I was in the barn before the sun had fully cleared the horizon, planning a long day on the trails. I'd already invited Blake; I figured having my best friend along would keep Grandpa from worrying, and it would give me some much-needed space from the house guests.
I had just finished saddling Twist and was reaching for a second blanket when the sound of heavy boots echoed down the aisle. Axel appeared, leading his big sorrel.
"Wanna go on a quick ride? Just to talk?" he asked, his voice lacking the usual bite.
"I guess," I said, loosening the cinch on the horse I'd started for Blake. I swung up onto Twist, and Axel followed suit.
We rode toward the east pasture in a heavy, contemplative silence. Axel dismounted to swing the gate, letting me through before latching it and mounting up again. We put a good mile of dusty trail between us and the barn before he finally broke the quiet.
"Cam... why didn't you call? Why didn't you tell me those guys were hounding you like that?"
I kept my eyes on Twist's flicking ears. "I stayed quiet because you weren't here, Axel. And when you were, you weren't here."
"Camellia, you know I still care about you," he said, sounding frustrated. "The problem is you don't tell me anything anymore."
"Same goes for you," I countered. "You don't tell me anything either."
"I don't always have a reason to."
"There's always a reason," I said, looking over at him. "To check in. To see how the ranch is holding up. Even just a text before you compete. You're always surrounded by guys you don't even like that much."
"Too many of 'em," he grumbled.
"Then hide in your trailer. Or come home between the big shows."
He went quiet for a moment, his jaw tight. "How many guys exactly have tried to... you know, hurt you? Or push too hard?"
"I've lost count, Axel."
He swore under his breath. "Between now and the time I leave for the next circuit, I want a list. Every name you can remember."
"And if I think of more after you're gone?"
"Text them to me. I want the names, Cam. All of them."
I nodded, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. It was the first time in years I felt like I wasn't guarding the gate alone.
"What's the plan for today?" he asked.
"Trail ride with Blake. Then probably just hanging out, doing nothing."
"Wanna head back before he gets here? Before the 'weirdos' wake up?"
"We can," I said as we turned the horses around. "Who's giving you a hard time? Is it the twins?"
"Definitely not them," I said. "They've actually been nice. They haven't tried a thing."
Axel gave me a sidelong glance. "Even with their... shared interests?"
"I don't even know what you're talking about."
"They like to share, Cam. Everything. Including women."
I felt a flush creep up my neck but kept my voice steady. "Why is that weird? If that's how they were raised, or if they both ended up caring for the same person... it makes sense they'd rather stay together than fight over her."
"How would you even know that?" Axel asked, looking surprised.
"Have you seen my room? I'm a bookworm, Axel. I read things besides ranching manuals."
"Explains it," he muttered. "I don't want to hear about it. I hear enough of that talk from them."
I let out a silent chuckle, the tension finally breaking. "Wanna race back?"
"Nah. Your horse is too fast."
"Chicken," I teased, and before he could protest, I gave Twist his head.
I went easy on him at first, letting him think he had a chance, but as his sorrel pulled close, I leaned into Twist's mane and let him go full throttle. We hit the final gate and Twist didn't even break stride, sailing over the timber like it was nothing. I was hysterically laughing by the time we slowed down near the water trough.
Axel rode up a minute later, his horse huffing. "Told you he was faster."
"Yup," I said. Then, without warning, I reached out my foot and gave him a solid shove.
He went off the side of his horse, landing flat on his back in the dirt with a heavy groan.
"You alright there, bubba?" I asked, looking down from the saddle.
"You'd better hope I'm not severely injured," he grumbled, though he didn't move.
"You're fine. I know you're fine." I dismounted and stood over him.
"Sisters," he muttered to the sky.
"You still love me."
"Not 'cut'?" he asked, referring to our fight from yesterday.
"Never was," I promised, reaching down a hand to help him up. "Think we can finally get along?"
Axel took my hand, pulling himself up and brushing the Texas dust off his jeans. "Yeah, Cam. We can get along."