Under the Spotlight

She took a deep breath as they walked into the arena. She could feel his muscles gather under her leg as she asked him to lope. The music for her first freestyle reining program filled the air. Her heart pounded as they galloped under the spotlight. The crowd cheered as he spun, first one way and then the other. He gathered speed and slid to a halt in perfect harmony with the end of her favorite country song. She didn’t hear the crowd whistle and hoot as she buried her face in his long mane, because the love she felt for him blocked it all out.