A Cowgirl's Dream

by Edith MacKenzie

  “I thought I might find you here.” Mitch’s quiet voice broke through her thoughts.

  “Yeah. Farewells, and all that. So, what are you doing here?” she asked stiffly.

  “I probably deserve that. Frankie, I know you think I’m the world’s biggest jerk, but I just wanted to come and say goodbye.” Mitch thrust his hands into his jean pockets. “Look, Frankie, maybe I was a jerk for how I handled it, but I still think it was the right thing to do.” He raised his chin defiantly.

  “Right, for who?” demanded Frankie harshly, her brow wrinkled in protest. “So, you decide that it is best and then you ghost me? You didn’t even have the balls to tell me why. I felt like such an idiot. You were the first guy that I liked, and you left me feeling like I did something wrong.”

  Mitch’s lips flattened into a thin line as he absorbed her words. He took a step forward as if to take Frankie’s hand in his before deciding better and raking his hand through his hair in frustration.

  “I know I messed up. And honestly, I don’t blame you for being angry. I wish I could go back and handle it better, but I can’t. I was scared because I really liked you and knew that you were so out of my league. Maybe I ran away before you could,” he finished softly, realization dawning on him.

  Mac butted Frankie’s hand in protest of her having stopped scratching him. She resumed her administrations, pondering Mitch’s admission. Surprise filled her as she realized she no longer felt angry or hurt, just a lingering sadness.

  She took another steadying sip of beer. “It’s funny, Mitch. I’ve only been away for just under two months, and I feel nothing like that nervous girl. Gosh, I was such a klutz around you.”

  “I thought it was cute.” He smiled hopefully.

  “You were a jerk. And for the record, maybe not the world’s biggest jerk, but definitely Australia’s.” She gave a sad little smile before she continued, this time much gentler. “But you were probably right. One day, when this ride I’m on settles down, I want kids. But weren’t you still getting ahead of yourself after just one kiss?”

  Mitch stared at her intently. “You really didn’t know, did you?” he asked softly. “Just how much I liked you?”

  A slow ache filled her chest as thoughts flashed through her mind of what could have been. “I think I was too inexperienced to think the guy I had a crush on could want something serious with me.”

  He took her chin gently in his hand, tipping her head up to look him in the eye. “One day, Frankie I hope you realize just how special you are.” He kissed her gently on the forehead. “Do you think we can be friends again?”

  “I think we are already on our way.”

  “Good,” he said, his expression breaking into a relieved smile. “Maybe I should leave before I can stuff it up.”

  “That’s a good idea. Why don’t you do that?”

  Mitch gave her a mock salute. “Yes, captain.” He turned to leave.

  “Oh, and Mitch? Maybe next time, don’t presume a girl just wants you for your kid-making abilities,” she suggested. “Who knows, maybe you have more to offer.” She shrugged with a sly smile.

  In every fork-in-the-road moment in life, there is a point where you are in the dead center of that decision. You could turn back, and maybe that would be safer, or you can take a deep breath, hold your nose, and jump. Luckily, Frankie wasn’t jumping alone.

  The barn was eerily quiet, all traces of sawdust removed in readiness for the new tenants to move in. No familiar bay head begging for treats or restless movements of new horses settling in. It was unnerving how quickly any evidence of them having ever been here had been erased. It seemed unfair, as if such a critical time should somehow have imprinted itself into the very fabric of the building.

  “It’s hot out there.” Deb stepped in from the bright sunlight. “I’m glad. I’d like to remember this place with the sun shining on my back and the sky clear and blue.”

  “It’s azure.”

  “Frankie, we’ve had this discussion before. Blue is blue.” Deb looked at her friend curiously. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like I want to stay here, not moving, forever. I’m scared and sad. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited too, and I know this is a great opportunity. But what if I’m not good enough? What if winning that one race was all the grace I will get, and now I am reaching further than I was meant to? And to try for more is to just fall crashing down? I feel like I can’t breathe past all the doubt,” Frankie blurted out in a rush.

  “Frankie, there are a lot of people who believe in you. But that means nothing if you don’t bloody believe in yourself.” The honk of a car horn sounded outside. Deb gave her hand a sympathetic squeeze. “That’s the taxi. I’ll get our bags loaded.”

  Frankie took one last breath as if the lingering fragrances of days past could banish the doubts from her head. She brushed her hand gently along the top of Mac’s stall door and found some stray tail hairs he must have rubbed out curing himself of an itch. She gently tugged them free, deciding as she looked down that she hadn’t come this far and said goodbye to so much to run scared now. Placing the hairs in her pocket, she farewelled her past and turned, determinedly walking toward her future.

  Chapter 11

  The day had been arduous and emotionally draining. Frankie wasn’t even sure if such an extended period spent traveling could even be called a day. It sure as heck felt longer. The Cabreras had been welcoming on their arrival with a small feast prepared as the guests of honor were welcomed back into the bosom of the family.

  Her friends had crashed long ago, their jet lag finally catching up with them. But Frankie couldn’t slip into sleep’s welcoming embrace. She found her feet leading her down past the row of stalls, past the dozing Delila, until she stopped in front of the colt. He cocked an ear at her arrival but otherwise ignored her presence, preferring instead to return to his slumber.

  Frankie’s phone buzzed, causing the colt to open his eyes and glare at the interruption. She looked down to find Luciano’s name displayed on the screen.

  “Hello.” She was surprised at how drained her voice sounded.

  “Ola, Frankie. I am sorry it is late, but I have just finished my rides. Welcome back.” Luciano’s voice was hard to hear over the cheering crowd in the background.

  “It’s, um, good to be back.” She strained to hear. “How did you do tonight?”

  “I rode only the one for time.” She could practically hear his shrug through the phone. “Still enough to be in the checks.”

  Frankie tried in vain to stifle a yawn and failed spectacularly. “I’m sorry for yawning in your ear like that. That’s awesome work tonight.” Another yawn overcame her.

  “Frankie, Querida, go to sleep.”

  She chuckled in agreement, perplexed by what querida meant. “I think I might have to. Thanks for thinking of me.”

  “Querida—” There it was again! “I have been thinking about you since I first met you. Maybe tonight you will dream about me?”

  “Honestly, tonight I’m too tired to even dream about sleeping.” She yawned again for dramatic effect. “Good night, Luc.”

  “Goodnight, Frankie.” His voice wrapped around her as intimately as if he held her. “I will be home soon.”

  Frankie shivered in anticipation of his words as she hung up the phone.

  The following morning after a hearty breakfast at the main house, the girls settled down to hash out their business plan and designate roles and duties. It was quickly agreed that Frankie’s primary focus was to be competing and training the young stock as they came through. She would serve as the brand’s public face, an example of just what the Affinity Ranch Stud horses could achieve. Gabi was to continue selecting and matching bloodlines and looking after the business side, as well as travel with Frankie as her manager. Deb and Megan were jointly allocated the role of stud managers and keeping horses in work.

  Gabi clapped her hands in satisfaction. “Now that’s all decided, let’s get
to work.”

  As Frankie readied Delila in the barn, Gabi bustled over, her phone in hand. “Frankie, when you’ve finished with Delila, we need to sit down and work out a travel schedule for you. I’ve also made contact with Bryce Dougson, you remember him? He talked to you about sponsorship.”

  “I remember him, he seemed nice.” Frankie knelt to put her horse’s boots on.

  “He’s nice, but he’s also the CEO of the largest western wear company in the States. They want us to come in next week with our travel plans for the next twelve months to go over with them.” Gabi scrolled through her emails as she spoke.

  Frankie rubbed the back of her neck before standing, feeling slightly too hot as the reality hit her. It was all or nothing now. “You are the next thing on my to-do list, then. Are you coming to watch?”

  “I can’t this morning. There’s so much to do. It’s exciting to actually start getting our name out on the circuit.” Gabi bounced a little on her feet in anticipation.

  Frankie fiddled with the straps on her mare’s bridle. “Gabi, what does querida mean?”

  The Brazilian looked at her, a teasing twinkle in her eyes. “Let me guess where, or should I say whom, you heard that from. Cute bull rider?”

  “Yeah. Now can you please tell me what it means?” Frankie pleaded, embarrassed.

  “It means sweetheart. Luciano called you his sweetheart,” Gabi said, the last in a sing-song voice.

  Frankie bit her lower lip. “I’m not sure what to do with that information.”

  “Well, I don’t think Luciano has a habit of going around calling every girl he meets querida if that says anything.” Gabi raised her eyebrows speculatively as she looked at her. “Frankie, he likes you. Now what are you going to do about that?”

  Frankie untied Delila. “I’m going to go train my horse.”

  “Coward,” Gabi called after her.

  “Really?” Frankie muttered under her breath, watching the big Ford Black Ops truck pull up.

  After her conversation with Gabi, it was hard not to feel under siege to now have Luciano appear in the flesh. Both he and Joao climbed out of the truck as Senhor Eduardo came to greet them, clasping the men’s hands firmly. Luciano flashed a smile her way as if instinctively knowing she was staring. Pulling her eyes away, she decided the best course of action was to ignore their arrival. She returned her attention to Delila and the exercise she had set up.

  But she did take pause when she saw Senhor Eduardo go down to catch the colt from his paddock and bring him up to where the men stood. The colt excitedly pranced on the lead, giving little half rears and snorts at the unexpected freedom from his yard. Gabi walked over to the arena, watching the commotion as well.

  “What’s going on, Gabi?” She raised her eyebrows as she nodded in the colt’s direction.

  “Papai has been talking about selling the colt, maybe he is showing him to Joao and Luciano. He always says he can’t be trusted. Maybe he thinks one of those cowboys can manage him. It’s a shame. If someone could get him to work with them, not fight against them, he could be a champion,” Gabi said sadly.

  A cold ball of dread settled in Frankie’s stomach at the thought of not seeing the colt again. She walked Delila toward the gate, nodding her thanks as Gabi opened it for her.

  It all happened so fast. From the corner of her eye, she saw the already fractious colt pull back abruptly, dragging the lead rope from Senhor Eduardo’s hands. Before anyone could react, the colt spun and bucked, kicking a hind leg aimed at the men, before bolting down the drive. Without hesitation, Frankie urged her mare after the colt, flying past the men climbing into Luciano’s truck.

  The colt had made it onto the dirt road before he suddenly realized he was no longer in familiar territory. His mad bolt slowed, and he continued to snort and buck, his eyes wide. Frankie pulled Delila up and slid off her.

  “Hey, big boy,” she said soothingly, holding her hand out as she slowly walked toward him. The colt released a loud snort, his white flecked sides heaving. “Easy.” Frankie took it as a good sign the colt had stopped his restless movement to watch her. From behind, she was dimly aware that Luciano had pulled his truck up at the end of the drive and was motioning for the other men to wait. The colt continued to observe her steady advance, his muscles trembling.

  “I swear to you, big duffer, if you let me catch you, I’ll give you all the apples I can get my hands on. You’ll have apples for days,” she crooned. He lowered his head to sniff her outstretched hand, nostrils flaring. “Almost there,” she whispered as she reached her other hand slowly for the lead rope. The colt let out a long sigh as if to release all the pent-up nerves that had coursed through his body during his madcap escape as her hand closed around the lead. He dropped his head and let her pat his lathered neck. “Okay, mate, let’s head for home.”

  As she led the colt and Delila past the men, she saw Luciano turn to Senhor Eduardo. “That girl has a gift, maybe she is the one who is meant to ride him. Maybe they are each other’s destiny.”

  She was sure Senhor Eduardo gave Luciano an incredulous look. “I thought you liked the girl? Maybe I was wrong.”

  “It’s because I like her you should listen. You have eyes. I don’t think he will hurt her.”

  Frankie couldn’t help but smile. A smile that slipped from her face at the words that followed.

  “While I own him, I can’t risk her getting hurt.”

  The rest of Senhor Eduardo’s words were lost on the wind as she led the horses away, feeling Luciano’s gaze following her.

  Frankie shuddered against the sudden chill that beset her, frustrated that no one understood that all he needed was a chance, heck they both deserved the chance.

  Frankie’s friends waited in the barn, a gathering of nervous energy for her return. Gabi took Delila, and Megan helped unsaddle her. Frankie walked the colt to the wash bay and began to hose off his sweat-lathered coat. The veins still bulged beneath his hide.

  “Hey, Deb, can you go and see if we have any apples and grab a few for me if we do?” she said, then whispered to the colt. “A deal is a deal.” After scraping the excess water off, she led him to his stall. “I think you have had quite enough adventures for one day.” She took his halter off and gave him a final pat, closing the stall door behind her.

  Slowly, she fed him the apples Deb managed to rustle up. The colt, suddenly alert, stopped mid-chew. She turned to see Luciano striding down the aisleway.

  “That was quite the display,” he said by way of greeting.

  “Nah. Everyone thinks he’s as mad as a cut snake. But I think it’s just an act.” Frankie laughed at Luciano’s baffled expression.

  “I am not familiar with this saying.”

  “You know, not playing with a full deck? A few stubbies short of a six-pack? One sandwich short of a picnic?” she explained. “One wave short of a shipwreck? Loco?”

  Enlightenment dawned over his features. “Yes, we think he is crazy.”

  “Well, he’s not. If someone just gave me a chance, I could prove it.” Passion rang clearly in her voice. “But no one will listen.”

  “I believe you could do it.”

  His words stopped Frankie mid-spiel. “What?”

  “I have asked Senhor Eduardo if I may buy him. If he agrees, I will give you your chance. On one condition—if I think it is too dangerous, that is the end,” he warned, looking at Frankie for her response.

  “No worries, she’ll be right.”

  Luciano leaned forward, his eyes serious. “I mean it, Querida.”

  “Fine,” huffed Frankie, crossing her arms crankily.

  He smiled smugly. “You are very cute mad. Now shall we go to the house and join the others?”

  It was only then Frankie realized her friends had deserted her. Geeze, thanks guys. Exasperated, she let Luciano guide her from the barn.

  As usual, Sra Cabrera’s food was delectable, the rich aromas rising off the dishes causing Frankie’s stomach to rumble. Sh
e wasn’t aware Sra Cabrera was planning a cooked lunch. This was so much better than the sandwich she had been planning on having.

  Luciano’s hand, warm on her back, gently guided her in front of him to the table. Deb gave Frankie a teasing smile when she noticed Luciano’s attentive demeanor. Frankie selected her food and quickly took a seat between Gabi and Megan, leaving Luciano to sit across the table. He raised questioning eyebrows at her sudden abandonment before grinning in acceptance.

  “Frankie, we still need to talk about the schedule,” Gabi said, interrupting the connection between the two of them.

  “I’m free as soon as I finish eating,” Frankie muttered around a mouthful of food.

  “Maybe I need to make my appointment with you now before you are too busy,” Luciano said.

  Frankie gulped down her food, choking slightly. “Um, what appointment?”

  “I would like you to come and see my ranch,” he said.

  “Is ranch a euphemism?” Deb whispered.

  “I hope so,” Megan murmured, clearly enjoying herself. “He can show me his ranch any time he wants.” She pretended to fan herself.

  “I’m sitting right here,” Frankie muttered under her breath to her friends.

  “I wonder if it is true, everything is bigger in Texas?” Deb curiously speculated.

  “Guys!” pleaded Frankie.

  “Leave her alone,” said Gabi taking pity on Frankie. “She still needs to answer him, and yes everything is bigger in Texas.”