“Nothing.” He pushes off the frame, straightening himself. “I should get going.”
“See you later,” I say with a wave.
“Yeah.”
I watch him disappear the way he came, a blaring question pushing to the front of my mind.
Reaching into my back pocket, I pull out my phone and type out a text to Levi, Santiago, and Walker as Bear prances out of the equipment room. He’s probably going to find Shadow.
Me: I thought Manny was fired.
Santiago: Don’t defile my phone with that cabrón.
Levi: He was.
Walker: Why do you ask?
Me: He was just here.
Santiago: I’m on my way.
Levi: Us too.
Me: It’s not a big deal. He left.
Those overbearing, aggravating…
Shaking my head, I stow my phone back in my pocket and laugh. It’s either laugh or rage, and I’m choosing to laugh.
I take another look around the equipment room and decide to swallow my pride and ask Javier what the hell a halter is.
Stepping out of the equipment room, I let out a whistle. “Bear?” I call out, but he doesn’t come.
I whistle again. “Bear?”
A muffled bark rings out sharply.
I guess I’m coming to you.
“You know, it’s usually the opposite,” I shout to Bear as I follow the sounds of his woofs and yaps. “I whistle, you come running, then everybody wins.”
Rounding the corner, I find Bear next to Shadow’s stall. “There you are,” I say in relief.
Shadow stands at the gate, her head poking out over the top. I stroke my hand down her face, between her eyes, and let myself vent. “They’re being a bunch of overprotective idiots.”
Shadow blows out a breath through her nose, and I take it as a sign that she agrees with me.
“Did you miss me, girl?” Shadow grunts in response. “Yeah, I missed you too.”
Bear lets out a growl. My hand pauses on Shadow’s snout.
“Bear?”
He lets out a booming bark, his head facing the barn door, which I notice is now closed.
Did I close it?I don’t remember doing that.
Then again, it’s been one hell of a day.
