Free Betting on Grace by Nicole Edwards Page B

together gleefully while
Gracie turned and said something to Astro Boy. The huge black-and-white paint
knelt on one knee, bowing toward the little girl, which earned him a loud
squeal in return.
    “I haven’t done this in a long time,” Gracie
continued, keeping her eye on Maddie as she started walking Astro Boy several
feet one way and then turning him back, all while she rubbed her hand down his
big nose, using the bridle to keep his head close to hers.
    Lane glanced around the arena, noticing that there
were barrels set up — one on each end. And that could only mean…
    “Holy shit,” Grant whispered, speaking Lane’s thoughts
aloud. “Is she…?”
    “Looks like it.”
    And from that moment forward, Lane was rendered
speechless, unable to do anything other than watch Gracie. And just like her
name, the woman was pure grace as she led her horse around while still talking
to the little girl.
    “Are you ready?” Gracie asked.
    “Hell yeah,” Lane mumbled softly.
    “Yes!” Maddie screamed.
    Lane watched as Gracie walked Astro Boy several more
feet, speaking to him tenderly as she did, readjusting the way she was holding
his reins. When she began jogging, kicking up the dirt beneath her boots, Lane
knew he wasn’t going to be able to look away. And then she was running, Astro
Boy trotting beside her, clearly doing just as she instructed.
    Son of a…
    Gracie mounted the horse while Astro Boy was at a full
gallop, her much shorter legs keeping up until she propelled herself up and
into the saddle. She directed Astro Boy with the ease of a cowgirl who knew her
horse better than she knew herself. Lane was pretty sure his jaw was on the
floor at that point.
    Likely for the little girl’s benefit, Gracie had Astro
Boy perform a few basic stunts, a couple of high steps, a dizzying turn.
Nothing significant, but clearly enough to impress Maddie. Then everything
seemed to morph into slow motion as Gracie called out to Astro Boy, a signal
for him to run.
    And he did.
    Riding full out, Gracie sprinted Astro Boy around the
arena a couple of times, the little girl clapping louder and louder until the
man was joining in as well. The energy in the place jumped several levels, and
Lane realized he was holding his breath.
    Then Gracie kicked it up another notch, running Astro
Boy from one end to the other, circling the barrel, both horse and rider
leaning into the turn perfectly timed. Lane observed in awe as Gracie raced
that horse, Astro Boy doing exactly as Gracie wanted, until finally, they were
coming to an abrupt stop directly in front of the little girl.
    “That was awesome!” Maddie yelled.
    “I’ll say,” Grant whispered, still standing beside
Lane. “Have you ever seen her ride like that before?”
    “No,” Lane answered. He knew she was good with horses,
but he’d never seen anything as spectacular as Gracie racing that beautiful
horse at full speed, circling those barrels as if she’d done it a million times
before. She was good enough to have gone pro.
    Which made him wonder … why hadn’t she?
     
    ■□■□■□■□
     
    By the time Astro Boy came to a stop, Gracie was
breathing hard. Leaning forward, she talked to her horse while petting his face
gently, telling him how proud she was.
    “Very impressive, Gracie,” Ben called, standing up and
leading his daughter down to the rails that lined the front of the bleachers.
    “Thank you,” she replied, encouraging Astro Boy to
move closer to the stands.
    “Where did you learn to do that?” he asked as Maddie
stood on the bottom rung and leaned over to pet Astro Boy’s head, Ben’s hand
resting on Maddie’s back, probably to keep her from leaning too far over.
    “My mother,” she told him, a sharp pang of loss
echoing in her chest.
    Her mother had taught her how to barrel race when
Gracie was little. Being that her mother had been a champion barrel racer
herself, Gracie had wanted to grow up to be just like her. She’d worked hard at
a