Her name was Shadow Kissed she was 1000 lb's of pure muscle and angst, her skin glistened with sweat and her almost black hair was coated in a fine dust from dirt on the track she kicked up galloping down the stretch. They locked her in the stall all day and night because no one could go near her to bring her inside. So when I let her loose on the track she was wild. Her reach was far and her heart was big she was the fastest and most terrifying beast I've ever encounter. It was my job to tame her and I would probably die trying. We were on lap ten and she was fighting me the whole time but she was fast today so I let her get her way. She thanked me by pulling her head down hard and slowing down to an immediate stop. Her body lurched to the left and my body leaned to the right. Next thing I know the reins are ripped from my hands and I hit the ground. hard. I opened my eyes and turned my head to see Shadow half way down the track She tossed her head back the white of her eyes showing as she opened her eyes wide and let out a strong protest as I came too looking up at the bland sky I winced in pain as I sat up and looked around. I Rose Hathaway equestrian, trainer, and rider In my ten plus years of training horses I can say that this is the first time I've ever been thrown from a horse. I remembered the details as I stood and brushed all the footing off of my jacket and tights. My wrist screamed in pain as I tried to grab her reins again after chasing her about the track and her kicking out at me in protest. I grabbed the reins and whispered 'whoa' as I climbed up the fencing and hopped back in the saddle. 'Ow' my tail bone would be bruised and i'd have to deal with that later. As we walked off again I left my reins looser than I liked to be she hated having her head and face pulled on. She turned her neck and bit at my shoes 'jerk' I thought and with a huff I wiggled free and squeezed with my legs to get her focused on moving forward instead of having a snack. Her ears pinned flat to her head again and she took off again. I needed her to cool out before I would put her away and we needed to end on a good note. If I had yelled at her and smacked her like I wanted to she wouldn't let me near her ever again and we only had a month left before her big day. Three trainers before me quit before they even got on the horse and here I was getting on for a second time this morning after my first ever flight lesson. We had a hard month ahead of us because her price tag was unmentionable and if she didn't win this race she was to be hauled off to the kill buyer. I was determined to crack this nightmare and get her working to her fullest potential. This beautiful animal was a European import with impeccable bloodlines that screamed for a chance to run for the money. If I could get her to listen to me then just maybe we could win that 2 year old classic and take home a big jackpot. When she was listening to my cues and cooled off we returned to the barn. I gave her a pat on the side of her neck and dismounted then I returned my equipment and thanked Shadow with an apple and a quick brushing since my wrist was screaming in pain every time I used it. My pride was wounded but I still had a job to do and I didn't want anyone to think I was weak so I bit my lip and carried on. I went to return to my car when a velvety voice startled me as I was headed out of the barn for the night.
" So will you quit too?" I noticed a clean pair of cowboy boots and a neat pair of jeans and an obnoxiously long cowboy duster but most of all I noticed those eyes. His eyes were dark and guarded but kind, his hair matched his eyes he was a very big man. I looked down at my jacket and tights and helmet and it was all filthy and covered in dirt. One of my boots had a dent in the toe I must have made when I landed. I looked back up I stared at him for far too long he was so beautiful and I managed to mumble back
" I don't give up that easily besides she's coming along great she just needs guidance" I guess that was a good enough answer as any. Truthfully that mare scared the living shit out of me she was smart and she was dangerous. He nodded and looked down at my wrist again.
"You hurt? that was a mighty big fall" He said. I nodded and wondered why he had to be the one to watch me fall off.
"I've never fallen off a horse before my pride hurts and my wrist and my tailbone" I answered and sighed.
"You should go to the hospital and get x-rays incase anything is broken." I shook my head
"No i'll be alright i'll put some ice on it it's okay see" I turned my wrist and it felt wrong it hurt so bad I winced and yelped a little
"Can I take a look at it?" He said and held out a hand " I work here I've seen a lot of injuries while working here I just hope it's not broken"
" I guess. It can't be broken I only have a month left to get that horse trained. I can't take a day off" I have only seen this guy around on race day's but he seemed nice " Who are you?" I asked
" I'm Dimitri Belikov. I work with the exercise riders and I escort racehorses to the track and gate. I'm usually behind the gate while your in it. I know who you are Rose Hathaway your very good at what you do you know."
" creepy" I said while taking my hand back " It's what I do for a living so I have to be good. I'm glad you didn't say you were the new Jockey your a little big to ride race horses. Your first impression is me getting launched off the back of a horse." he chuckled and ran a hand through his hair
" The other staff and riders talk about you a lot. No one gave Shadow more than a day of their time but I think she likes you she's much more friendly now." I gulped. that raging beast was nice? holy crap I'm glad I only met her a few months ago. " Your wrist looks bad Rose ice it, take some ibuprofen and rest it if you can. I hope it feels better" He smiled at me and I smiled back like an idiot he was so hot how did I not notice him around the stables. I had a strange feeling in my stomach but I ignored it and tried to find an excuse to leave. I was in pain physically and emotionally and I just wanted to go home
" It was nice to meet you Dimitri thanks for looking at my wrist please don't mention this to anyone I'd prefer that this be a little secret I don't want my boss to know I fell off you know" I hoped he wouldn't go make fun of me but I trusted him for some reason.
" It was very nice to meet you as well Rose. Get some rest and feel better." he looked over at shadow who was hanging her head over the top of the stall door staring at us. " Someone has to move her so I can clean that stall tomorrow but you have changed her already. It's always going to be an uphill battle but at least both of you are making the climb. Have a good afternoon rose" He said in a zen like way with his life advice. I smiled back and waved with my good wrist as I headed to the car and drove into town I had to get groceries or else I would have to eat ramen noodles again. After almost forty minutes I had some prepared meals and a couple other snacks and foods my wrist was throbbing and it was difficult to carry the groceries but I bit my lip and kept going. Driving was painful so was sitting, showering, eating, even sleeping. I curled up on the couch and flipped on the t.v. this was really not going according to plan. It was now past midnight and I lie awake thinking about why I thought Moving to Montana for this job was such a brilliant idea. At least they gave me a place to stay on the edge of the farm so my commute to work was five minutes walking distance my small little studio apartment was all I needed since it was just me out here in Montana. It was going to have to be okay because I was getting paid to do a job and I could really use five hundred thousand dollars. Of course the owner and the stables would take most of that but they were going to give me enough to make my time worth it all I had to do is win. Three weeks and one chance to prove them all wrong and take home that prize. God only knows if we can do it.