I smile as I bend down to load my plate and Shayla’s into the dishwasher. “Thanks, bro.”
“Uh huh, you two have fun,” he says.
I walk back over to Shayla. “Let’s get a move on then.”
“Sounds good,” she replies, standing up from the table, still clinging to her cup.
We head for the front door where I slide my feet into my worn brown boots. She slips hers on and is out the front door before I’ve snagged my hat off the hook by the door. Then I step out, shutting the door behind her.
A grasshopper leaps out of the long grass as we’re making our way along the path and Aura startles, stumbling into my side.
I chuckle. “I can understand being scared of a horse, but a grasshopper?”
She shoves at me. “I’m not scared of a grasshopper. Just had a long night.”
“So, what you’re telling me is you’re tired.”
She sighs, glancing off toward the mares’ pasture to our right. “Fine. I am. Still doesn’t mean you should be commenting on it.”
“I did apologize. What happened?”
“Oh, a group of guys came into the hotel late. They were laughing and singing. Then they started up a full-on party. Yelling, crashing around, music blaring. I called the front desk, and the guy basically said ‘not my problem.’ I don’t know how much longer I can take this.”
Sounds terrible. We had nights like that in my dorm my first year at school. In fact, most nights were like that. But I was one of those guys often enough that I couldn’t complain. A little different in a hotel full of strangers. My stomach twists with unease again, thinking of all the things that could happen to her there. I really do need to convince her to stay here. My place, the ranch house. I’d just feel better if I knew she was safe.
She hides a massive yawn behind her arm.
“You should come stay here,” I offer again. “The family already knows about you. You can eat meals in the big house if you like, but you don’t have to. I’ve got a kitchen in the guest house. I’m sure it’s a little smaller than what you’re used to, but it does the job. I’ve got two bedrooms.”
I won’t make the same mistake twice and comment on it, but she looks so tired I can almost feel my own eyes drooping in response. The exhaustion doesn’t hide the conflict on her face, though.
“Just tell me you’ll think about it.”
She blows out a breath. “I’ll think about it.”
“Fantastic.” My shoulders ease up. “Now today, I’m going to teach you how to tack up, and if it goes well, I’ll let you mount up.” I tip my hat at her.
“Tack up? Mount up?” She squints up at the sun, and I’m reminded how very different her world is than mine. It’s like we don’t even speak the same language.
“Tack up. That’s putting on the saddle and bridle. You do know what those are, right?”
Flash pops her head out over the stall door with a soft nicker as soon as I slide the barn door open. Dean leansout of the feed room, mirroring the horse, and gives us a wave and a nod.
Aura stops her tracks. “Who’s that?”
“That’s Dean, one of our ranch hands.”
She pulls her baseball hat down over her eyes and starts backing away. “I…I should go. I can’t stay here.”
When I reach out to grab her arm, she flinches away, and I feel like shit. “Sorry. He’s one of my best friends. It’s fine. He knows. He saw you yesterday and we talked about it. He’s not going to blow your secret. It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. Nobody can find out I’m here. It could ruin everything.”
Her eyes are darting back and forth and she’s breathing way too fast.
“I can’t…I can’t breathe.”
Her hand flies up to her chest, and I don’t know what to do for her.
