American Pyramid

A World Title and Moving Forward

Victoria

It was finally over. Ten days - ten long days of constant activity, anxiety, pressure, and relief was finally done. Though I may have knocked over a barrel on the final round, I still achieved a world title after the ten long days of competing. I couldn't have done it without Arson and Dallas, which were my two best horses that I chose to compete with, and I owed them everything.

Because without them, there was no "me."

Zak was such an amazing support system - refusing to leave my side even though I could tell how exhausted he was after being nonstop with not only traveling and filming, but also being there to support me every night during the rodeo, walking alongside my horse in the alleyway and getting the best seat in the house as I made my runs. He was in such good spirits every single time, but I couldn't wait to spend a few days at home with him, focusing on nothing but unwinding and catching up on our time we spent apart.

Arson was now officially retired. Going from "seasoned barrel and all-around horse" to just a "pleasure pony," which he would be just a horse I would take on a trail ride every now and then. He certainly earned it after he performed his heart out for me over the last two years, and I was going to be sure that he would spend the rest of his life being pampered, loved, and enjoyed.

As for me, I set new goals for myself after completing the NFR: to be more involved in the show I worked so hard to manage from home when I could, and even that was exhausting as I was trying to juggle several different contacts to make sure interviews were there for interviews as well as making sure hotel rooms and cars were rented, with most of the time, those things being managed from the back of a horse, was certainly exhausting.

With it being Sunday, I awoke in my own bed with my husband by my side, still sleeping heavily with deep breaths while laying on his stomach, his wide back covering a quarter of our bed, his hair a mess and the sheet covering his body from the waist down. I smiled as I moved the sheet off of me slowly, doing my best to keep quiet so that he could sleep. Seeing that the clock read nine a.m., I decided to make him breakfast in bed after I checked on the horses.

Gracie was the first to notice that I was up, walking over towards me with her tail wagging and her hears back in glee. Without hesitation, I knelt down to her level, scratching her right behind her ears as her wet nose touched my chin, "You wanna go outside and check on the horses with momma? Or do you want to stay in bed with daddy?"

I knew she wouldn't respond verbally, but she subconsciously took from Zak and I's habits. On days where we were out late, she'd rather stay in bed and cuddle up to either me or Zak. On days where we got enough sleep, she's ready to get up and go like me.

She licked her nose before she immediately jumped up on the bed, curling up and laying on my side of the bed where it was still warm from my body heat. Yep, she was taking after Zak today.

The dry warmth of Nevada swept over my shoulders as I made my way to the pole barn, seeing all three of my horses lounging under the roof that protected them from the sun, one of their hind legs propped up with droopy bottom lips. They all looked like they were in a Sunday laze, but it changed quickly when they caught wind of me approaching, Arson's nostrils flaring as he greeted me with a soft whinny, knowing that he was about to get his well-deserved breakfast and two flakes of alfalfa hay. Dallas and Dakota were soon to follow.

After I finished feeding the horses and making sure their water buckets were full, I made my way back inside to clean up before I started making breakfast, knowing that Zak would be craving an omelette once he woke up as it was his go-to breakfast when he'd sleep in.

I made his breakfast proudly and with so much love, eager to wake him up with peppered kisses against his back before he would pull me against him in hopes of falling back to sleep, even though I knew in the back of my mind that we'd end up going back to bed after he ate.

"Babe," I whispered, running my fingertips on the back of his neck and into his hair, knowing that he secretly loved when I did that to wake him up (it also was the fasted way to get him to fall asleep). "I made you some breakfast. I know you're hungry."

He grumbled softly before he slowly moved over to lay on his side, stretching his arm above his head before he rested that same arm on my thigh, looking up at me with bloodshot eyes and bags under his eyes, and I knew immediately that he was showing signs of being sick.

When he spoke, my assumption was correct. His voice was hoarse.

"Morning, sweetie," he whispered, his thumb seeking the warmth of my skin between the elastic band of my shorts and my hip. He wasn't initiating any romance with this gesture, but it was his favorite area of my body to touch when we were sleeping or in bed - he always liked rubbing his thumb against the soft skin of my hips when he could. "what did you make for breakfast?"

I giggled, "I knew that would get you awake! I made you an omelette, but it looks like I have more to worry about with you."

His brows furrowed, "What's that?"

"You look like you're getting sick, babe," I sighed, pressing the back of my hand against his forehead, my heart swelling when he took my hand and turned it over to press a kiss against my palm. "you have a slight fever."

"I haven't felt the best since round eight of the rodeo," he admitted. "I just didn't say anything because I didn't want to take away from you."

I sighed, "Unfortunately for you, I noticed how you weren't feeling good since before round eight of the rodeo. Why did you think I always suggested hot tea after a hot shower every night since?"

"I know. I mean, I caught on, but I didn't want you to be worried about me when you had so much going on."

"You gotta stop being stubborn, babe. How about you eat and we'll go take a hot shower?"

"I'll never turn down a shower with you, sweetie."

"I figured, but you need to eat first or else you won't get any shower time with me," I teased before leaning down to press a kiss to his lips, not caring if he would've gotten me sick or not.