“This is amazing,” Gui said. “We’re going to celebrate tonight. My place.” He looked at tio. “You too, tio. Come with tia Agnes.”
He chuckled. “No, no, we’re too old for your parties, but I’ll be thinking of you.” He glanced at me again. “Good luck.”
My heart swelled. “Thanks.”
40
Tyler
Work had been shitty. I got a call from the nurse saying my father had a bad time after chemo, and now Gabi texted me saying we had to go to her brother’s place for a party.
Fuck my life. I didn’t want to go.
One, I wasn’t in the mood for parties. Two, her family was chipper and cute. I couldn’t deal with that. Not with everything else going on.
“Can’t you tell them I’m working third shift or something?” I asked her once I got to our apartment. She was almost ready, wearing a short jean skirt, a blouse with lace details that revealed too much skin, and dark blue cowboy boots. She had her long hair loose and the dark strands contrasted with her fair skin and bright blue eyes.
She was too fucking pretty for her own good.
“I can …” she said, her voice low. She disappeared into her bedroom and I could hear the opening and closing of drawers and some tapping on her cell phone, then she emerged from the room, her purse in her hands. Without looking at me, she walked to the door. “Tchau,” she said as she unlocked the door and stepped out.
Fuck.
“Wait,” I called out without really thinking about it. Shit. “Give me ten minutes to shower and change. I’m coming with you.”
The smile that sprouted on her lips … I didn’t want to think about it.
Instead, I shook my head and took a lukewarm shower—much colder than my usual scalding water. Then, I dressed in my best dark jeans and one of my not-too-crappy plaid red shirts. Last, I shoved my brown cowboy boots on. Her entire family was about horses. She was all about horses. If wearing cowboy boots more often would get me more points, great.
What the hell? What did I care about points with her family? They were none of my business. I just had to spend some time with them, pretend our relationship was real, and be done with it. I had done it a few times already. I could do it a few times more.
Though Gabi had her SUV’s keys in her hands, I insisted we go in my truck, beat up the way it was. She didn’t argue or complain, which rubbed me the wrong way. Why wasn’t she arguing or complaining?
“What is this party about anyway?” I asked as I drove us toward her brother’s place.
She smiled at me. “I went to practice with the guys today. The secretary of the polo manager saw me playing and said she wants to schedule a meeting for me with her boss to discuss the possibility of the club sponsoring an all-female team.”
I frowned. “I thought you already had a meeting with him.”
Her smile faded. “Me too. Apparently, it was erased from the system, or never entered.”
I inhaled deeply, trying to push my bad mood down. Gabi didn’t deserve it. “I’m sorry about that, but I’m glad you have a second chance.”
She glanced at me, a new shine in her pretty blue eyes. “Me too.”
I felt much better by the time we parked my truck in front of her brother’s building. Inside the elevator, I slipped my hand into hers, startling her.
“We’re pretending, remember?” I told her, but truth be told, I was telling myself that. Because even with my bad mood, even when I was a jerk to her without meaning to, she had become someone I imagined always there, a new support, a good friend.
And I couldn’t imagine her leaving.
41
Gabi
It had been a week since Brittany Morrow saw me playing with the guys, and so far, I hadn’t received word from her. I had practiced with the guys twice more since then, and even though our games always gathered a small crowd, Ms. Morrow or Mr. Helms, or anyone who mattered in the polo world, hadn't shown up again.
I tried keeping my hopes up, and I even researched local female polo players—there weren’t many.
I paced the living room, bored with being home all day. However, there weren’t a lot of places I could go. Gui and the guys were at a practice game against a team from Los Angeles, Hil and Bia and Garrett were at their classes, Hannah was working at her ranch, and no one knew about Iris—could I even consider her part of our group? I wasn’t so sure anymore.
And, as for my dear husband, he was at work too.
Seriously, once I had my green card in my hands and I still hadn’t found a team for me, I would have to find a part-time job to keep me busy.
To distract myself, I put out my workout clothes and set out for a run, but before I could leave the apartment, my phone rang.
I frowned at the unknown number. “Hello?” I answered.
“Gabriela? Hi, this is Brittany Morrow.”
My heart jolted. “Oh, hi. How is it going?”
“Good, good.” Her voice was tight, which didn’t sound too good. “Listen, I spoke with Mr. Helms, and even though I insisted he had to see you play before he made a decision, he said he’s not looking to sponsor a women’s team right now.”
My chest deflated. “Oh.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“No,” I whispered. “It’s okay.”
“Though I’m just his secretary, I think the club would benefit a lot from having a women’s team. Can you imagine what our female members would think? They would love it.” She paused. “I can’t guarantee anything, but I’m going try to change his mind. It might take time, though, so don’t hold on to this.”
“Thank you,” I said, though my heart was already broken.
“I have lots of connections in the polo world. When I have free time, I’m going to send you a list of names and phone numbers. Maybe you can find some other club that wants to sponsor a female team. Or, if you’re lucky, you’ll find one that already has a women’s team and is looking for another member.”
“That would be great.”
“It’s the least I could do. Again, I’m sorry. Good luck.”
She ended the call and I stared at my phone, as if it had just played a joke on me. Because, really? After all the hoping, screaming, and celebration? This was how it was going to end?
Running wouldn’t do it for me anymore. I had to go for a ride.
So, I switched from my workout clothes to jeans, a plaid shirt, and cowboy boots, and left the apartment. Thirty minutes later, I parked my car in the parking lot at Hannah’s ranch. Besides hers, there were seven cars here, which meant there was a class or a riding group in progress.
I stepped out of my car and took a lungful of fresh air. Nothing like the smell of the trees and the flowers and even of the horse’s stink coming from the stable to make me feel better. Soon, I would feel even better.
Jimmy was inside the stable, brushing Preta, one of Bia’s horses.
“Miss Gabi.” He smiled at me. “How are you?”
I shrugged. “I can’t complain.” Which was the truth. Things weren’t exactly going my way, but I had a loving family, good friends, food on my table, clothes to keep me warm. I tried to remember that many people would give their left hand to have things I took for granted. “But it’ll be better soon. How’s Branca doing?”
“She’s good,” he said, stepping out of Preta’s stall. “She’s been a little quiet and she gets a little spooked with certain sounds, especially when there are too many kids around. All the yelling? Yeah, she doesn’t seem to like that. But she’s still young. All she needs now is time to get used to it all.”
“Sim, that makes sense.” As if sensing we were talking about her, Branca peeked her head over her stall’s door. I smiled. “There you are.” I approached her and ran my hand over her head. I could swear she leaned into my touch. “How are you, girl? Do you like it here?”
She snorted, as if trying to tell me something, and I chuckled.
“She seems to like you,” Jimmy said. I glanced ove
r my shoulder and found him opening Minuano’s stall, a smile on his lips.
“She better since she and I will spend a lot of time together from now on.” I scratched under her chin and she shook her head, as if that tickled her. “Can I take her out for a ride, or should I wait until the next riding group is back, or something?”
“No need to wait,” Jimmy said, now brushing Minuano’s coat. “Do you want help tackling her?”
I chuckled. “Do I look like I need help?”
“No, but I try to be a gentleman, Miss Gabriela.”
I grabbed the saddle and reins from the tack room, and quickly saddled up my beautiful mare. Five minutes later, I was on top of her and we rode into one of the trails along the property.
I heard some low screeching noise. Branca’s ear prickled and her steps slowed.
I ran a hand over her neck. “It’s okay, girl. It’s probably just a squirrel.”
Not ten feet from us, a small squirrel jumped from a low branch to another.
Branca neighed and reared up. I tightened my grip on the reins and was able not to fall, but then Branca went crazy. Amused or curious, the squirrel stayed on the branch, watching my mare while she threw her hind legs second after second.
“Whoa, Branca, calm down.” I tried reaching for her again, to try to touch her and calm her down, but the moment I let go of the reins, I slipped. “Shh, girl, it’s all right.”
Like a mini tornado, Branca turned around without direction, kicking her legs high. Then, with a high pitch, she tripped over a low stump and fell to the side. I yelped as I braced myself and rolled to the side before she could fall on me.
Instantly, Branca tried getting up, still neighing like a crazy animal, but her leg gave and she fell on the ground again.
“Shhh,” I said, approaching her, arms out. “You’re fine, girl. I’m here.” I splayed my hands over her neck and pushed her down against the ground. “You’re fine,” I repeated, hoping I could calm her.
She only resisted me for a minute or so, but she kept twitching. While running my hands over her soft coat, I examined her. Her left front fetlock looked twisted the wrong way. My stomach sank. Oh, she was hurt. That was why she couldn’t get up when she tried a few moments ago.
Careful with my movements, I fished my cell phone from my pocket and called Hannah.
“Gabi, hi,” she answered.
“You’re out with a group, right?”
“Yes, why?”
“I’m here. At your ranch. I took Branca for a ride, but she got spooked by a damn squirrel and I think she twisted her ankle.”
“Oh no,” she said, her voice sorrowful. “I can call my vet right now. If he can’t come, I know he’ll send someone right away. Okay?”
“Sim.”
“And tell me where you are. While I call my vet, I’ll drop this group off and then I’m coming to meet you.”
I told her which trail I had taken and how far I thought I was, then hung up.
Branca’s breathing was fast and her eyes were wide. She kept staring at the trees as if waiting for the squirrel to come jump on her. Damn squirrel. If he showed up again, I would hunt him down and skin him alive.
While waiting for Hannah, Branca tried moving again. As much as I wished I could have held her down, I couldn’t control a thousand pound animal by myself. Her breathing accelerated and her muscles straining, she pushed on her hind legs and tried standing. Only to let out a cry and fall on her knees again.
“It’s fine, girl,” I repeated, running my hands over her neck and flanks. “You’ll be fine.”
She was probably in terrible pain and I could do nothing to help her. My new, pretty, young horse, and she already had gotten injured. I only prayed it wasn’t as bad as it looked.
I didn’t know how long it took Hannah to arrive, but I was thankful she was mindful. She hopped down from Argus at least thirty yards back and tied his reins to a low branch before approaching us slowly.
“How’s she doing?” Hannah asked, her voice low and gentle. Her hands showing in front of her, she knelt beside me. Branca twitched. “It’s okay, girl. I’m not gonna hurt you.” Still, she scooted about three feet back, to ease Branca’s apprehension.
I looked back at Hannah, my vision a little hazy from all the unshed tears in my eyes. “She tried getting up again and couldn’t.”
Her sympathetic look almost broke me. “My vet is the best. He’ll be able to get her up and running in no time. You’ll see.”
I nodded. “So you called him?”
“Yes, and he was in the middle of a surgery. His secretary told me his assistant would be coming over, and when Dr. Bohm was free, he would head over.”
Dr. Bohm … why was that name familiar?
Before I could mull it over, Jimmy and a horse appeared on the trail, followed by a beat-up truck I knew well. My throat closed.
Branca neighed and jerked with the sound of approaching hooves and wheels.
“Shhh.” I pressed her to the ground. Hannah moved closer and helped me by holding her quarter down.
Jimmy halted, lifting his closed fist, and two seconds later, Tyler killed the engine of his truck.
Tyler hopped out of his truck. He wore an unbuttoned white lab coat and he held something similar to a doctor’s bag. With sure but slow steps, he moved toward us. His eyes met mine and the compassion and the intensity in them nearly killed me.
He knelt beside my mare’s head and dropped his bag behind him. He showed off his empty hands. “Hey, Branca. What happened here, pretty girl?” His gaze slid over her.
“There.” I pointed to her twisted fetlock.
He locked eyes with me. “What happened?”
I wiped some of my unshed tears. “Uma porcaria dum esquilo!” I hissed.
Calm as ever, Tyler reached over and grabbed my hand. “In English, Gabi.”
“Sorry …” I took a long breath. “A squirrel jumped from one tree to the other, right above her head. She freaked out. Like … I’ve never seen a horse go this nuts in my life.” And I had practically been born and raised among horses. “She started spinning, until she tripped on that stump.” I gestured toward the broken tree stump.
Tyler looked over me. “You’re hurt.”
“What?”
He cupped my elbow. “You haven’t seen this?”
I gawked at my scrapped and bleeding elbow. “No.”
He frowned, looking all over me. “Did she fall on you?”
“No, no. I rolled off right before we hit the ground.”
He twisted my torso around. “Your shirt is ripped here.” He pulled on the fabric, just on the back of my shoulder, and sucked in a deep breath. “It’s purple.” He pressed two fingers around the wound. “Does it hurt?”
I swallowed a cry. “Yes.” Now that he had pointed out my injuries, they started throbbing. Nevertheless, I slapped his hands away from me. “Enough about me. Take a look at her!”
His frown deepened, but he let go of me and turned back to my mare.
“I think we’ll need a trailer to bring her out,” Hannah whispered. “So, I’m going to go back with Jimmy so we can leave the horses in the stable, then I’m going to come back with the trailer. Is that okay?”
I nodded and barely heard as Hannah walked away, hopped on her horse, and left with Jimmy. My eyes and my mind were on Tyler as he reached for a syringe inside his bag and filled it with some clear liquid.
“Sedative?”
“Not exactly. More like something to help her relax before she decides she won’t let us touch her anymore and ends up hurting herself more.” He pointed to two places along her neck—right under her chin and near her shoulder. “Hold here and here, please. And press her down tight. She might fight me once the needle goes in.” I nodded. He lifted the syringe. “Ready?” I nodded again. He placed a hand in the middle of her neck and injected Branca with the medicine.
She jerked once, twice, three times. Then, it was like she decided it was better to
just lay back and relax.
“That was quick.”
“It’s almost instant,” Tyler said, putting the used syringe into a disposable bag. He sat back, his eyes focused, and I watched him and his hands as he slid them over my mare’s body, trying to find any other injury.
“So?” I asked after a few minutes.
He clicked his tongue. “She has a few scrapes from falling on the ground, nothing much, but the serious issue here is her fetlock. We need to see how bad it is.”
“You mean take an x-ray?” I asked, and he nodded. “Do you have the x-ray machine with you?”
“It’s in the truck with the ultrasound machine.” He splayed his hand over Branca’s neck and leaned down on her. “You’ll be fine, okay, girl? I promise.” He kissed her neck.
My heart swelled. A tear escaped, but I wiped it away. I wiped them all before more could fall.
He turned to me and stared into my eyes. “She’ll be fine.”
New tears sprung to my eyes. “You can’t promise that.”
“Well, then I can promise that I’ll do everything I can and more to make her well again.”
I nodded.
A tear rolled down my cheek.
I gasped when Tyler’s reached over and wiped the tear from my face. His hand lingered against my cheek, his eyes boring holes into mine.
Something vibrated. “Shit,” he hissed as he reached for his phone before it set my mare off. His hand left my face, and I almost leaned forward, not wanting the connection to break.
Then, he answered the phone.
42
Tyler
“Hi, Dr. Bohm,” I answered, careful to keep my voice low.
“Are you at Miss Hannah’s ranch?” he asked, his tone all business-like.
“Yes.”
“How’s the horse?”
“I don’t know for sure yet, sir. We’re going to move the mare in a few, and I’ll take a few x-rays. Once I know if it’s just a sprain or if it’s worse, I’ll let you know.”
Breaking Down (The Breaking Series Book 4) Page 22