by Amy Vastine
Holly, Jon and the boys planned to be there to support Violet but weren’t due for another hour. Ruby had to remind herself that Violet would have the best cheering section no matter what. If Boone and Levi blew her off, the rest of them would simply have to be louder and prouder.
Jesse and Violet returned. Ruby noticed the disappointment on Violet’s face when no one else was waiting for them. Jesse offered to help her saddle Sassy up and get her looking pretty.
Violet didn’t look too shabby herself. She had picked out a purple shirt for her show outfit, and it was nice to see her in something other than head-to-toe black. Not that she didn’t still have on plenty of her favorite color. Her riding pants, boots and helmet were all black, but the shirt was what made her stand out today.
“You okay?” Jesse asked Ruby once they got Sassy ready.
Violet was hand-feeding the horse some hay, occupying them both for the moment.
“I love how much she loves horses.”
“Sassy loves her back. She brings out the best in Violet. They’re a good team.”
Hearing that tore Ruby in two. There were times she feared taking Violet away from Nashville had done more harm than good. Seeing her with Sassy completely washed that worry away. At the same time, knowing Violet was bonding with this horse and her coach made Ruby question if she was doing the right thing by making plans to leave Tennessee altogether.
She checked her phone. No reply from Levi and only twenty minutes until the competition began. If Levi didn’t show and Violet ended up crushed, Ruby wouldn’t have to question her decision to start over in Seattle.
“He’ll show,” Jesse said.
“I don’t think he will.”
“He promised me,” Jesse said surely.
“Levi promised you?” Ruby scrunched her nose in confusion.
“Levi? Boone. I thought we were talking about Boone.”
Laughter bubbled up and out of her. “I thought you were conspiring with my ex-husband behind my back.”
“Never,” Jesse assured her.
All of a sudden, Violet’s entire face lit up. “You made it!”
Ruby couldn’t believe Levi had actually showed. She turned around to find not Levi but Boone approaching.
“I said I’d be here. Did you doubt me?”
“I was worried you got mobbed by all your fans in the parking lot,” Violet teased. “You could have been stuck there signing autographs all day.”
“Ha-ha,” he said, giving Sassy a pat. “Everyone looks good. You ready to ride?”
“Do you doubt me?” Violet tossed back at him.
“Not for a second, kid. You’re going to do great.”
The confidence boost Boone gave her was priceless. Ruby wanted to throw her arms around him and kiss that smug face. It didn’t hurt that he looked even more handsome than usual. He had on a dark blue plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled and pushed up to his elbows. His sunglasses and cowboy hat would ideally give him some anonymity today.
Jesse suggested they head over to the ring for warm-ups. The closer it got to competition time, the more nervous Ruby felt. Levi still hadn’t answered her text and was nowhere to be seen. Holly and family arrived, and thankfully no requests for interviews were made this time.
There were a dozen riders in Violet’s class. With everyone in the ring, Violet was doing a good job of not getting caught in the more crowded areas.
Boone sat down next to Ruby in the bleachers. He grabbed her hand. “You seem more anxious than she is. Take a deep breath.”
Ruby stared down at their conjoined hands. His touch might have helped her forget her worries for Violet but did nothing to stop her heart from racing. She didn’t dare glance to her right to find out how far Holly’s jaw had dropped.
“She grew up going to rodeo shows every weekend. My ex is a bull rider. Violet wanted to do barrel racing so she could be a part of the shows her dad was in. She took some beginner riding lessons in Nashville but thought it was boring when all she did was ride a horse around in a circle.”
“That sounds like Violet.”
“She wanted to learn to barrel race. Period. She didn’t understand that she had to start at the beginning, not the end. But Helping Hooves changed everything for her. Jesse talked her into Western horsemanship and she was hooked. I want her to do well so she sticks with it.”
“She’s having fun out there,” Holly noted. “Don’t worry so much.”
At least Violet didn’t seem to be searching the stands for Levi. She’d even smiled the last time she passed by her cheering squad.
“I really want to thank you all for coming,” Ruby said. “It means a lot to her.”
“Any word from Levi?” Holly asked.
Ruby simply shook her head. Thankfully Boone’s presence seemed to be enough for Violet. Ruby wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
“Did he say he was coming?” Boone asked.
“He said that he would try, but that I need to remember he has a life.”
Holly groaned. “He’s such a jerk.”
“Mommy said a bad word!” her six-year-old accused her.
“You should not say it to your brothers or your friends, Trevor, but Mommy can say it about people who are mean to Ms. Ruby and Violet.”
Boone let go of Ruby’s hand and scratched the back of his splotchy red neck. “It’s not easy to be the odd man out at something like this.”
“Are you seriously defending him?” Holly asked.
“I’m not defending anyone. I’m just saying if I was him and I knew I had to come join a group of people who obviously think I’m a bad guy, I wouldn’t be racing over here, either.”
That sounded exactly like he was defending Levi. Ruby wanted to argue that Violet was more important than Levi’s need to feel comfortable. Maybe if he didn’t act like such a jerk, he wouldn’t feel bad being around Ruby and her friends.
The steward called for the end of warm-ups. The competition was ready to begin. Jesse went down to have one more chat with Violet, and Ruby pulled out her phone to give Levi one more chance.
Competition is starting. We’re in the stands.
He wouldn’t answer because he wasn’t here. He wasn’t coming, and Ruby couldn’t find it in her heart to understand why he would let Violet down like this.
Violet rode Sassy like a champ. She had the loudest cheering section and ended up winning second place. Holly got to high-five Boone and would probably never wash her hand again. Ruby was so proud of Violet not only for placing but also for being a good sport. Violet had a history of thinking that if she wasn’t first, she was last and whoever placed ahead of her was a cheat. Today, Ruby watched her clap for the blue ribbon winner with a smile on her face.
“Oh my gosh, let me see that ribbon!” Ruby said when they got done taking the five hundred pictures she needed to memorialize the event properly.
“It’s not that big a deal, Mom.” There was that familiar attitude.
“Yes, it is,” Boone countered. “A lot of kids don’t place at their first competitions. Some don’t place at their second, third or fourth. This is a very big deal, kid. Be proud.”
“It’s not like I won a Grammy.”
“Well, no one expects you to be as awesome as me. I’m extraordinary. You’re above average. Still something to be proud of.”
Violet’s smile melted Ruby’s heart. Boone had a way with her that not many others did.
They headed back to the trailer to untack Sassy and get her loaded up. Holly’s boys were getting tired, and Jon carried little Henry to the car while Holly and the two older boys hung back to say goodbye.
“So now that we’re friends, Boone, any chance you’d change your mind about that interview?”
Ruby wanted to tackle her best fri
end right then and there. She threatened to ruin the first good day Ruby’d had in a really long time. But Boone’s response surprised her.
“I’ll make you a deal,” he said, not appearing the least bit ruffled by her question. “I’ll do an interview, but I trust only Ruby to do it.”
“What?” Holly and Ruby exclaimed at the same time.
“I don’t know anything about conducting interviews,” Ruby said.
“She doesn’t like country music. She’s not even a fan,” Holly said, clearly hoping that would sway him.
“That’s why she’s perfect for the job. She’s not part of the media, and she doesn’t really know anything about me or my past. Those are my conditions. Take it or leave it.”
“I write an advice column for the paper. I am a member of the press,” Ruby said, hoping that would deter him.
“Fine,” Holly conceded. “She can do it.”
Ruby didn’t like this idea one bit. “Wait, don’t I get a say in this?”
“Sure,” Boone said. “If you don’t want to do it, then there’s no interview.”
“She’ll do it,” Holly said. She wouldn’t let Ruby say anything. “You’ll do it.”
She wasn’t going to do it, but there was no reason to start a fight in the middle of a horse show. Holly left believing she had secured an exclusive interview with Boone for the Gazette.
Violet and Jesse loaded Sassy into the trailer. Boone promised to be right back and ran to his car. The first question Ruby would ask him if they did do this interview was why he had to look so good in those jeans.
Boone returned with a huge gift bag overflowing with rainbow-colored tissue paper. He handed the bag to Violet.
“Don’t say I didn’t think you were going to win something. I came prepared for a celebration.”
Violet dug inside the bag and pulled out a picture frame. She frowned at Boone, who was already chuckling.
“What? You don’t like it?” he said through his laughter.
Violet held up the frame so Ruby could see the picture it held. It was an eight-by-ten head shot of Boone signed to Violet with all his love. Jesse and Ruby couldn’t help but laugh, as well.
“There’d better be something else in this bag,” Violet threatened with a scowl.
“What more could you possibly want?” Boone asked before cracking up again.
Violet fought a smile and shook her head. She could act mad all she wanted, but Ruby knew she thought it was just as funny as they did.
In the car on the way home, Ruby felt like she’d better get one thing out of the way before Violet went to her room and shut down all communication for the night.
“I’m sorry your dad didn’t make it.”
Violet shrugged and stared out the window. “No biggie. I want him to come next time when I win first place. Second place is nothing.”
Ruby hated that she was discounting what an accomplishment today was because Levi hadn’t been there to tell her second place was phenomenal.
“I don’t think it’s nothing. Neither did the Davises or Jesse or Boone.”
Violet was holding the framed picture of Boone’s face along with her ribbon. “Yeah, but we can’t really trust Boone’s judgment. The man thinks his autograph is magical.”
Given the way Violet was smiling down at it, maybe it was.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MONDAY MORNING, BOONE walked down to the arena after eating some breakfast. Faith and girls a few years older than Violet were leading Winston the horse and a little boy with braces on his legs around to different hoops. The little boy would throw a ball through and move on to the next.
Jesse had told him to meet him here at ten, and it was a quarter to. Boone stood behind the fence and watched the therapy session. The boy’s dad cheered him on as they returned to the mounting ramp.
Father and son high-fived, and Boone’s chest tightened. He didn’t have enough of that kind of memories with Emmy. Sure, he’d gone to some of her horse shows and watched her do her riding lessons here and there. But his music had kept him away so much in the beginning, and his drinking ruined the times he was home later on.
“Look who’s ready to go,” Jesse said, coming up from behind.
“I figured I would get out here early so Dean couldn’t intercept me this time.”
Jesse leaned against the fence. “But you were hanging out in the studio last week, right?”
“I’ve listened to Sawyer in the studio and offered a couple suggestions. I have not been in there doing any of my own stuff.” It was safer that way. Sawyer’s emotions didn’t overwhelm Boone.
“Have you tried playing for yourself yet?”
Boone’s guitar was still in its case. He hadn’t even touched it since he hid it in one of the storage compartments in the Airstream.
“I’ve thought about it but haven’t mustered up the courage yet.”
“Why do you need courage to play music if it’s something that you think relaxes you?”
“Music is like therapy. It might feel like a huge release after you do it, but you have to psych yourself up for the pain first.”
Jesse nodded. “Okay, I get it. So it makes you feel, and feelings are something you’ve been trying to avoid.”
“I really hate feeling.”
“Not all feelings have to be bad,” Jesse argued. “How did you feel the other day when Violet got second place?”
“I was happy for her. It was nice to spend the day doing something so normal, but it’s the good times like Saturday that make the bad that much worse.”
Jesse gave him his full attention. “Why is that?”
“I came back here that night and was alone. My daughter won’t answer my calls or texts. The only people who get in touch with me are people who work for me—like my agent—or who want something from me—like Dean.”
“Spending the day with friends, people who care about one another and support each other, reminded you of how that’s missing in your life.” Jesse summarized it nicely.
Being with Ruby and Violet made Boone feel good. Too good. Late at night, thoughts of Ruby and those green eyes did battle with his desire for a drink to see which one could keep him awake.
“And being drunk lets me forget I feel lonely. I can wake up in the morning feeling sick instead of sad.” Being honest about the alcohol was easier to admit than his feelings for Ruby.
“Is that how you feel this morning?”
Boone shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t know how I feel. I guess I’m excited to work with Willow today.” And by the possibility of seeing Ruby.
“Having a purpose definitely helps. Yesterday was probably tough if you spent the whole day alone.”
Boone had spent nearly the whole day in bed. He figured staying under the covers kept him out of the nearest bar or Valu-Save’s liquor aisle. It also stopped him from making a fool of himself and showing up on Ruby’s doorstep, asking for some of her time. Even though some of her time was all he could think about lately.
“You two going to stand around all morning, or are we going to teach Willow how to do her job?” Violet stood a few feet away, cross-armed and impatient.
She made Boone smile. Hanging out with Violet was another plus for today. She gave him a hard time, but he knew she respected him no matter what her smart mouth said. Being around her made him feel like a dad even if he wasn’t hers.
“You’re the one who’s late,” he said to her. “We’ve been waiting forever.”
“I’m not late.” She checked her phone. “Jesse said ten.”
Jesse let her off the hook. “He’s teasing you.”
“You’re such a bully,” she told Boone. “Do you always pick on innocent little kids?”
“When I see one, I’ll let you k
now.” He pulled on her ponytail as he walked past her to the barn. “Come on, kid. Let’s get Willow.”
Willow was in a mood today. She would let Boone lead her around, but teaching her to stop was a whole different story.
“The idea is to use the arena corners to help teach her when we want her to stop,” Jesse explained to Violet. “We want her to feel like the wall at the corner is closing in front of her. Just before she walks into that trap, Boone needs to turn so he’s facing Willow’s shoulder.”
He was trying, but instead of stopping, she was rearing up and backing away.
“I don’t think Willow likes having the walls closing in on her,” Boone said, giving the horse a scratch to calm her down. He could relate to not enjoying that feeling.
“Horses are a lot like us—they’re emotional animals,” Jesse explained to Violet. “They also have different personalities, like we do. Willow is much more stubborn than, say, Sassy.”
“She makes Sassy seem like the most easygoing horse on the planet,” Violet said.
“We have to pay attention to her feelings and to our own, as well,” Jesse said. “We can’t let our anger or frustration take over when we’re training her. She’ll lose respect for us.”
This was beginning to feel suspiciously like a social work lesson. Boone got Willow calmed down and led her over to where they were standing.
“It’s kind of like the people in our lives. Lose your cool, lose your friends,” Boone said.
Jesse grinned. “Exactly.”
Violet sighed. “Oh my gosh, now you’re both counseling me?”
“He needs the lesson just as much—if not more—than you,” Jesse replied with a chuckle. “You two are both too good at covering up your real feelings. You use humor and sarcasm to avoid the tough stuff. But you still feel it. And when it finally comes to the surface, it usually isn’t very pretty.”
Boone couldn’t argue with that. “So what’s the answer, Mr. Social Worker?”
“It would help you both if you were more aware of your feelings. If you tackle them before they become unmanageable, you’re less likely to do or say things that push people away.”