The Challenger
Chapter 2
Bright fox-red, the Quarter Horse moved at the slightest movement of it's rider, a lean, half-Shoshone Native American seventeen year old, clad in a flannel button up and faded Wrangler jeans, his black hair pulled back from his bronzed cheekbones, and Stetson shielding the rider from the early morning Nevada sunlight.
"He's gorgeous," the brunette remarked wistfully.
At sixteen, Brooklynn Olson was still fairly fresh off the plane from Miami, Florida where she had lived a luxurious life with her parents, Brad and Avery Olson, both of whom were sought after criminal lawyers until they had been become victims, found with their throats slit in a nightclub parking lot.
By the next afternoon, she found herself living with her aunt Brynna Forster and her extended family on River Bend Ranch in Darton, Nevada. It had taken her little time to settle into her new surroundings and just a week after she arrived, she had already taken up chores and riding for hours on end with Samantha Forster, Wyatt's daughter. That particular January morning, the pair had riden over to Three Ponies Ranch to look at a horse Jake had suggested Brook try.
Samantha Forster's soft blue eyes followed the muscular Quarter Horse's quick, nimble movements and glanced up at the blonde woman and her step-cousin beside her with a faint smile. "Maybe Jake would let you try him out," she suggested. "What'd you think?"
"I'd love that," she agreed, peering through the wooden fencing of the round pen to follow the cow horse's quick movements in the small enclosure. "Hey Jake, can I jump on for a couple of minutes?"
Without a single acknowledgement, the gelding moved from a smooth, ground eating lope to a quick stop, his thick haunches tucked neatly underneath him. Jacob Ely motioned towards the newcomer and watched as she crawled through the wooden railing, offering an upturned palm to the fiery coated Quarter Horse. "Royal's probably going to test you," he warned. "Throw in a buck or two, but stick to and he'll be a dream to ride."
Brook nodded, accepting the reins to the bosal-style hackamore and swung into the too-large saddle, custom fitted to the youngest of the Ely brothers. The bright, fox-red gelding stood motionless, one copper ear flicked back to the new rider and the other flicked forward, as she settled herself in the saddle. The sixteen year old clicked her tongue softly, Jake's warning still echoing in her mind, as Royal moved forward, obedient.
"Good boy," she crooned, nudging the handsome Quarter Horse into a smooth, marshmallow jog.
After several circuits around the round pen, she touched the gelding into a rocking lope. A simple shift in her seat brought the stock horse to a neat, sliding stop and she dropped her reins, unable to hide her breathless smile from floating to Jake, who exchanged a proud nod with the bystanders. "Royal was a gentleman for you, he looked good," he remarked, striding towards the pair.
"Royal felt amazing," she laughed breathlessly, swinging her leg over the backside of the too-large saddle to slip off the handsome Quarter Horse. "I will definitely be getting back to you on him, Jake."
The seventeen year old nodded, motioning her towards the small crowd that had accumulated on the outer railing of the round pen. Although he didn't say much, Brook was quick to notice the excitement that danced in his mustang brown eyes as she turned to leave.
"Brooklynn, I'd like you to meet some of Jake's older brothers," Maxine Ely announced, glancing briefly at the three teenage boys that hovered behind her with wide eyes. "They were quite impressed by the way you handled Royal just now, dear."
A long limbed teenager lifted his head and smiled eagerly. Similar to Jake, the three brothers nearby shared the same bronze colored skin, high cheekbones, and mustang brown eyes. "I'm Quinn," he grinned crookedly, offering a hand of greeting towards the brunette.
A pair of golden eyes gleamed from beneath a black Stetson that looked like it had seen better days as the next Ely moved forward. Unlike Quinn, he was more compact with broad shoulders and a lean body; he couldn't have been older than twenty. "I'm Adam," he smiled.
The final introduction brought Brook face to face with a soft smile, revealing gleaming white teeth. The teenage boy had short black hair that highlighted his mustang brown eyes and mesmerizing smile. The goofy, lopsided grin hinted at a boyish charm that was masked with his rugged good looks and lean body. "I'm Nate," he said, his eyes were soft as they landed on the girl.
Samantha Forster rolled her brown eyes mockingly, exchanging a pointed look with her sixteen year old cousin. "We should get going," she mused. "We only stopped by to check out Royal for Brook, she's been looking for a good cow pony for the past couple of weeks."
"Oh, it's a shame you two couldn't stay," Maxine Ely frowned, trailing after the two girls as they made their way over to a small bay mustang and a slender sorrel mustang. "But I suppose you two have things to do before school begins on Monday."
"Don't remind me," Sam groaned, swinging into the saddle of the little bay mustang that danced with impatience.
"Don't remind you? Don't remind me," the brunette snorted, running her hand along the copper colored coat at her shoulder. "I've got babysitting duty tonight while Gram visits Sweetheart, Uncle Wyatt and Aunt Brynna go to the doctors, and you and Jen study." Truthfully, Brook loved babysitting baby Cody. Less than a month old, the little boy was growing quieter and quieter with every passing night, which meant more sleep for the Forster and Olson family.
The fourteen year old watched as her cousin soothed Brynna Forster's blind mustang mare, Penny before she swung into the saddle. Sam couldn't help but smile. Since her arrival at River Bend, Brook had thrown all of her spare time into riding and training her aunt's blind mare. Within a week, she had already taught the little sorrel cues which had allowed her to take Penny out onto the playa without fear. "It's alright, Pen," she murmured, running her hand softly along her neck down to her shoulder.
The blind mustang shivered, but fell still, ears flickered around the Three Ponies Ranch yard for any sign of a challenge. "You're doing just fine," she said softly, resting her hand on the horn with another soothing murmur. "It was really nice meeting you, Mrs. Ely. Could you tell Jake that I'll call him tonight or tomorrow about Royal?"
Maxine nodded warmly. "I will," she promised. "It was nice seeing the both of you. Ride back safely, okay?"
"Of course," Sam nodded reassuringly. Maxine was quick to treat the pair of teenage girls like her own, but she guessed the insecurities belonged to Brook and the blind mustang mare she rode that morning. It had been proven both Brook and Sam were skilled riders, but nothing was a guarantee out on the playa. It wasn't any surprise when Maxine watched the two until they disappeared off the front of Three Ponies Ranch.
Penny snorted into the frosty air, lifting her hooves in a careful prance. "Easy, Pen," said Brook, tugging gently at the reins with a bemused smile, then glanced over sideways at Sam, who was still beaming from when they had left Three Ponies Ranch. "What?" she exclaimed defensively.
"If you can catch Nate's eyes like that, I'm sure you have a good chance of getting any guy at Darton High School," said Sam matter-of-factly, reining Ace in closer to her step-mom's blind mustang mare.
Brook grimaced. Just like her old high school, most guys who had asked her out - they were either players or assumed she would give them a good time due to her physical appearance. "I'm not looking for a relationship right now, Sam," Brook sighed, shaking her head wearily. "Besides, isn't he, like, nineteen?"
"Maybe?"
"Sam," she growled.
Sam sighed indignantly. "Yeah, he just turned nineteen last month," she said, then released another mocking, indignant sigh as she proceeded to further explain the Ely brothers by age. "Jake is seventeen, Quinn is eighteen, Nate is nineteen, Seth and Adam are twenty one, Bryan is twenty three, and Kit is twenty five."
"Perfect."