Chapter 48

Megan felt her heart swell as she watched her son sitting proudly on his pony called White blaze.

She worked long, hard hours to be able to afford this intense love of her son, but he lived for show jumping and seeing that she couldn’t provide him with a father, she had to be both.

The boy and his pony shared a deep love for each other. Jaden never failed to bring his beloved pony a treat, chatting away as he meticulously brushed the animal. He spent most of his free time at the riding school, either training or just spending time with his best friend.

It was almost time for his item, when she saw the little boy staring towards her, even from afar could she feel his disappointment. She waved at him, blowing him a kiss, but the little hand waved back half heartedly.

He did another canter around the warm up ring when she saw his face lit up like the sky on a new year’s celebration.

She turned to watch the tall, dark man sauntering towards her, his hand in the air, waving at the boy and his eyes on her.

“I thought you weren’t gonna make it.”

“Hey hun.” He leaned forward and kissed her softly on the cheek.

“I told you I’d be here, didn’t I?”

She smiled and nodded, glad that her boy’s heart was spared, this time around.

Richie was awestruck as he watched the boy do his jumps. Horse and human flowed together in perfect harmony but every time he neared a jump, she heard Richie holding his breath.

She laid a hand on his arm, stifling a giggle.

“Breathe, Sambora.”

He wiped his brow and smiled back.

“Fuck, Meg. This boy is damn good! How long has he been doing this?”

“About 3 years.” Her eyes lit.

Megan shrieked and ran towards the stable when Jaden finished. She was so sure Jaden was going to take this today. Richie followed the low flying woman .

Jaden flung himself out of the saddle , into his mom’s arms.

“I did it! I think I got it, unless Rodney does a perfect round, faster that I did.”

“He can’t baby! You and White blaze were soaring through the jumps!”

Jaden let go of his mom and rushed forward to grab Richie around the waist.

“Thank you for coming today!”

Megan had a hard time swallowing.

Jaden’s sudden affection took Megan by surprise but Richie smiled and hugged the boys back.

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, champ! Geesh and that was some mean jumping you did out there!”

Adoration shone in the boy’s eyes as he stared upwards.

“You really think so?”

“Heck yeah! You were flying!”

~~

“The first prize goes to Jaden Lyons and White blaze!”

Megan cried and smiled all at once, Richie had a hard time keeping the wriggly woman in his arms as she rushed into him.

Jaden basked in all the attention, he proudly introduced Richie to his friends, not forgetting to tell them that he was actually a rock star, although by the moms’ reaction it wasn’t too difficult to realize that Richie was a well known celebrity. He smiled patiently, signed whatever was thrust towards him and endured the picture taking ,while the handsome smile never wavered.

That was the day when Jaden’s hero took on a human form.