Barrel racer Becca, frustrated because COVID has shut down all rodeos, is annoyed when Nikki, the farrier's daughter, shows up in his stead. They spar over Nikki's competence and their different ideas of social distancing, yet eventually bond over their mutual love for horses. Since Becca doesn't have Nikki's number but wants to see her again, she resorts to requesting another farrier visit. Nikki sees through her ruse and retaliates by using the water hose on Becca, yet they still hang out. Their first real date threatens to fall through when Nikki's trailer has a flat and she shows up for their trail ride without a horse. Becca has brought both of hers, but, because of a bad experience that caused one of her horses to get hurt, never lets anyone else ride them. Falling for the idea of someone can happen in sixteen seconds. But can Becca find the courage to take her real life chances on Nikki?

Sixteen Seconds

“That’s for tricking me into coming out! I should have known there was nothing wrong with your horses.”


More water hit her, soaking Becca’s shirt and jeans, and she lunged toward Nikki. “Give me that!”


“Six feet, remember!” Nikki danced backward, out of Becca’s reach.


Bringing her elbow up to shield her face from the water, Becca could’ve gone to the faucet and turned the water off. But where was the fun in that? She dodged another watery blast and darted past Nikki. A good ten feet away from her, she grabbed the hose and tried to yank it out off Nikki’s hand.


“Nice try!” Nikki didn’t yank back but neither did she let go of the nozzle.


Becca jerked hard once more and suddenly there was no resistance. “Ow!” Even with the stall mat on top of it, the concrete floor of the wash rack was still hard and her bottom smarted.


Chapter 5