Heartbreak Holiday

by C. J. Laurence

  He narrowed his eyes at me. “Ah, Miss Woods. Nice of you to join us.”

  I fixed him a steely stare but remained silent. I could feel the burning stares of the other guests and tried my hardest not to colour up, but the burn from my cheeks was almost as bad as the heat.

  He started running through the plan for the day, beginning with an hour-long riding assessment for each of us. Brady and three of his guys would evaluate the twelve of us, split into four groups of three. I didn’t even have to hear my name roll off his tongue to know I’d be in his trio.

  As the others wandered off to their respective wranglers, I rolled my eyes as he approached me, and a husband and wife.

  “Dave, you can take Georgie, the bay gelding here. Sheena, you can have Barbie, the palomino at the end there.” He locked his eye contact on me with a sly smile. “Sophie, you can take Cody, the buckskin.”

  I plastered a false smile on my face, ignoring the rising tension between us. “Thanks. I’ve always loved a nice dun.”

  “Actually, Cody doesn’t have a dorsal stripe, so he is a buckskin. Brush up on your knowledge before trying to be smart next time.”

  My mouth dropped open and my temperature soared through the roof. How embarrassing. Trying to ignore Dave and Sheena whispering to each other, I wandered over to my horse.

  He was a solid bulk of muscle, pure power emanating from every fibre of his body. His creamy coloured face displayed no emotion whatsoever. Big brown eyes stared back at me, glazed over with a blatant boredom. I chewed my lip as I realised this chap was a proper workhorse. He wasn’t here to be fussed and made a pet of—he had a job to do and that was it.

  I swallowed a lump in my throat. It’d been nearly eight years since I last rode. Had Brady given me this horse because he was difficult?

  Whilst he was busy helping the other two, I took my time to check over the tack—to help steady my nerves and also, just to be sure. All I found was a loose girth, or cinch, to be correct out here.

  “Are you not on board yet?”

  I turned around, rolling my eyes at him. “I was checking my tack. Is that ok?”

  “There’s no need to check it. Unless of course, you don’t trust me?”

  “I was taught it as good practice. Just a habit.”

  Without wasting another second, I put my foot in the stirrup and swung myself into the saddle. I had ridden Western on a few occasions before and actually quite enjoyed it. The saddles were so comfortable it was like being in an armchair.

  I clicked to Cody, easing him forwards. We followed Brady and the other pair into the nearest fenced area. It was a huge space, at least twice the size of any dressage arena I’d ever ridden in. The surface was just the loose dirt of the desert we were in, but the horses seemed more than happy with it. I thought back to my old dressage horse, Bubbles. She would have freaked out at this and the thought of getting her perfect hooves dirty, let alone having no soft rubber to bounce on.

  Brady called both of us women into the middle whilst he watched Dave jog around for a while. He shouted out instructions every couple of minutes, altering his legs and hands here and there.

  I sat for around half an hour, watching Dave and Sheena strut their stuff. They weren’t bad in all honesty, just a little rusty.

  “Right. Your turn.”

  I looked down to see amusement written all over his face. He patted Cody’s neck, his dark eyes twinkling. I pursed my lips and nudged Cody forwards.

  Walk, jog, lope—none of it a problem. He was like a rocking horse, so easy to sit and relax to. I was grinning from ear to ear by the time we’d had our few minutes of fame. Brady remained silent for the entire duration, his arms folded over his broad chest.

  I walked Cody over to him on a loose rein, saying nothing as I halted in front of him.

  He pulled his lips into a thin line. “Not bad. You’re typically English though. Relax on the reins, remember his bit has a long shank which puts pressure on his poll. When he gives, you need to loosen the contact. This isn’t dressage. You’re also rather rigid through your back, you’re sitting on the saddle rather than in it. You need to loosen your shoulders, your hips and your legs. Let him carry you rather than you trying to carry him. He is well established in self-carriage if you give him the chance to show it.”

  I balked at this words, trying to ignore the stab in my chest. “Anything else?”

  “Talk to him more, use your voice. Our horses are all voice trained. Use your weight through your seat to move him instead of your legs. If you’re in tune with him, you will be able to think what you want and he’ll react to it as you picture it in your head. Don’t be a passenger or an instructor, be a partner.”

  Receiving constructive criticism had never been a problem for me. To ride at Prix St George’s level dressage, it came with the territory. However, this guy was talking to me in a way which irked me. Whilst his advice made perfect sense to me, the way he said it got under my skin.

  I let out a deep breath, determined to take it on board and try and improve. “Ok. Care to watch and advise?”

  “Not today. It’s time to get out on the trail. At least I know you can manage him.”

  He left me there, mouth agape, as he fetched his own horse from the barn. He never even looked back.

  Chapter Four

  The day itself was pleasant. The walking ride the wranglers took us out on was fascinating as they filled us in on details of the Sonoran desert we were trekking through. For a scarce landscape, it was mesmerizing and beautiful in its own right. Seeing greenery dotted around the yellow ground was odd. Hundreds of cacti flourished out here along with various other plants. It was amazing how nature could adapt to thrive in such a harsh environment.

  We were in the saddle for a good two hours before we returned for lunch. After then, we had a stint in the tennis courts which was great fun. Getting along with some of the other guests was liberating. Being away from home was the peace I needed, the part where I could just be me again.

  I headed back to my chalet for a shower before tea. We were having a cookout this evening. The plan was to ride out to a specific area they used for occasions like this. I was curious and excited.

  I dressed myself, pulling my boots on as my phone rang.

  “Hi, Mum.”

  “Hey, Soph. How you doing?”

  “Yeah, ok. It’s great out here. I don’t want to come home.”

  She laughed before turning serious. “Ben’s been asking where you’ve gone.”

  My jovial mood popped in an instant. Thinking of my ex fiancé at the moment was not something I wanted to do. “And?”

  “Don’t snap at me, Soph. Please. I’m kind of stuck in the middle here.”

  I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “Sorry. I just…I’ve been here barely two days and he’s already trying to ruin it. I don’t want to even think about him, let alone hear his name.”

  “I know, sweetie. I’m sorry, but I just thought you should know. You were doing so good at patching things up…I just wish you could have carried on.”

  I put my head in my hands. Having this conversation right now was not something I wanted, or needed. “I need some time, Mum. That’s all this is. I have to really think about my life from here on out. If he really wants to make this work then he’ll respect that and wait for me.”

  “Yes, ok. I understand. You know what he’s like though once he gets onto something. He’s worse than a terrier on a trouser leg.”

  I managed half a smile at her words but I was done with this for now. “I have to go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow or something.”

  She said her goodbyes before hanging up and leaving me in the same messy quandary I’d almost forgotten over the past two days. Thankfully, as I stepped out of my door, Dave and Sheena were walking past and invited me to walk down to the barn with them. It was just the welcome distraction I needed.

  ***

  The cookout area was amazing. Nestled in between two hills and surrou
nded by dozens of plants, shrubs and trees, it was peaceful and serene. The sounds of insects and native wildlife echoed around us making the outdoor experience even more surreal. As night began to settle, John informed us we would be riding back in the dark with lanterns. The horses we had ridden this morning were the horses we would have for the length of our stay. I felt comforted by this. I liked Cody. He was relaxing, safe, sturdy, and picked his way across the loose ground with ease. His responsiveness and obedience were second to none.

  I smiled, enthralled by the idea of the night time ride. How amazing would this be? As the group laughed and chatted amongst themselves, I wandered off a few hundred yards, leaning on the fence rail marking the perimeter of the area. I stared up into the encroaching darkness, watching the stars glisten against their soft background. A cool breeze drifted through, gliding across my hot skin. I closed my eyes and revelled in the moment.

  “Enjoying yourself?”

  I sighed as I heard Brady’s voice next to me. The wooden fence beneath me moved as he leaned against it.

  I opened my eyes, turning to face him. “Yes, thank you.”

  “Quite a different sight for you city folk, hey?”

  That term he kept using was really starting to grate on me. “And what makes you so sure I’m city folk?”

  He smiled. “Your perfect hair, manicured nails, designer clothes. That mobile never leaves your side either. Your whole demeanour just says it.”

  I snorted and shook my head. “Wow. You got it all figured out, huh?”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “I see a lot of people come and go. It’s not very often I’m wrong. Just be careful. Don’t come out here thinking you can master the Wild West, wanting to go home with stories of John Wayne and roping cattle like a pro.”

  I arched my eyebrows in surprise. “Be careful? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Are you threatening me?”

  He chuckled and shook his head. “Take it how you like. Just don’t make my job any harder than it needs to be, ok? That’s all I ask.”

  I glared at him for all I was worth. “Wow. You’re a real asshole, you know that? Don’t worry, message received, loud and clear.”

  I pushed off from the fence, turning to walk back to the friendlier people.

  “I didn’t mean—”

  “Don’t worry. I got it.”

  The burn from his stare seared through my back the entire walk back to the group.

  ***

  The ride back to the ranch was incredible. I held Cody back so we were bringing up the rear. It allowed me the gift of closing my eyes as he meandered along, following the others. I imagined what it must have been like years ago, in the real Wild West. Immersing myself in the reality of proper cowboys and galloping horses across the desert, I almost convinced myself I heard the clinking of spurs and the neighing of desperate horses, giving their all to their riders.

  The lanterns the wranglers held as they rode made it all the more real as the five lights struggled to illuminate the whole group of us. All the horses plodded on, not bothered in the slightest by the dark or their footing.

  By the time we got back to the ranch, I was more relaxed than I ever had been. This was what I missed about horses—their ability to calm me and take my mind to places I couldn’t take myself. It brought me to tears as the sheer joy and relief of it flooded through me, soothing me into a new sense of being.

  We reached the barn, all the others handing their horses over to the wranglers. The youngest wrangler, Greg, came over to take Cody from me.

  “Can I sort him out? Please?” I asked.

  He smiled, his freckled face creasing. “Please don’t feel like you have to, Miss Woods. We don’t expect our guests to tend to the horses.”

  “I want to.” I blushed and shuffled my feet. “I’ve kinda missed it.”

  He nodded. “I understand, Miss. His stall is the last on the left.”

  I thanked him before leading Cody to his stable. He stood stock still, his face expressionless as I tended to him. He was barely warm from the sedate walk. I started taking his boots off, the loud Velcro ripping through the air.

  “What are you doing?”

  I sighed as Brady’s voice haunted me again. I stood up, facing him. “Sorting my horse out.”

  “I can see that. It’s also not your job. I told Greg to tend to him.”

  “Well, I told Greg I wanted to do it. Ok?”

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “No. It’s not ok. You’re not insured to be in here. There’s a reason we don’t let the guests in here with the horses. I would have thought you would possess the common sense to realise that.”

  I stared at him in disbelief. I couldn’t believe he was insulting my intelligence on top of everything else. “What is your problem with me?”

  “I’m fed up with your type thinking they can walk in here and do as they please all the time. Just because you earn more than us, you think that gives you the right to saunter around like you own the place. Well, reality check, sweetheart, you don’t. Out here, one wrong move can mean your life. A bit of respect wouldn’t go amiss.”

  As much as I didn’t want to, I couldn’t help the tears welling up. I’d had a rollercoaster of emotions in a short few hours and to come crashing down from a high like this was about as much as my fragile mind could handle right now.

  He shook his head. “And there you go, turning on the waterworks. Just finish up and leave. The horses are not your concern.”

  I nodded, turning my attention back to Cody’s boots. I heard Brady’s footsteps stomping down the concrete. A burst of hot air ruffled my hair followed by a gentle nuzzle. I smiled, the tears flowing as the sweet gelding tried his best to cheer me up.

  “I think he likes you.”

  I jumped, turning around to see Greg peering over the stable door. I wiped at my wet face, faking a smile. “I presume you mean Cody?”

  His blue eyes bore sympathy as he nodded. “Don’t take it to heart. He can be a bit harsh at times but he does mean well.”

  “Sure.”

  “Here.” He passed me an apple for Cody. “That horse has shown no one any affection in the five years I’ve been here. You should be jumping for the stars right now.”

  I giggled and thanked him, offering Cody his treat. He sniffed it before nibbling at it with caution. Taking a sample bite, he satisfied himself it was safe before chomping through the entire thing.

  “G’night, Miss.”

  I said my goodnights before walking back to my room, alone. Right now, I felt my only friend in this world was that horse.

  Chapter Five

  At breakfast the next morning, we were briefed by John on the day’s itinerary. The plan was to go rock climbing this morning and a trail ride this afternoon. After everyone had eaten and departed outside to the trucks, I hung back, waiting to speak with John.

  “Hey, John. Can I have a word please?”

  He turned around from his plate of food, cramming the last few bits in as he nodded to me.

  “Um, I don’t think I can do the rock climbing yet. With my arm and all.”

  He slapped a hand to his head. “I totally forgot. I’m so sorry.” He swallowed the last of his breakfast. “Yeah, no problem. Hang back and entertain yourself. We’ll be back around one.”

  I thanked him and headed outside. I’d spotted a small ledge about a quarter of a mile out, on the outer edge of the ranch perimeter. It looked over the desert and would be a perfect place to just sit and be.

  I sat down on the rough ground, my legs dangling over the edge. I gazed out over the scenery, straining my eyes to see as far as possible. It was incredible out here, another world. How would I ever accept being back at home after this? Living in the middle of a city in a small but ridiculously expensive house, neighbours staring at me through every window, no grass or open landscapes. It was so claustrophobic, but this, this was just heaven on earth.

  My phone chimed at me, breaking my peace and my blissful though
ts.

  Hey. I hope you’re having a good time. Tell Uncle John I said hi. I’m so sorry about all of this mess, Soph. I hope we can sort through things when you get back. If you need anything, please just say. Love Z xxx

  I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. Despite our situation of not really speaking, she was still there for me. Sorting things out with Zoe was something I desperately wanted to do but it would have to wait until I sorted me and Ben out. She knew that was the bigger issue for me at the moment.

  With my fair skin, it didn’t take long for the radiating heat to bother me. I could feel my skin burning with every second I spent out here. It was my own fault for not fetching my sun cream. I jumped up, brushing the dust off my jeans as I made my way back to my room.

  A screech from above caught my attention. I looked up, shielding my eyes with my hands. I was treated to the fabulous sight of a huge bird flying overhead. Its silhouette against the bright blue sky was just magnificent. I couldn’t help the grin spreading across my face as I watched it gliding through the air, looking for its next meal.

  For some unknown reason, I decided it would be a clever idea to continue walking as I stared upwards, entranced by the magnificent bird of prey. As predicted, I tripped over my own feet after a few seconds. On instinct, my arms outstretched, ready to break my fall. My entire weight fell on my left arm, my fragile wrist taking the brunt of the fall. The shooting pain drilled through me before I’d even fully come to a stop. I rolled on my back, biting back tears as I swore at myself for being so damn stupid. I grasped my throbbing forearm and stumbled to my feet.

  Shit.

  With John and the majority of the staff out rock climbing with the others, there was hardly anyone around. I knew Brady was around somewhere but I’d be damned before I went to him for help. I folded my arms over my chest and cradled my aching wrist.

  I walked past the barn, heading towards my chalet. The only thing on my mind was hoping and praying I hadn’t broken it again.