Read Online The Light in the Wound by Christine Brae - Free Book Online

time. I no longer had to dig in my heels for my two point for him to clear the jumps. He was so sensitive to my movements that it was almost as if he was an extension of my legs. My form had improved over the years, both on the flats and on the hurdles. I knew in my heart that we were on to winning a few more ribbons the following week. It was 9:00 P.M. on a Saturday night and most of the stalls were empty. These times on Pepe, riding like the wind and daring myself to clear the various heights on a gallop, was the game I loved to play in the open arena when no one was there but me. A few breathless minutes later, I had parked Pepe by the corner to give him a quick rest before doing a final lap around the field. To my surprise, Leigh and Alex entered the barn and trudged through the dirt to where I was.
    “Hey guys, what are you doing here?” I asked happily.
    “We just finished a game of racquetball, and Betty’s meeting me here,” Leigh replied. “Alex wanted to come along to say hi.”
    “Hey, Alex. How’ve you been?” He was so attractive; he had actually been my back up plan until things got serious with Jesse. Alex reached out to run his hand along Pepe’s mane as I leaned back on the saddle and removed my boots from the stirrups.
    “Isabel, you look so good on that horse. Which events are you doing next week? I would love to watch you compete,” he gushed.
    A few seconds later, Pepe was startled by a rustling in the corner and bucked up as Jesse emerged with a big smile on his face. Leigh and Alex walked toward him and they exchanged cordial handshakes, making small talk about the World Series, the Indians and the Braves.
    I was ecstatic that Jesse was there. I swung my right leg over Pepe’s back and quickly dismounted from the horse. The boys looked over to me as my boots hit the ground with a thud. Jesse started to walk toward me as the boys quickly mumbled their goodbyes. He didn’t look happy and I realized that he was staring at my clothes. I’m not sure whether the smoke that emanated from his gray eyes represented heat or anger or both.
    I was wearing black britches and a white long sleeved shirt. Because I was small and easily swallowed by the tails of long button down shirts such as this, I normally hiked them up and tied them in a knot across my waistline. My shoulder-length hair was twisted up in a bun underneath my helmet. I hurriedly slid Pepe’s reins over his head and led him toward his stall. Jesse followed me without a word, and the walk to the barn seemed like forever in the silence that hung heavily between us. All that was heard was the clacking of Pepe’s hooves on the cement sidewalk. As soon as I hooked Pepe’s bridle to the cross tie right outside his stall, Jesse rushed right to me, grabbed my hand and pulled me through the barn frantically looking left and right, searching for something. He found the tack room and yanked me into the cold and dark space. He quickly shut the door and pressed me against it, both of his palms flat on the wood, his nose at my level, as he breathed me in.
    “Issy, do you look like that every time you come here? Your shirt lifts up with every little move you make.”
    Before I could even answer him, his lips were on me, crushing me, bruising me.
    “You’re going to leave me someday, Issy, I know it,” he mumbled onto my lips.
    “What are you talking about? Why are you being like this?” I could never be afraid of Jesse. I loved him for his intensity.
    “If you drive me this crazy, can you imagine what you do to the others?” He panted.
    “Others who? Jess?”
    I was breathless and could hardly get a word out. Jesse was always forceful and passionate, but this time it felt like he was blaming me for something.
    He tugged at the button of my britches, tore at the zipper and pulled my pants down as far down as they could go. He then stepped in between my legs and wrapped them around his waist.
    “Don’t take your boots off,” he said as he