he murmured, his voice low. "Means a lot, coming from you."

For a moment, we just stood there, the quiet of the stables wrapping around us. I wanted to ask him more, to get to the heart of whatever he wasn't saying, but I knew better than to push. If there was one thing I'd learned about Ben, it was that he'd open up in his own time—if he ever did.

Instead, I offered him a soft smile, leaning against the stall door as the night settled in around us. "Guess we make a pretty good team, huh?"

Ben's grin returned, that familiar cocky glint in his eyes. "Yeah, I'd say so. But remember, I'm still the one in the saddle, Princess."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You'll never let me forget it, will you?"

"Not a chance," he teased, pushing off the stall door with a wink. "But don't worry—I'm happy to let you take the credit. As long as I get to ride."

We shared a laugh, the tension from earlier easing as the night stretched on. And though the conversation had left me with more questions than answers, I knew one thing for sure: whatever Ben was holding back, I'd be patient. Because underneath it all, I could see the parts of him that he wasn't ready to show the world just yet.

And maybe one day, he'd let me see all of it.