Chapter 2: Meeting Mako

“Your friend seems a little tense,” Aurelie said as she turned to leave the grandstands. “Hope the rain stops for you.”

“Thanks,” Jace waved, then disappeared into the same room Tobin had.

The rain had slowed to a faint sprinkle as Aurelie retrieved the blue cooler. She tossed it quickly onto her shoulder and paused. Her sleeve smelled like Tobin’s woodland cologne.

The sound of applause snapped Aurelie to attention and she ran back to the main showring. Braxton was already walking back with Jason, leading the gray Chester and giving Jason an overview of his ride.

“Oh, there she is,” Jason huffed. “You missed my ride.”

Aurelie tried to catch her breath as she placed the cooler over the horse and took him from Braxton’s hands, “I got held up. I ran into the band…literally.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “You ran into the band? You met Select Hospitality?”

Braxon raised his eyebrows.

“I decided to take a short cut through the grandstands and ran straight into Tobin Moray.”

“No way!” Braxton laughed. “You just met the lead guitarist of one of the top bands, and you are acting like it was nothing.”

“He was a bit of a jerk,” mumbled Aurelie.

Jason laughed, and when they reached their assigned barn, he told Anna who moaned in dismay at the thought she missed her chance to meet “the sexiest man on earth.”

“Besides you, Jason,” Anna added.

Aurelie rolled her eyes and began rubbing Chester down with a dry towel.

“Anna, are you ready to try that project horse?” Braxton came around the corner. “They are bringing him over now.”

“Oh, yes,” Anna smiled. “I’m just getting my boots.”

She looked firmly over to Aurelie and leaned in close. “You must tell me everything when I come back.”

“He smells like pine trees,” Aurelie admitted, surprised she responded so quickly.

Anna spun around, her brown hair swirling dramatically. “What? How do you know that… did you smell him?”

Aurelie kindly held out her arm and Anna grasped it hungerly, pressing her nose to Aurelie’s shirt.

“You don’t lie!” she exclaimed.

“Anna!” Braxton snapped.

Aurelie went back to her work, making sure the horse was comfortable and taken care of. She soon moved on to cleaning a saddle, letting the recent events filter through her tired mind. After a few moments, she realized running into the lead guitarist was the closest she had ever been to any band. The red-haired equestrian had little time or money to spend on going to concerts as her family didn’t have the funds to spare. As it was, Aurelie had to clean stalls to work off lessons.

A whiff of pine reached her nose, and she remembered the feeling of staring into those deep hazel eyes.

“Tobin,” Aurelie found herself smiling, the vision of his scruffy beard, surprised eyes and muscled chest floated before her eyes. She shook her head. “What am I doing!”

Anna burst around the corner, seeing Aurelie, she stormed up to her and sighed loudly.

“Braxton wants you to come try that horse,” Anne huffed. “I’m not thrilled with it, so I’m not buying it, but Braxton wants to see what you make of it.”

“He’s always looking for a project,” Aurelie reasoned as she put down the saddle cleaner and stood up.

“That’s all this horse is good for,” Jason joined them abruptly. “I’m surprised Braxton would put you on something like that.”

Anna responded with a sharp glance at her boyfriend.

Aurelie looked ahead and saw the trainer standing beside a brilliant chestnut horse. It wasn’t the biggest horse there, but the gelding had a beautiful outline.

“Thanks for coming,” Braxton called. “This is Archimedes, barn name is Mako.”

“He’s gorgeous,” Aurelie commented, running her hand over the sleek neck.

Braxton handed her the reins, “He’s a bit nervous, and he needs support as he is blind in one eye, but I think he could be something.”

“He’s half blind!” exclaimed Jason.

Aurelie walked around the horse to see the horse’s other eye was cloudy and scarred.

“Mako is safe, he just needs the right rider.” The horse’s owner said as he came around the horse’s head, “He’s a good horse.”

“Feel like giving him a go?” Braxton looked at Aurelie hopefully.

With a nod, Aurelie bent her left knee and hopped at the trainer lifted her up. Swinging a leg over, she settled easily into the saddle and took a breath. She could feel Mako’s breathing between her legs and rubbed his neck for reassurance.

“You’re a good boy,” she whispered to the alert, curved ears.

The small group took their positions by the warm up ring fence. Aurelie could feel their eyes watching her as she put the horse through his paces. She found out quickly that he would follow her commands willingly, but just needed her to ask confidently. He was spooky on his one side, and Aurelie understood it was only because of his blindness. Once Mako realized Aurelie wasn’t going to reprimand him each time he was unsure or scared, he responded bravely.

Anna pointed excitedly as Aurelie passed their position, causing Aurelie to turn in her saddle and look.

The lead guitarist of Select Hospitality was watching her ride.

He was leaning on the fence in front of the grandstands, still dressed in his black jeans and shirt. Tobin ran his hand through his hair and looked at his watch. Jace joined him briefly, watching for a few moments before heading back inside.

Mako spooked and tossed his head. Aurelie took a deep breath and pushed the horse forward firmly but gently. Mako responded beautifully and Aurelie aimed him towards two low jumps along the rail. The horse took them confidently. Braxton and Anna were clapping while Jason stood with his arms crossed. Aurelie glanced towards the grandstands.

Tobin stopped leaning on the railing, turned and walked away.

Aurelie rode up to the small group and watched the trainer shake hands with the owner.

“You looked wonderful!” Anna smiled as Aurelie dismounted. “He went much better for you than he did for me.”

“He’s a good boy, right, Mako?” Aurelie gave the horse a pat on his neck.

“Can you believe Tobin Moray was watching you ride?” Anna sighed. “I hope he didn’t see me ride that horse earlier!”

Anna continued, “Well, Jason said he has a horse in mind for me, so looks like we will be riding together once again! See you later!”

Aurelie returned Anna’s wave, watching the couple get into Jason’s sports car.

Braxton came over and gave his new purchase a hefty pat on the neck.

“Well, what do you think of our new addition?” He smiled.

Aurelie grinned back. “I like he’s lovely. He has a good heart.”

“Good. You’ll be riding him once we get back home,” the trainer picked up his truck keys. “Let’s see how he loads. I want to get out of here before that concert starts.”

The other grooms of Braxton’s stable were already wrapping the other horses' legs, preparing them for trailering back to their home barn. Aurelie took charge of Mako and in a short time, had him ready with the others.

As Mako walked carefully unto the trailer beside Aurelie, she could hear Select Hospitality beginning the first song for the evening performance.

“Let’s get out of here,” Braxton cheered as he started the truck and began the drive home. Aurelie watched the stadium fade into the distance.