Taking Rein

Chapter 35: Definition of nothing is impossible

Chapter 35: Definition of nothing is impossible

Sophie's POV

*****

I took a deep breath before I knocked onto Liam's bedroom door. I felt guilty about the fact that he was bedridden, and I wanted to make sure that he was doing alright. A frown formed on my face the minute I saw him there, his nose scarlet red and a box of tissues on his bedside table. 

Liam looked up from the book he was reading and smiled at me, the smile not quite reaching his eyes. 

"Have they left for the festival preparations yet?" He asked, the disappointment evident in his voice. 

I nodded, and looked sadly as his smile quickly turned into a frown. 

Aunt Helen, uncle Jo, Charlotte, and grandpa had all gone to help on the preparations for the town's yearly festival. My grandfather had a couple of stalls there on behalf of the ranch, which meant that he was bound to help out in the preparations. 

The festival was the only reason why the horse race was happening. The races always opened up the festival, and a big celebration closed it. Liam had spent months talking about the festival nonstop, but given that he was sick, Jo forbade him from even leaving his bed. 

As for me, my grandfather thought it would be better if I stayed at the ranch to rest my leg. I hated the fact that everybody thought that I suddenly couldn't do anything just because I broke my leg. Helping them out with the festival preparations would certainly not have hurt me.

"If it makes you feel any better, Charlotte wanted to stay with you, but aunt Helen said that she needed her help with the pie stall," I said, not wanting him to think that everybody simply abandoned him. 

"Right," he said with a slight nod before putting his book on the bedside table next to his tissues. "You really shouldn't be here unless you want to get sick too."

"Please," I scoffed. "I have a strong immune system. I haven't gotten sick in years. Besides, I know how bad it sucks to feel alone when you're in pain."

"How's your leg?" he asked before breaking out into yet another coughing fit. 

"Broken," I said, making him laugh with difficulty. 

"It hurts to laugh," he said before taking a deep breath.

I gave him a small, pitying smile, feeling horrible that he ended up that way because of me. It was already enough that I had broken my leg because of my stubbornness, having Liam pay for it as well was certainly the least thing I wanted. Not only was he sick, but he also couldn't train on Hades in the state he was in. 

The race was in three days, and I had found myself giving up on ever being able to win the race. 

"Hey, I promise you I'll get better, and I will ride Hades," Liam said as if he was able to read my mind. "We won't go down without a fight."

I gave Liam a forced smile, knowing that he meant well. No matter how much I hated to admit it, I knew that without training, Hades would not allow Liam to ride him. 

"Liam, you and I both know that Hades is a difficult horse to navigate. You can't ride him without training, nor will I let you," I said. 

One of the most important things to me in that moment was showing everybody that Hades still had what it took. Yet, I was not willing to let Liam get hurt because of it. Hades had nearly injured Josie when she tried to get on his back, and even if I knew that Hades knew Liam more than he knew Josie, he still didn't trust him.