Sunshine

4. i did this out of order

Charlotte lifted her eyebrows like a challenge as she smiled, lightly nudging into Rebel's to send him on his way. Spencer chuckled as she stepped out of the fence, standing on the bottom rung as she watched intently.

A ways down the dirt road, Rip and Cole walked up to the arena, not surprised to see the two ladies already up and training for the day. Rip had started to see a steep but positive change in Spencer since the Stanton siblings had arrived on the ranch, and he knew it was likely because of Charlotte. Her and Spencer were clearly pulling one another up from whatever hole that had sunken into.

"She's good with Charlie," Cole noted, breaking the silence between them. Rip only grunted in response, making the shorter brunet roll his eyes. "Have you two ever thought of one of your own?"
Rip looked at him sharply, confusion clear on his face.

"Kids, Rip." Cole laughed as Rip's confusion cleared.

Rip shrugged as they continued to walk closer, even as their pace greatly decreased from the conversation. "There's a lot of baggage that comes from my bloodline, but if Spencer wants them-"

He trailed off as they finally reached the girls, but Cole nodded in understanding as Charlotte stopped in front of them. She had been beaming since Spencer had let her start using Rebel a few days before; beyond excited to get to ride around on the title winning horse.

"Did you see me riding by myself?" She asked her brother giddily as she practically vibrated off Rebel from excitement.
"She's looking good enough to maybe ride out to the camp barn with us," Spencer added, a silent, questioning look sent Rip's way. He nodded once, watching her face light up at the confirmation. God, he could look at her smile like that all day and never need anything else.

"We'll head up after lunch, the last thing Charlie's gonna want to eat is hotdogs and beans with Colby and Ryan," Rip chuckled as Spencer's face blanched at the idea of being around those two after one of those lunches. It never was fun for anyone involved.

"Good idea, plus I can make sure Jimmy leaves on time for the rodeo."
"Rodeo?" Cole asked as he climbed onto the fence.

Spencer nodded, "Jimmy's got it in his head he can buck with the best of them so I agreed to let him go for his pro certs."
Rip looked at Spencer hesitantly, "You're actually okay with that?"

Spencer nodded, her eyes crinkling in question at Rip's concern, but she brushed it off nonetheless as she turned back to Charlotte quickly. "Okay, lunch and then to the barn, yeah?"

The younger girl bobbed her head excitedly before racing off with Rebel to get him squared away.

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"Hey Spencer, what time is it?" Jimmy asked as she, Rip, and Charlotte made it up to the barn. She looked at her watch and was about to answer, but Colby spoke first.

"Jimmy, if the sun is directly above you, what time do you think it is?"

"You got somewhere to be?" John asked as he stepped out of the truck, having followed up behind Spencer to keep an eye on Charlotte.

Jimmy gulped, looking between Rip and Spencer.

"The qualifier in Livingston is today," Spencer answered for Jimmy as he continued to look like a dog with his tail between his legs. "Starts at three. I told him he could go if we had the barn all squared away."

"What, we don't pay him enough?" John asked his daughter, whose only response was to roll her eyes at her father as Jimmy clammed up even more.

"N-no sir, I've been saving up," he tried to explain, "I've finally got enough for my pro card. Tonight's the first night that would count toward my standings."