Page 25 of Royally Drawn (Resplendent Royals #3)

Not Losing Hope

INGRID

B y some miracle, my international debut went alright. Out of nearly 100 horse and rider combinations, I was ranked ninth going into cross-country. So, on Saturday, I was in a great mood. I’d left in my horse’s braids, too in love with these plaits, to pull them out. The protocol for small events was to leave them in. While I had time to change things up at this massive competition, I preferred Kraken dapper and left them in.

“He’s a princess pony,” Betty cooed, kissing Kraken’s nose. “So handsome.”

“You’ll embarrass him, Betty,” Keir laughed.

He was holding the horse—as if it mattered. Kraken had long gone to sleep, in his zen state going into day two. He would wind up when I took him into the warm-up, but now he slept lip drooping.

“He’s chill,” I said.

“He’s alright for a giant.” Keir patted the old man on the shoulder.

While we’d gotten up to approximately nothing, I wanted to. He was so good at taking directions as I gave them. Best of all, he looked good doing it. If you came up with a perfect hunky horse boyfriend, Keir would fit the bill. He stood where you asked him, could catch a horse, and occasionally wiped the sweat off his brow using his shirt. This revealed a glimpse of his abs, attracting the view of any woman within a fifteen-mile radius.

“You’re going to get mucky,” Cici warned. “And it will be fine. Trust the studs on his shoes as best you can, but slow down. I pulled back because I worried about a time penalty. That tells you the course is okay. But you’re going after me now. The course will get worse with more riding and more rain.”

Cici was finally changed after being covered head-to-toe in muck. I drew a short straw today. After a beautiful ride yesterday, we were down to bad weather.

“I will take him when he returns,” the groom said.

Our cohort shared grooms. Alexandra had yet to spring for one permanently, and several Brits didn’t have one. So, I shared at competitions. I was hopeful if I did well, Alex would see a reason to get me someone permanently. Of course, I wouldn’t mind a groom like Keir. Maybe I’d luck out with someone hot? He didn’t need to be a prince.

“Thanks,” I said. “He will be a disaster.”

“Expected in the British weather, ma’am.”

We departed the stables for the warm-up. Keir nearly threw me onto my horse as if I were a cheerleader on a pyramid. I looked down at him, surprised.

“What?” He chuckled.

“That was a hell of a leg up,” I said.

“For a hell of a rider.” He patted my boot. “Kick some ass and take some names, Ingrid.”

I smiled. “I will try.”

I worked on stretches during our warm-up. We did bending exercises to round Kraken out and distract him. He knew his job in this tack and was hyped watching the other horses ready for a race. By the time we reached the starting box, he’d be a bundle of nerves. I had enough of those for both of us. Solid fences terrified riders with any sense. I didn’t have sense. Eventers were wild and reckless. Still, this was next-level. There was no way to recreate such a thing. You ripped the band-aid off and let it go. You trusted your walkthrough and your horse’s dutiful strides. By the time we broke from there, I’d give over to it and let go of my fears.

Astrid and Parker initially waited with me, but I didn’t speak to them. When the bell tolled, we took off. Boom! Kraken was on—too excited by the first fence. We needed to pace ourselves, as Cici warned. If you finished too fast, you got a penalty. If you finished too slow, you also got a fault for that. It was a dance, and I was the most inexperienced partner.

I pulled him back slightly and headed to the bank ahead. The course was like nothing I’d seen before, and the rain didn’t help. The crowd held its breath as he made a dodgy leap—too excited. I knew I needed to get his attention. Fighting him was pointless, so time be damned, I pulled him into a circle before letting him go again. This time, Kraken slowed. He returned to me, focused not on chasing every fence in the course but on collecting like a good boy.

I spoke to him only in French, calming him. I knew there would be an issue on the table coming up. It was my least favourite obstacle to clear, and he tended to take these short. I readied my crop. I kept it on my right side to move him left. Otherwise, he’d go right and chip in like an idiot.

“Don’t rush,” I said. “Listen to me.”

My talking was probably more for me than the horse, but I would talk to him the whole course if I had to. I was white-knuckling coming into the table. I wanted to close my eyes as we flew into the air, clearing its expanse. We took off like a rocket. I couldn’t help but grin.

“Get them, girl! Get them!” Cici shouted. Despite the wild crowd, she screamed and jumped up and down with Betty. I had a cheering section. They’d go loop to the end of the course.

I was on cloud nine, checking my time. We were okay. I let him out a bit at the next gallop. He deserved it after that fence.

“Good boy. You’re doing beautiful, Kraken!”

My boy didn’t disappoint in the middle of the course. He took another bank into a timber fence like it was nothing. We soared like a plane, winding up the course at a good clip. I didn’t expect faults—surprising myself most of all. Then, we faced a simple hedge. It should have been nothing, but the slippery footing caught us both off guard. We came into it like a freight train coming off the track.

Kraken was a saint, as always. He would try to save it at all costs. I only prayed we had the steam to make it out. I held my breath and felt him take off almost vertically. It would be a miracle to land on his back, I thought. I braced for impact on our dodgy landing. I felt the air between my thighs and the saddle and realised I was going clear over the pommel to land on his neck.

Kraken halted obediently. I was barely aboard, hanging onto his mane like a rag doll. I was exhausted. My arms hurt, and I wanted to give up. The judge nearby approached, ready to disqualify me. I had two options—hop off and give up or try to find some way to right myself. I could still salvage this if I didn’t meet the ground.

“Don’t give up! Stay up there!” I heard Betty’s voice.

“You got this!” Cici added. “Pull up!”

“C’mon, Ingy!” Keir shouted. “Don’t fucking lose your grip! You can do it!”

“Grab the pommel!” Cici shouted.

“Use all your might, sweetie!” Astrid called in French. “Don’t give up! Keep at it!”

I held on with one hand, pulling with my legs as best I could. I moved my leg back, first over the cantle, then gripped my saddle with my thighs. I’d sprayed them down for best sticking ability. I used my core strength to force myself up, grabbing the pommel. Stunned, I pulled myself up. And without even my cue, Kraken took off to the next fence. I patted him and rode along like a passenger.

I didn’t even have time to bother with stirrups. I barely had my feet back in them when I met the first of the last two fences. Another hedge awaited me. Then, we had to jump through a timber fence with an enormous halo of twigs. I knew he’d be golden and fearless.

“We can do it, baby! We have it, boy!” I said, tears in my eyes.

Coming into the final fence, I was sore, exhausted, and not at my best. Despite our bruised and battered look, Kraken took off and landed easily. I screamed out, so happy to be home and pulled my dutiful mount back down slowly into a relaxed canter. After a circle or two, we went to a trot laced with happy tears .

“Good boy, good boy. You are the best,” I said, patting him. We cooled down before I handed the horse off to my waiting groom.

Hitting the ground, I hugged my coach and the waiting cheering section of other riders. Then, I returned to our stable row to drink and snack. Keir, Astrid, and Patrick waited for us there.

“You were amazing!” Astrid said. “You’re so tough. I would have come off!”

“I reckon any of us would have,” Cici said. “Damn. You are a legend now, kid!”

“I tried,” I laughed. “I gave it all I had. That was the best I could ask for. And Kraken was the best boy. I credit him with it. On any other horse, I’d have come off. He’s just a good boy.”

“Well, you made it. And you’re clear to the arena tomorrow,” Betty said. “You’re going to finish in the top twenty, I’d bet!”

“Shhhh!” Keir laughed. “You’ll spoil it, Betty.”

I was in shock. Making the top twenty was a pipe dream for an international debut. I just wanted to finish, and that was my only goal going into it.

“You’ve got an audience,” Parker said.

“What?” I turned to look in the direction he nodded.

An expectant group of reporters stood arguing with the security detail that kept the normies at bay.

“What for?” I asked.

“You’re a legend. Like I said!” Cici said.

“Go, woman! Enjoy your moment!” Astrid urged.