“No hard feelings, yeah?”
I look behind him to the house where I know she is just behind that door. I can’t see her, but I imagine she’s right there, in that faded blue robe, her blonde hair pulled over one shoulder. “Not sure I’m the one who is owed an apology.”
“Ah,” he shrugs, “all is forgiven there. Juni and I are solid.”
I smell the lie, but it doesn’t mean the words don’t hit me in the fucking gut. She’s a married woman; I shouldn’t even be thinking about her like that, but that hasn’t stopped my mind from wandering. It certainly isn’t what she needs. No, she needs freedom. A safe place to land.
Not sure I’d ever be able to provide that for her anyway.
My life is too messed up as it is.
“Good to know,” I reply with a bite.
Each day bleeds into the next; I work with Dottie; I try not to knock Calvin out, and Juniper avoids me. I’ve seen her every day, if only briefly, but there’s a change in her. I don’t know the woman well enough to fully understand everything that makes her tick, but like calls to like.
There is a sadness in her.
A bone-deep sorrow that has her feet dragging and her shoulders low. She’s pale, tired, and won’t even look in my direction. Every time I have tried to talk to her, she shuts herself away.
I already know it’s Cal and not her.
Dottie has improved dramatically, though only with me. Anyone else goes near her and she eitherturns back into that anxious filly I met the first day or her aggressive streak comes out. She still needs more work, but this ranch isn’t the place to find it.
When I leave, I’m taking her with me. I don’t care how much money I have to spend to make it happen.
“Yeah,” I reel off the address for Darcy, “if we can make it today, that would be great.”
“I’ll be there in a couple of hours,” Darcy says. “Anything I need to be aware of?”
“She’s young, scared and reactive. Do me a favor though, bring me a trailer when you come up.”
The vet chuckles, “Alright. See you soon, Silas.”
I hang up the phone and run my hand down the young Appaloosa’s body, watching her muscles twitch in response. I’m hoping with me here, Darcy will be able to give her a good check over, maybe get some bloods done, although I’m fully prepared for it to go sideways. Darcy is a fantastic vet, has a way with all animals, even though she isn’t that way with people.
With the lead rope, I guide Dottie back to the stables to get her ready in the examination stall, a much bigger space so people can get out of the way should something go wrong and get her rigged up to the harnesses to prepare for Darcy to arrive. It’s good practice for her anyway, and I make sure to soothe her every time she flinches at the sounds that surround her.
From beyond the door, I hear light steps and a soft mumbling, feminine and raspy, and a glance outside shows Juni, talking to herself as she heads to Ginger’s stall. It’s the first time I’ve caught her alone since the night of the dinner.
Patting Dottie, I slip out of the stall. “Juni.”
She freezes, her shoulders pulling high.
“Are you okay?” I ask her, her back still to me, long blonde hair falling in soft curls down her spine.
“Fine,” she squeaks back.
“You’re lying.” I accuse.
She looks over her shoulder, “You don’t know me well enough to know when I am lying.”
“But you are lying,” I cock my head, studying the dark shadows under her eyes. “Has he hurt you?”
She looks beyond me before bringing her eyes back, “No.” She whispers.
“Why do you stay, Juni?” I take a step closer.
“Don’t,” she rasps, “stay there.”
