Read Online Used (Unlovable, #1) (Unlovable Series) by Lynetta Halat - Free Book Online Page B

do love it, but that never stopped me and Greer from rigging up a barrel between some trees and trying to stay on for eight seconds while the other one pulled and yanked on the ropes. For the record, I generally stayed on, and Greer did not.”
    The laugh I hoped to elicit from him still shocks me because it’s unguarded and genuine, and I’m ecstatic like I just won a huge prize. “I can only imagine. So … you and Greer? Just friends?”
    Now I’m the one who is uncomfortable. I shift in my saddle a bit and try to be as honest as possible. “We were a little more than friends for a while. He wants that back. But no matter my decision, he’ll always be my friend.”
    “Sounds like you have a tough choice ahead of you.”
    “That I do.”
    After a few minutes, the trail loops around to take us back to the barn. We take the rest at a light canter. When it opens up to a field, Indy and I scoot past Ransom and Knight. When I look back, Knight is nudging Indy’s hindquarters with his nose. Indy gives an indignant snort. I can’t help the giggle that escapes me.
    “That’ll teach you to sway your ass in his face,” Ransom says with a wicked laugh, making me laugh harder.
    “Don’t blame her,” I say with mock indignation. “She’s just minding her own business. She can’t help it if she’s sexy.”
    I look toward the barn and spot Greer sitting on his tailgate with Shadow saddled up and ready to go. His eyes are pinned, not on me, but on Ransom, a curious expression in them. I don’t even pretend not to know that he’s jealous.
    “Thanks for the ride, Ransom. I’ll see ya,” I throw over my shoulder. Kicking Indy into a trot, I head toward Greer. “Hey, Greer! Wait till you see the trails,” I call out, hoping to distract him. It works. His eyes shift toward mine, and a smile lights up his face as he takes me in.

    “ M AGGIE, THAT WAS an incredible ride,” I praise, as she joins me outside the arena. She just completed practice runs on her new back-up horse that she’s been training. He’s an impressive red Quarter Horse.
    “Thanks,” she says with a grin. “Coming from you, that means a lot.”
    “You’re doing a great job with him. With a little more experience, he’ll be hard to beat.”
    “Yeah, I’m proud of him. I trained him from a colt. My dad trained Starlight.” Starlight was the strawberry roan that she rode earlier. Together, they are unbeatable. When I tell her that, she just laughs at me.
    Liberty and I make our way to the arena. The closer she gets, the more she prances, and I’m raring to go too. I lean down and murmur, “This is what we live for, huh girl? Wanna show ‘em what we got?” I run my hand over her neck to calm her a little of the flurry of emotions she displays from her pep talk.
    Once inside the arena, we do a couple of tight circles while I gauge her readiness. When I feel it, I let her go. Liberty darts to the first barrel on the right. I shift the reins so that she knows we want a tight pocket. Her head slides to the left, and I remind her to keep it right. I sit my heels back in the stirrups as far as they’ll go and squeeze with my legs to hold on as we round the first barrel. A whisper of the barrel brushes against my calf as we head toward the second.
    She does much better on the second barrel, which is great, but she knows how important that first barrel is, so we’ll be going again in a minute to get that one right. As she rounds the second, I click my tongue for speed. She immediately obliges me.
    As we approach the third barrel, I turn her just a smidge too wide and scold myself. She snorts at me. “Sorry, girl,” I apologize, as we correct and sprint around barrel three, completing the cloverleaf pattern of the barrels. As soon as she’s cleared it without even a hint of touch of barrel, I lean in as far as I can go to lessen as much wind resistance as possible. When we clear the timer, I glance over and read it. Shit.
     

 
     
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