“Oh, that’s so sad about his wife.” Skylar looked at the screen again. “Damn, he’s hot.”
“Yes, he is, and a nice man. Tall too. He and Seth are both six foot five.”
“Oh, my God. Stop! You know how I love tall men. You’re telling me all this and I can’t do a damn thing about it. I hate you right now.”
Ryan laughed. “That’s okay. You know I love you no matter what.”
“Same.” Skylar sighed as she looked at the photo of Seth. “You need to send Seth this photo.”
“No. I am going to send him some, but this one, this one is mine and it’s all I’ll have of him. I only shared it with you because I wanted you to see him.”
“You can see your love for him through your camera lens. He’d know you were telling him the truth.”
“I’m not going to show it to him. Not that one.”
“Okay. Not going to argue with you, but you’re miserable.”
“I know. Let’s order, find a movie and get drunk.”
Skylar lifted her glass. “Way ahead of you.” Then she sat up, reached for the laptop, then turned it to face her. “I’m sorry, but is that you on a horse?”
Ryan smiled. “Yes. Seth made me ride. He didn’t care that I’d never been on a horse in my life and I was afraid of them. He said I either ride or go back to California and send someone elseto take photos. He put me on a very gentle horse named Pearl. A beautiful dapple gray with a black mane, tail, and legs. I miss her too.”
“Unreal. All the times I tried to get you to go to my dad’s ranch, and some hot cowboy tells you that you have to or send another photographer. Why didn’t I use threats?” Skylar smiled as she shook her head.
Ryan picked up a menu for Chinese, and they decided what they wanted. After ordering online, they settled in to watchSteel Magnoliasso they could have a good laugh and a long cry.
****
Saturday morning, Seth entered the arena with a steaming cup of coffee in his hand, the rich aroma mingling with the earthy scent of hay and horse. The morning sun slanted through the high windows, casting golden bars across the packed dirt floor. For the first time in a while, the weather had warmed up enough that his breath no longer clouded the air, and he was eager to get back into training. The oats and corn were sprouting in neat emerald rows, promising a good crop for Ash this year.
“Seth, morning,” Cull said as he strolled into the arena, his weathered boots kicking up small puffs of dust with each step.
“Hey, Cull. I’m sorry you’re working today. Where are you sending the men today?” Seth took a sip of his coffee, savoring the bitter warmth, as he placed his arms on the indoor corral and watched the filly run around.
“Buck and Ringo are checking the fields. Micky and Spurs are breaking two horses today, the Paint and the Appaloosa.” Cull shrugged. “It’s not the first time we’ve all had to work on a Saturday. Won’t be the last.”
Seth nodded, his hand running absently along the wooden rail. “Alright. Have them all in the barn tomorrow. The barnsand areas around them need to be cleaned up. What do you have planned today?”
“Payroll this morning, then go over the books.” Cull’s eyes narrowed beneath the brim of his worn Stetson. “You didn’t have to stick me with that shit, you know.”
Seth chuckled. “Of course, I know. I have too much training to do. Besides, you did it before. Don’t whine. It’s not a good look on you.”
Cull shook his head, turned and strolled down the barn’s aisle, his spurs jingling softly with each step, but not before calling out as he stepped into the bright rectangle of sunlight at the doorway.
“You can kiss my Irish ass.”
“You’re only half Irish.”
“So, you choose which half,” Cull yelled.
Seth laughed as he shook his head, then entered the corral to get the filly out. When he hooked the leather lead to her gleaming chestnut coat, she pranced alongside him, tossing her silky mane and pawing at the ground with one delicate hoof. She knew what she was going to do, and she loved it, her dark eyes bright
Later that day, Seth entered his house, removed his sweat-stained Stetson, collapsed onto the bench by the door, and exhaled a bone-deep sigh. It had been a grueling morning, but the chestnut filly was finally mastering her lateral movements, but Seth needed food, a shower, and a change of clothes before settling in for the evening.
With shoulders aching from tension, he tugged his mud-caked boots off, dropped them onto the plank floor and watched as clumps of dirt fell off them like small landslides. Seth pushed to his feet with a grunt, opened the back door, set the boots beside two other dirty pairs on the porch, then closed the door, turning the brass deadbolt. He shuffled into the laundry roomand emptied his pockets, jingling keys and the smartphone that connected him to a world he often preferred to avoid. They clattered against the metal washing machine. He peeled off his filthy clothes layer by layer, dropping them into a heap as fine particles of arena dust billowed up.
His fingers reached for the phone to plug it in but froze when Ryan’s name illuminated the screen, sending his heart slamming against his ribs. His thumb hovered over the notification, trembling slightly, before he set it down with deliberate care.
