In the morning of day two of the games events.
Bella runs outside when Britney came downstairs. She runs to my tent and came inside. I'm still fast asleep, laying on my back. She came closer and starts to lick my face. It took some moments before I woke up from her licking. I move my head a little and open my eyes. I see her waggling her tail and her ears going up. I roll on my side and she lays herself against my chest. I smile as I caress her head a little. "Good morning, little one." I whisper. She rolls on her back and I tickle her belly a little. "Have you gotten your breakfast already?" I whisper, she barks once.
"Shall we get some breakfast then?" She stands up and starts licking my face again. I chuckle a little and push myself up. I take my jeans and put them on. Bella went outside and turns as she waits for me. I went outside when I got my boots on. I smile as I stand straight and stretch a little. "Come, Beebee." I walk around the tent. I scratch on the tent from the boys. "Boys?" I didn't get a reply. I open the tent and see they aren't in there. I close the tent again and wonder what time it is. I turn and walk to the house, Bella following me happily.
I went inside and see the boys sitting at the kitchen table. They're looking on their phones in silence. I see mom coming out of the laundry room. She smiles when she sees me. "You want breakfast, son?" "Sure, ma, what time is it?" I sit down. Bryan looks up and smiles at me. "It's nine, you've slept in." Mom says. I look at her teasing smile and inhale deeply. Bella barks again. I look at her. "Has she gotten something to eat already?" Mom looks at her. "No, she didn't want to eat earlier." I stand up and open the cupboard. I take a plate and put some meat on it. Britney is outside, talking on the phone. She doesn't pay me any attention.
I squat and put the plate down on the porch. Bella starts to eat, and I caress her back a little. I went inside and Bryan smiles. "She really has turned around, dad." I smile at my son. I sit back down. "Yeah, I've never thought that would be happening." "The boys told me what they've been hearing last night." Mom is making me bacon and eggs. I look from her to my son and Sean. They're smiling at me. "Was it that loud?" I ask curiously. "Well, we couldn't sleep until you were done." Sean chuckles about it. I look at him as I think. "You don't mind, Sean?" I have to know. "Oh no, not at all. Mom has changed since you came back. I mean in a good way. She seems really happy." "I wish you would dump stupid blonde, dad."
I inhale deeply and nod once. "I know, son. I'm just finding the right moment. Give me some time, please." Mom gives me a mug with coffee, and I sip on it. I close my eyes with a smile. "Good coffee." Mom smiles and gives me a kiss on my head. I open my eyes to look at her. She turns and takes a plate for my breakfast. "Where are Pen and Billy?" "They went into town, Billy wanted to show Penny around and they needed to buy a nice dress for Kaylie, for the anniversary. We'll see them in the park." Mom puts the plate in front of me. I look at it with a smile. "Thanks, ma." I take the fork and start to eat. Mom let her hand go through my hair, she always did that when I was a kid. I look at Sean while I think.
"Your mother, what time will she be here?" Sean looks up at me. "I don't know. She might be here soon since she's only on emergency calls." I nod with a smile. I miss her. I look at my son. "You want a riding lesson when I'm done eating?" Bryan looks up and starts to smile. "Yeah!" I chuckle about his excitement. "Sean, you want a lesson too?" As I look back at Sean. "Yeah, sounds like fun." I take another bite as I think. "You two wouldn't mind becoming stepbrothers?" I'm curious in what they would think about Frances and I being together. I see them looking at each other and then back at me with a smile.
"It would be amazing, dad." "Yeah, it would be awesome." They fist bump. I chuckle about their reaction. "I need to talk to Baby first, okay? She told me last night she wants to talk today." They nod as I drink my coffee. Mom is only smiling as she listens to us. She's happy that I'm making the right decision. I finish my breakfast and stand up. "Come on, boys, time for the riding lesson." They quickly put their phones in their pockets and follow me outside. I lay my arms around their necks. "Don't you need to shower?" Bryan asks. I look at him and smile.
"Nah, I'm not too dirty yet." The boys chuckle as we walk to the stables. "You want to ride too, dad?" Bryan asks as we enter the stables. I smile as I inhale deeply and smell the scent of horses and leather. I have missed these smells so much. I miss riding as well. "Yeah, but I first gonna teach you two. I can ride whenever I feel like." I reply while I look at the horses. I see my old horse Solero and my smile went wider. "I didn't think you would still be alive old friend." I grab his head and he breezes. Bryan and Sean came closer. I look at my son with a smile.
"Bryan you take Solero." Bryan looks at the horse. "He looks old." "Yeah, he's about nineteen now, I think, but if his temper hasn't changed, he'll be great for learning how to ride." I rub Solero's head and he moves his head up and down. Bryan smiles. "Solero, meet my son, Bryan." Bryan carefully extends his hand and Solero pushes his nose in his hand. I smile as I watch the interaction. "Solero is born here, I raised and trained him until I went to Juilliard. He's officially mine." Bryan looks at me when I told him this. He looks back at Solero. I take the halter. "Here, take him outside to the pole." Bryan nods and takes the halter from me. I show him how to put it on.
I walk to another stable. I look at the horse with a smile. I had no clue my mother's horse would still be alive as well. "Sean, you take Ulénus." As I point. "I know the name is a little difficult to pronounce, it's a French name. Ma wanted him when he got shipped from France to America by some horse dealer. It's a long story, but he's a French warmblood." Sean smiles and nods as he caress Ulénus' head. "Here you go." I give him the halter. I went to the saddle room and open the closet to take a few brushes and the hoof scraper. I went outside and see Bryan struggling with the rope. I walk to him and he looks at me. I lay the brushes and scraper down. Sean came outside with Ulénus.
"Here, look." I show my son how to tie the rope to the pole. "See? And if you pull on this part, you'll untie the knot." I show it to him. Bryan nods as he's paying attention. I can see how eager he wants to learn. "Here, try it a few times, you'll get used to it eventually." Bryan looks at me and smiles. "Thanks, dad, for doing this." I smile back at him. "I'll do anything for you, son." I let my hand go through his hair. "Now practice the knot." Bryan starts to practice. I explain the same thing to Sean. "I'm a little confused. Why don't I just do a normal knot?" I look at him and chuckle a little. He has Frances' eyes and curious expression.
"If the horse get startled, the natural reaction for the horse is to run away. If the rope has a normal knot, it can hurt itself badly when it tries to get away. If you make this knot, and it gets startled, you can pull to untie the knot so the horse can get away." I explain. "That's smart, we don't want the horse to get hurt." I smile at him. "Your grandfather and father never learned you this?" I'm just being really curious. Sean looks at me. "They never showed me these things, they've only let me help at the practice, but that was years ago." I give him a smile. "You still want to be a vet?" "I'm not sure, after what my father did. Maybe I'll become a doctor like mom." Bryan looks at us. "Don't let your dream define with what happened, okay?" I see him looking at my face. Then he grabs me in a hug. I look at my son, who gives me a nod and I hug Sean back.
"All right, boys, time to get a brush and start brushing them." They take a brush and I show them how to brush the horses. After some moments, I let them do it themselves. I smile as I watch them, I see them smiling and they're talking. I really never would have thought that my son would love all the things I love. When they're done brushing, I show them how to clean the hooves. "I'm going to get the saddles, shout if something happens." "Okay, dad." I went to the saddle room. I see my old saddle and smile. I lift it up. I can see that it's still being used. I take mom's saddle and walk back outside. "Here." I give them each the respective saddle and explain them how to saddle the horses.
"This is heavy." I look at my son. "It is, but I know you can do this." He looks at me and I smile. They saddle the horses and I smile. They learn fast, I feel really proud of my son. Somehow, also about Sean. The boy has went through a lot in his young life, he deserves some stability. I went to get the bridles. I went back outside while I think about how it would be to live with Frances and our boys. I look at them and I see my son cuddling Solero. I wonder why he never showed me any interest in horses before. They see me coming. "Here." I give them each a bridle. "Don't be disappointed that I won't let you do the gallop today. We need to build this up." "Okay." They say at the same time. I chuckle and went to help them.
"Let's go to the training arena." They take the reins and follow me to the arena. I remember that we used to have many horses. Dad trained horses for neighbor ranches if he got asked, but I understood from Jamaal that he isn't doing that anymore. I know dad loved training horses, but I guess since only Jamaal is still working and living here, that dad doesn't have time to do horse trainings no more. I turn and smile at them. They stand still with the horses in the middle of the arena. I explain them how to step up.
Britney sits on the bench, looking at her phone, like always. She's texting with her best friend. Bella runs onto the porch and turns. She barks at Rosco as she waggle her little tail really fast. Rosco barks at her. Britney looks up and sees Bella. She let out a deep sigh. "Beebee, come here." Bella looks at her and barks once. "Come here, come to mama." Bella turns her head back to Rosco. He barks at her. She waggles her tail again and runs to him. Britney looks after her. She let out a frustrating growl as she looks back at her phone. She writes a message to her best friend. 'I hate it here, even my own dog doesn't know who I am anymore.' Mom came outside and sees Britney sitting.
"Don't you ever lay that thing down and just enjoy nature?" Britney looks up from her phone. She didn't gave mom a smile and looks back at her phone. She got a message. 'Why don't you just come back to LA? Then you can stay with me and we can go out and have fun.' Mom sighs and shakes her head. She walks to the laundry that's hanging up to dry. Britney looks at her for a second again. She snorts a little. 'I can't just do that, I'm engaged, even if my fiancé is a wildman now! I need to get him back to the way he was. You should see him, he hasn't shaven and trimmed his goatee since we got here, and he hasn't showered since the first day we arrived. He walks around in those old jeans, topless! With his old boots! I should've thrown it all away when I had the chance!'
She waits for a reply. 'Actually, Brit, it sounds kinda sexy, can you take a picture?' She rolls her eyes. 'I know you like my man, but he's mine… or so I think he is.' She feels like drinking, but all there is left is beer. 'What do you mean with you think he is? He loves you, doesn't he?' She looks at the time. Still some time until lunch. She hopes this afternoon will be some fun going on, she doesn't know how long she can take this. Then she wonders if she would see Philip again. She thinks of the moment they were alone, his kisses felt so good. She smiles as she thinks about the fact that he's a millionaire. She answers the message.
'I thought so, but I'm not so sure anymore… his old crush seems to come and visit his parents often, she's the doctor in this town, everyone seems to love her… I can see how he looks at her, I also see how she looks at him... she isn't even cute! She's ugly!' Frances parks her car and steps out. She has slept in. It was the first time in a very long time that she has slept in and she slept like a baby. She smiles as she thinks about last night. How good it felt, and how much she wanted to stay the whole night. She looks around as she walks to the house. She sees Britney sitting on the bench. 'Tell her off then… Johnny is your man, show that to her… tell her that you're way better for him!'
"Hey." Frances says. Britney jumps a little and looks up from her phone. "What do you want?" "Sorry to interrupt your business, but do you know where Catherine is?" Frances looks at Britney's well-groomed hair, or at least she makes it look really nice. She also sees Britney's fake nails. Britney straightens her back and her expression changes. Frances sees the change and pulls her eyebrows up a little. "I don't know where she's at, what are you doing here anyway? Don't you have patients to go to?" Mom walks to the house with the basket and sees them. She stands still and listens to their conversation.
"I'm a friend of the family. I don't think it's up to you to decide whether or not I can come here. I want to be with my son." Frances crosses her arms. She sees Britney's expression changing again. Britney stands up and crosses her arms as well. "If you think you can come any closer to my man, you don't know what I can and will do to you." Britney says with a warning undertone, but Frances doesn't show her any fear. Mom sighs and decides to interrupt their conversation. She walks up the porch. "What has this to do with my son?" Britney wanted to answer when she sees mom standing behind Frances. "You're early, Baby." Mom says with a smile. Frances turns and smiles. They hug shortly.
"Yeah, I actually slept in and my assistant only called me about something. Where's my son?" Mom chuckles. "He's with Bryan in the training arena, my son is giving them a riding lesson. So, you slept like a baby, huh?" Mom winks with a teasing smile. Frances giggles. "Go, have a look at them." Mom looks at Britney for a second and went inside. Frances turns to Britney. "You wanna come and have a look at the boys?" Britney snorts and shakes her head. "You think that with acting nice I will start liking you?" Frances starts to frown. "You don't have to like me… and I don't like you either… so we're even on that. I just thought that you might want to show interest in your stepson's life."
Britney steps closer to Frances. "You're just jealous that he chose me… get over it, he will never be yours." Britney says between locked jaws. Frances keeps looking at her face. She's not scared of her. "I'm used to a lot, especially women like you, Britney. I'm not scared of your threats. And you don't have to worry. I don't touch men who are taken." Frances turns and walks to the training arena. "Yeah, right… I bet that you're having sex with a lot of men." Britney whispers as her eyes keep following Frances. She sits down and looks at her phone again while she thinks.
'I just did, you know how I can be with threats, but she says she's not scared of me… but she doesn't know me at all! She even tried to be nice to me, asking me to go with her and have a look at what Johnny and Bryan are doing.' She sighs frustratingly. After a moment she gets a message again. 'Brit… you're not being smart, you literally threatened her and she's going to look at your man?' Britney looks up and sees Frances at the training arena. 'But what must I do? I hate it here, I hate horses and cows… or any other big animal, you know that. I can't afford to lose him… you know what's at stake if he dumps me… marrying him is really what I need!' 'Then you know what to do… go and show interest in him and his son, make him remember why he chose you.' Britney thinks about the show. Then she nods to herself and stands up. She walks to the arena.