His Stallion Was Hers, But the Plains Had Other Choices Chapter 01
There’s an unwritten rule out on the prairie.
Only on Valentine’s Day, if you can ride the horse your sweetheart raised from a foal, will the heavens bless your love. Only then can you marry.
First year, Dylan Miller’s horse Storm threw me off. I spent three months in bed.
His childhood friend Chloe Simmons, though? She rode that same horse across the prairie like she owned it.
He tried to comfort me. “It’s just because you two don’t know each other yet. Next year, for sure.”
So I worked on my riding. Hit the stables every spare second.
Paid for the most expensive grain mix. Woke up early to cut fresh grass for him.
But the second year, Storm still threw me—and almost trampled me.
Five years in a row. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t break that horse.
Until the sixth year. I accidentally overheard Dylan stroking Storm’s muzzle, whispering to him.
“This time, don’t throw her off so hard, okay? Nice and easy, you hear me?”
The horse snorted and turned his head away.
Dylan sighed. “I know this isn’t right. But I promised Chloe—my saddle belongs only to her.”
I gave up for good. Called my mom.
“Mom, you were right. Dylan and I just aren’t meant to be.”
“I’ll try a different horse on Valentine’s Day.”
***
I hung up. Dylan was still murmuring to Storm.
Like he was afraid the horse might actually forget and carry me safely around the track.
I laughed bitterly.
Five years of effort, and it was all a joke.
The fresh grass in my basket was still wet with dew. I dumped it into the trough next to me.
A sleek, unfamiliar chestnut horse dipped its head and started chewing like it hadn’t eaten in days.
“Hey, Tessa. Feeding Storm again?”
“Four broken bones, almost got stomped to death and you still don’t quit? That’s some dedication, I guess.”
Chloe Simmons smirked at me.
“I told you before. Storm doesn’t like strangers touching him.”
“But this year? You won’t even get the chance to break anything. Because I’m competing too.”
She didn’t say with whom. Didn’t say which horse.
But I knew. Dylan.
I smiled a little. “Well, good for you.”
Chloe looked like she’d punched a pillow. Completely thrown.
Dylan jogged over from nearby. “What are you two whispering about behind my back?”
He noticed my empty basket. “Tessa, you didn’t cut grass this morning? Storm’s been waiting.”
I turned to look at Storm.
He was staring at Chloe with this eager, puppy-dog look.
Five years. Rain or shine, I’d cut that horse’s grass. My face got darker, my hands rougher, my body thinner.
And still—aside from Dylan—Chloe was the only one he’d let on his back.
Guess a horse takes after its owner. Some things just don’t stick.
I kept my face calm and pointed to the chestnut. “Gave it all to him.”
The chestnut nuzzled me immediately.
I smiled and scratched his head. “Good boy. Way better than Storm.”
Dylan blinked, then scowled on my behalf. “Yeah, Storm’s such an ungrateful little punk. Five years of you cutting grass for him, and he still acts like a jerk. He deserves to go hungry.”
“Don’t worry. I lit into him this morning.”
“This year’s Valentine’s Day? No problems. I promise.”
He said that every year.
At first, it touched me. Dylan loved horses like his own kids, but he’d scold Storm for me.
Back then, I swore I’d earn that horse’s respect.
Now? I just felt stupid.
Everyone said Storm was smart—that he understood people.
If Dylan hadn’t told him to act up…
Why else would Storm only spook when I climbed on?
“Forget it.”
“I’ll never mean as much to Storm as Chloe does.”
“If she’s competing, I’m not going to bother.”
