Rural

Chapter 28: A Secret Training Course Can Also Be a Secret Make Out Spot

       It took a lot of time, and energy, to get the track set up but I didn't care about how long it took. I wanted to do it for Sawyer. If he wanted to get back into showjumping, I didn't want him to feel too overwhelmed with a course similar to the one he was injured on.

       When I finished, I stood back to admire my work. I really think this was going to help out Sawyer.

       Since I never took my cell phone riding with me because the ringing and even the vibrating always startled Paint, I had to head back to the farm to get Sawyer.

       I kept Paint in his field before walking inside the house. Sawyer was in our bedroom, standing by his dresser and looking at all his trophies.

       I stood beside him, looking at the trophies as well. He had a lot of first place trophies. A tiny bit of second place. And that was it. No third place. No participation ribbons.

       He must have been a really good showjumper.

       "I started showjumping shortly after you moved away," Sawyer said, still looking at his trophies. "And I loved it. I really loved it. I trained all the time and it never felt like a chore or anything to train. I never got annoyed when my mom told me it was time to train. In fact, most of the time I had to tell her since she was my coach and I was usually ready before her. And then I was injured and I was terrified I'd never do it again. I'm still scared."

       "I can imagine," I said. "If you're still not ready, you don't have to do it."

       "I may never be fully ready but I at least have to try," Sawyer said. "Otherwise, I'd never do it because I'd keep holding it off."

       "Well, if you're sure," I said. "Just take it slowly, okay? If it starts getting too much for you, just stop for the day."

       "I will," Sawyer said. "So are you going to tell me this idea of yours?"

       "I'm not going to tell you, but I'm going to show you," I said, grabbing his hand and pulling him downstairs, then outside of the house. "You're going to need Raven."

       "Jamie, I can't do it right now," Sawyer said. "My family is home."

       "Trust me on this," I said. "Nobody's going to see it."

       "Alright," Jamie said hesitantly before heading to the stables to get Raven. In the meantime, I went back over to Paint and got on him so I could lead Sawyer to the trail.

       When Sawyer was on Raven and trotted over to me, he said, "I'm very confused right now, Jamie."

       "You won't be for long," I said. "Just follow me."

       I led Sawyer down the trail and to the opening where I set up the make-do showjumping course with a bunch of logs and branches.

       "Jamie, what's this?" Sawyer asked, getting off of Raven once we arrived.

       "A temporary course," I said, getting off of Paint as well. "I know the height of the jumps aren't as high as the ones on the course back at the farm, but I figured a smaller height will help you get back into showjumping. That, and nobody will see you practicing. They'll just think you went for a trail ride or something."

       "You seriously made all of this for me?" Sawyer asked.

       "Yeah, of course I did," I said. "I figured this would be the best for you to start off with until you're ready to both do your regular jumps and have your family know you're getting back into showjumping. Do you like it?"

       Sawyer smiled widely at me. "Like it? I love it." He cupped my face in his hands and give me a lingering kiss. "I love you."

       Hearing Sawyer say those words for the first time made my heart skip a few beats but there wasn't a single doubt about me feeling the same way.

       Sawyer was just such an amazing person. He was kind. Thoughtful. He had such a big heart.

       He was the best.

       I smiled back at him. "I love you too. Oh, and I forgot one more thing about this training course."

       "What is it?" Sawyer asked.

       "Not only is it a secret place to train, it can also be a secret make out spot."

       Sawyer rolled his eyes but still chuckled. "Of course that's the only thing on your mind."

       "Not the only thing. A big thing, but not the only thing. Now give this course a go. I mean, only if you want to right now."

       Sawyer smiled at me and gave me one more kiss before getting back on Raven. I moved Paint out of the way so we could watch Sawyer give this course a go.

       I could see he was a bit hesitant as he went to the starting spot. He had to make sure he wasn't too hesitant that Raven would sense it so it did take some time for him to start.

       Eventually, he did. He did knock down a few logs on the course but that didn't matter. What mattered was that he gave it a go. He still tried even though he was still mentally recovering from his injury.

       "I clearly need a lot of practice," Sawyer said after his first run of the course. "Right?'

       "Do you want my honesty or do you want me to lie?" I asked.

       "Asking that means that the honest answer probably isn't the best," Sawyer said. "Just give it to me."

       "Well, I haven't seen you run a jumping course at all," I said. "So I can't compare what you did from what you've done in the past but that wasn't the best run."

       Sawyer sighed. "I know."

       "But you haven't jumped in months," I said. "It shouldn't matter how well you've done. You still got on Raven to do a jumping course. You still faced your fears. And for that, you did amazing."

       Sawyer smiled. "Thank you, Jamie. Seriously. My family was always giving me so much pressure about showjumping again and being the best again. But you're not. I don't feel any pressure at all coming from you."

       "The last thing you need is to be pressured," I said. "You just need to slowly ease back into it."

       "And I am, thanks to you," Sawyer said. "Seriously. You're the best."

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jamie may be a horn dog but he's also a big sweetheart 😌

also i was going to add SHOCKING INFORMATION but sadly, it wouldn't fit with the flow of this chapter. will it come next chapter? idk, we'll see.

i wonder what this SHOCKING INFO is????