Countryside | Ruralburgh 2

Chapter 9: I Swear, if Vincent Doesn't MAN UP, There Will Be Problems

Chapter 9: I Swear, if Vincent Doesn't MAN UP, There Will Be Problems

       Sawyer was doing extremely well during his practice today. Not a single jump was hit so far, and he was completing the courses quite quickly. I was really proud of him. And also jealous, because I still felt like my quality of cross-country was going down.

       And I was really worried. What if I did so bad that I was kicked off the team? I would have to go back home to the farm while Sawyer stayed on the tour, which meant I couldn't see Sawyer shirtless all summer.

       Like this could at least happen in the winter when it was too cold to go shirtless. Right now, we were in summer. The season that screamed, Hey, you should go shirtless, Sawyer.

       Okay, maybe I was the one that screamed that but the summer definitely helped.

       Sawyer finished the course once again so he lead Raven over to the fence I was leaning on. "Hiya, cowboy," I said. "You look hot. Is it getting to hot for you? Should you go shirtless? I think you should go shirtless."

       "Not happening," Sawyer said.

       I sighed. "But I haven't seen you shirtless in a long time."

       "What about two hours ago at the hotel before we got changed to come here?"

       "Like I said, I haven't seen you shirtless in a long time. A very long time."

       Sawyer rolled his eyes as he hopped off of Raven and walked closer to the fence. "You know, when we were little, not once did I ever think 'Hey, this guy is going to grow up to be a horny teenager'."

       "I am not. I am an extremely horny teenager. Geez, Sawyer, get it right."

       "Oh, I am so sorry that I did not call you an extremely horny teenager. What ever can I do to make it up to you?"

       I smiled widely, causing Sawyer to sigh, immediately regretting asking that once he saw my smile. I thought he would have learned his lesson from all these months he had been dating me but I guess not. "Well, since you asked..."

       "Forget it," Sawyer said. "Besides, it's your turn to run on the course."

       I shook my head. "Not happening."

       Sawyer furrowed his eyebrows. "Then how are you going to practice."

       "I'm not. I'm just going to quit before I get kicked off the team."

       "You're not going to get kicked off of the team. Besides, I think I found a solution for you."

       "What kind of solution?"

       "You know how we were talking about finding you a coach that has a similar bond to their horse that you have with Paint?" Sawyer asked. I nodded. "Well, as it turns out, there's someone on the team whose horse also went through a traumatic experience. The rider is the only one the horse will be around since she was there for him during the whole healing process."

       "So her training could be one that will help me?" I asked.

       "Exactly," Sawyer said.

       "Wait, who is it?" I asked. "Is it Sera? I'm not doing it if it's Sera. She annoys me."

       "Oh, trust me, I wouldn't have suggested it if it was her."

       "Ooh, Sawyer is petty. I like that. So who is it?"

       "Savannah."

       I thought for a bit, trying to remember exactly who this Savannah was. Once I figured it out, I smiled. "Oh! Savannah! Your brother's girlfriend!"

       "She isn't my brother's girlfriend," Sawyer said. "I think Vincent would have told me if he had a girlfriend."

       "You didn't tell your family when you started dating me," I pointed out. "We waited for a bit, and you kept trying to chicken out."

       "Fair point," Sawyer said. "But in my defence, my family had become extremely protective over me ever since my horseback riding accident. They didn't want me to get my heart broken again."

       "As if I would ever dumb you. I would be an idiot for doing so."

       Sawyer smiled and leaned over, kissing my cheek before hopping over the fence. "So I already talked to Savannah about training you, and she's okay with it. She knows how hard it is to train without a method that works for you."

       "I really hope her method works," I said. "I don't know what else to do if I just don't do well."

       "You will," Sawyer promised. "Anyway, Savannah is just practicing on another course. She said she'll come here as soon as she's done. In the meantime, so you want to try doing some jumping?"

       "I can try, but I can't promise I'll do well," I said.

       I led Paint onto the jumping course before I get onto him. He run the course just once, but it was still a fail. Something just wasn't working.

       "It's because you're tense," someone suddenly said, so I looked over to see Savannah standing by Sawyer on the other side of the fence. "That's why you're hitting a bunch of the jumps. Your horse senses you're tense, so he gets tensed to."

       I led Paint over to Sawyer and Savannah, sighing heavily. "I know that's been part of the issue. I try not to be tense. I don't even realize I am."

       "That's okay," Savannah said. "We'll figure it out. I was always so tense when I started competing with Duke. He absolutely loves showjumping but whenever I tensed, it would cause him to tense as well."

       "Sawyer said your horse when through something traumatic too," I said.

       Savannah nodded, patting her horse Duke's neck. "He was attacked by a cougar. His old owner never took proper care of his horses and even let them roam in a nearby forest. My mom, who's a vet, was the one who was called and I sometimes go with her. I stayed by Duke's side the whole time and when the owner lost all of his horses, we took in Duke. What about Paint?"

       "We still don't know what happened," I said. "It was years ago when Sawyer and I were playing in the woods by our houses when we found him all bloody and scratched up. Like you, I also stayed by him the whole time he was healing. Also, I have a question."

       Sawyer sighed. "I already know what you're going to ask and do you have to? It's none of your business."

       "Shush, Sawyer," I said. "So Savannah, are you dating Vincent?"

       "Not yet," Savannah said.

       "Ooh, not yet," I repeat. "You're ambitious. I like it. So why not yet?"

       "He's too shy to say anything," Savannah said. "I know I could always ask him out, but it probably wouldn't have been the best time since I was going on tour. We still talk on the phone every day, though."

       I cracked my knuckles. "If he doesn't say anything soon, I'll make him."

       "Thanks for the offer, but it's fine," Savannah said. "He's so cute when he's shy. Anyway, we should be focusing on your training right now."

       "True... Alright, let's get to work, I guess."

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we finally meet vincent's girlfriend (or future girlfriend) 👀👀

i almost wasn't able to update this chapter today because wattpad was glitching and stuff >:( but it's okay, it finally let me start a new chapter lol