Chapter 3: Bottles of the Finest

Aurelie had little time to think of Select Hospitality’s guitarist after they reached Braxhill Farm. Once Mako had settled in, Aurelie began working with the nervous horse daily. She would catch herself smiling, however, whenever she heard Select Hospitality’s hit song, “Soul to Soul” being played on the radio.

“Just forget about it,” Aurelie would laugh, but Tobin’s eyes seemed burned into her mind.

Two weeks of solid hard work later, after giving Aurelie a lesson on Mako, the trainer felt inspired.

“This horse has got the training,” Braxton patted Mako’s silky neck and looked up at Aurelie who sat tired and sweaty in the saddle. “I don’t know why they wanted to sell him. What do you think about riding him at a show for me this weekend?”

“Uh,” Aurelie began. “I can’t afford–”

“I’ll pay the entry, and it’s not a big show. I just want to see how he goes in the ring.”

Aurelie could only nod and be thankful for her good luck.

As Aurelie untacked Mako, Anna came dancing into the barn and up the aisle.

“Guess what I just heard on the radio? A certain band is in town recording for a new album!” She smiled widely, “Come on… guess which band!”

Jason rolled his eyes and disappeared into the tack room. Anna looked at her expectantly. A vision of hazel eyes appeared in Aurelie’s mind.

“Select Hospitality?” Aurelie raised her eyebrows.

“Yes!” Anna grabbed Aurelie’s hands. “They chose to go with Main Street Studio. Can you believe it?”

She moved off and continued to chat with other interested barnmates. Aurelie rubbed Mako’s head and whispered, “We have other things to think about right now, right? Who has time to worry about stuff like that?”

It seemed to be a true statement as on the day of the show, it soon became obvious Mako needed special care when in the show ring. Aurelie warmed Mako up, noticing he was not as confident in the indoor arena compared to the outdoor one at the last show. She found it hard to keep his attention as the chestnut horse spooked in the corners.

“At least he’s jumping well,” she said as Braxton gave her last minute instructions.

“Just get him over the jumps,” Braxton demanded.

The announcer’s voice rang loud and clear, “Rider 408, Aurelie Hawkins riding Archimedes.”

Aurelie barely pressed her legs against Mako and he responded instantly. The first jump came and Mako left the ground early. Ignoring his rider’s commands, the horse began increasing his speed until he resembled an Olympic show jumper. As they rounded the far turn, Mako spooked, then took the jump closest to him.

“Mako!” Aurelie gasped.

A bell rang. They were off course and had to leave the ring.

Braxton was not happy and let Aurelie know immediately.

“I have no words,” he began. “That round was absolute garbage.”

“I am still figuring him out,” Aurelie muttered sadly.

In frustration, Braxton went through every mistake made during the course, analyzing it like it was a scientific formula. Aurelie fought back tears when she finally dismounted. She hid her face behind Mako’s neck as they made their way back to the stalls, and as she put Mako back in his stall, Aurelie heard steps behind her.

“Perhaps he was just nervous, that’s normal,” said a familiar voice.

“What did I tell you though, Anna?” Jason’s voice broke the silence. “That horse can’t do it. It could have been you out there, making a fool of yourself.”

Anna and Jason spotted Aurelie in Mako’s stall. Anna’s face crumpled in concern.

“Are you okay, Aurie?” Anna whispered sympathetically. “I wasn’t expecting Mako to go like that.”

Aurelie just shook her head, “I should have ridden him better.”

Anna stepped closer and offered, “Here, go get a drink. I’ll take care of Mako for you. Go on.”

Jason stared at his girlfriend incredulously and shook his head, but Aurelie took Anna up on her offer.

Grabbing two water bottles from the cooler, and started walking. She passed the barns, vet station and spectator welcome center. Aurelie was just about to sit down on a bench when she saw Braxton come around a corner.

“Oh, not right now,” she whispered and jogged away. Seeing a door open to a storage area, she went inside. The smell of fresh hay and the sound of silence was a refreshing welcome. Aurelie gave a deep sigh and moved to sit down on a bale of hay. Suddenly a shadow cast over her shoulder as another person burst through the door behind her.

Aurelie spun around and stared in surprise.

Two familiar hazel eyes stared back. A lock of black hair fell in his eyes as he took a step back

“What are you doing in here?” Tobin Moray demanded.

“I’m riding a horse in the show,” Aurelie snapped back. “What are you doing here? Does your band need hay?”

Tobin hesitated briefly. He crossed his arms and raised his well-groomed brows slowly.

“I know who you are. You were that girl that ran into me at that last performance… you didn’t even apologize!”

Aurelie frowned, “Yes… I did.”

The guitarist frowned back, then reluctantly shrugged. “Maybe you did.”

He pulled a small bottle of amber fluid from the inside of his dark leather jacket and flopped down on a bay of hay.

“I’ll share this with you if you don’t tell anyone I’m in here.”

Aurelie smiled. “I have my own drinks, but thanks.”

She held up her water bottles and sat down on a bale next to Tobin.

Tobin raised his hand. “Ah, bottles of the finest. Here’s to cold drinks and unlocked hay barns.”

With a laugh, Aurelie raised her water and took a drink.

“How did you end up hiding out in the hay barn at a horse show?”

“I needed a break,” Tobin pointed towards the city. “It seems the only restaurant that I can go to and no else does is just down the road.”

“But… why are you here?”

He rested his hazel eyes on Aurelie’s blue ones. “I like horses.”

For a moment their eyes rested comfortably on each other, then Tobin shrugged abruptly.

“Crazy fans recognized me and I had to get out of there.”

They sat for several minutes, enveloped in the comfortable silence.

Aurelie looked at her watch.

Tobin tipped the last of his drink into his mouth. “Have somewhere to go?”

“Not really… I’m on a break,” Aurelie mumbled.

The musician laughed, putting the empty bottle back into his jacket and taking out another one. “That sounds suspicious. Come on, your time to share.”

And share she did. Aurelie talked about her poor round, Mako, and her fellow barn mates. Tobin continued to drink. He seemed to relax a bit, sharing stories about his band mates and traveling. At one point, he mentioned he had even ridden in his youth.

“You can ride?” Aurelie sat up, intrigued.

“I can ride,” Tobin raised his bottle.

Time passed, and it was the ringing of Aurelie’s cell phone that broke the conversation. She quickly silenced the phone.

“Welp,” Tobin stood up and stumbled forward. “Time for me to go.”

“Whoa, whoa…” Aurelie reached for Tobin’s unstable frame. “Are you okay? Did someone drive you?”

Tobin pulled back, insulted, “No, I drive myself!”

He shook his head, paused, then looked miserably into Aurelie’s eyes.

“Can you drive?” Tobin mumbled.