Get Back On

Chapter 8

With Storm being so tall, Jake helped a lot. We scrubbed away the dirt and I could see Jake eyeing his scars. "Do you know how he got them?" I froze. "No." Storm stood tense the whole time Jake was brushing him. After we made sure he was spotless I put his sheet back on and redid his polos. I kissed his nose and we walked out the stall. I slid his door shut and me threw the brush back into the box.

"I want to show you something." I nodded. He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the ring in the back. There was this cute little bay who was around 14.2 hands. There was this guy who was around 6'0 with dirty blonde hair. "He bought a cutting horse who won't cut." And that's when I noticed the calf in the corner and saw that the horse was trembling.

The boy threw the rope down and Stormed into our direction. "I don't get it. I spend 1,000 on that damn horse and she won't listen to shit." I stepped forward. "Maybe I can help." He glared at me. "What is some pretty girl who is scared to get her hands dirty gonna do to a fucked up horse?" Jake pushed me behind him and stood protectively infront of me.

"Watch it Levi. She just wants to help and believe me when I say she knows what she is doing. But if you dare disrespect her or do anything else I swear it won't be pretty for you." Levi looked at me and nodded. I stepped out from behind Jake who just smiled and I rolled my eyes.

I opened the gate and entered the ring with the trembling horse. She had all her tack on and the calf was just chilling in the corner. "Hey girl, you're ok." I took the rope off of the horn and went to the middle of the ring. I threw the rope at her hind quarters and she shot into a gallop. After 4 or 5 laps around the ring she started giving the signs to join up. I turned my back toward her and waited.

Hot breathe hit my neck and I knew she had join up. I rubbed her neck and walked in a few circles to make sure she followed me. She followed me around for a few minutes and then I rubbed her head. I walked over to the calf and she stopped a few feet away from him. The calf had a halter on so I was able to lead him toward her.

She jumped back and snorted. I let go of the calf and sent her around the ring once more. She was ready to join up after about 2 laps. I brought her back to the calf and she sniffed him. He licked her nose and she squealed. I laughed and rubbed her neck. But my job wasn't done yet.

I put the rope over the horn and adjusted the stirrups to my length. I grabbed the reins with my left hand and pulled myself up. My knee popped and cracked from me not taking my medication but I ignored it. I kept my reins loose and kicked her into a trot. We trotted around the ring while the calf was in the middle.

We cantered around the ring for a while. I slowed her down and directed her toward the calf. I kept my hands low and let her do all the work. After cutting the calf I pulled her to a stop and slowly dismounted. When I landed I winced, my knee taking the impact. Jake ran over and took me in his arms. "Are you ok?"

I jerked out of his grip. "I'm fine." I took the mare's reins and placed them in Levi's hand. "Your horse is fine. You can't get pissed at her like that when she is scared and you screaming and cussing at her doesn't help the situation." I limped out of the ring.

"Paige wait up please." Jake's hand wrapped around my waist and I was pulled into him. I flipped around and my hands were on his chest. "Why did you make me do that Jake?" A smirked grew in his face. "If you didn't help that horse she was gonna either be sold or put down. You saved her life." I rolled my eyes. "My knee hurts can you please just let me go."

He let me go and I stormed off toward the western barn and to Shadows stall where I knew Bing would be with Parker and Lou. They were standing there watching Parker brush his horse. "I want to go home." They both turned to me. "Alright I'll take you home." I nodded at Bing and limped out the stall.

Bing picked me up bridal style and toted me to his jeep. He set me in the passenger seat and jogged over to the drivers. "How bad?" I grunted. "An 8 at least." "Shit." He stepped on the gas and drove home as fast as he could.

Once we reached the house he picked me up and ran inside. He set me on the couch and went and got me an ice pack from the freezer. He came back and placed it on my leg. He covered me up with a blanket and grabbed pillows and a blanket for him too. "How about we just spend the day watching movies." I yawned. "Hell yes." And that's how we spent the day.

It was around 9 at night when I woke up to two voices. "Thanks for taking care of Storm. Paige doesn't understand when to stop pushing herself." Of course Bing would say that. "She is an amazing girl. Trust me I knew how stubborn she is, she never backs down from a fight." I mentally rolled my eyes at Jake's response.

"She might be up if you want to see her. But to be warned she is even more pissed when her knee is hurting." I heard foot steps and felt someone sit on the edge of the couch. "Paige." I opened my eyes to see Jake in sweats and a hoodie. "What are you doing here?" He smirked. "Can't I come by and see my favorite person."

I rolled my eyes and stretched but winced when I went to move my knee. "You never told me how bad off your knee was. I just thought it was a minor injury." I looked at him and his bright blues eyes went dark. "It wasn't something you needed to know. I don't need a charity case." He glared. "I wouldn't have let you treat that horse if I had known." I glared right back. "That's the fucking point you moron. I can still do things but you act like I'm fucking dying but I'm not. I'm fine even though my knee is fucked up I can still do almost everything that I could 7 or 8 months ago."

His blue eyes softened and he sighed. "What happened?" I stiffened. "I cant tell you Jake. I will eventually but just not now." He nodded and and went to get up. I grabbed his wrist and he looked down at me. "I can't believe I'm saying this but can you stay until I go to sleep." He smirked and nodded.

I sat up and he sat down putting his feet back on the coffee table. I put my pillow in his lap and laid down. I snuggled into his abs and he chuckled. He started to run his fingers through my hair. "Goodnight princess." And as I was falling asleep I knew I was also falling for that cowboy.

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I woke up the next morning to Bing smirking over me. I groaned and stretched. My knee still ached but it didn't hurt as bad. "Get up sleepy head, I let you sleep through first period. I got up and noticed Jake was gone. "He fell asleep when you did. But I came down for a drink around 2 and woke him up. Figured you wouldn't want him to see what you look like in the mornings."

He snickered at my expression and went into the kitchen. I rolled my eyes and limped up the stairs and into my room. I grabbed black skinny jeans and a gray sweater with a white scarf. I jumped in the shower and quickly took one. I got out, got dressed, and put my hair in a high ballerina bun. I pulled on my plain black knee brace and my white Uggs.

I grabbed my north face and my book bag and made my way downstairs. I went into the kitchen where Bing and Lou were sitting at the counter drinking coffee. Lou beamed when she saw me. "You look absolutely gorgeous baby girl." I smiled and went and hugged her. She pulled me into a hug and kissed my forehead.

Bing snickered. "Yea I wonder who she is dressing up for." I glared at him and smacked the back of his head. "I was just saying you and Jake looked pretty cozy last night." Lou busted out laughing but when I looked at her she smiled. "It's gonna happen sooner or later Sam. You're just going to have to accept that and so is he." I glared at the both of them while they laughed their asses off.

"Come on Sammy let's get you to school." Bing grabbed his keys and we walked to his jeep that was parked outside. I slowly got into the passenger seat while he got into the drivers. The whole way to the school we rapped along to the songs.

He pulled up infront of the huge school and I opened the door. "Sam I know you don't want to believe it but Jake feels something for you. And I know you feel something for him. Maybe you're the one that an change his ways." I smiled and nodded. "I love you Bing." He smiled and kissed my cheek. "I love you too baby girl."

(Lou Pictured)