“No, ma’am.”
“Please. It’s Paige. And I’m not old enough to be a ma’am,” I chuckle, offering fruit.
He grabs some berries. “Definitely too young,” he mumbles under his breath.
“I grew up further south, but my mother and I relocated to Wild Peak when I got offered the job.”
He nods, continuing to eat his lunch.
“You provide lumber services throughout Oregon, but the business doesn’t have a set address?” I inquire.
Yes, I’m digging. His file is so…empty. For Gabe to trust him with such a great task…there’s more to him and his story. But like any wild mustang, you have to approach careful and slow. With patience.
“When is the team scheduled for clearing and harrowing?” he deflects and asks.
Hmm. Right. Too soon, then.
“Well, tomorrow,” I begin, gathering a handful of grapes. “I’ll be leaving this one with her friends at the stables,” I smile at Serenity, already making her way over. “You’ve been patiently waiting, so here you go,” I tell her, opening my palm as her leather lips rub along my palm, taking the grapes.
“And then, I’ll ride over with the tractor to get the clearing started,” I finish, wiping my hands on my well-worn jeans.
“You’re doing the clearing?” he asks, looking disturbed. “By yourself?”
I lean back on both outstretched arms and scoff. “Oh, Harrison. Don’t go breaking my heart by being a misogynist now.”
“Of course not,” he growls. “It’s not about that. It’s a large section of land. You should have a team helping, is all.”
“I appreciate your concern,” I grin. “But, I’m pretty efficient behind heavy machinery. Trust me. A field needing plowing hates to see me coming.” He still looks upset.
A soft chuckle escapes as I pour more cucumber water into both our tin mugs. “Don’t concern yourself, Aiden Harrison, the excavators and stump grinders will be a whole team of testosterone you can bask in next month.”
I laugh, glance up, and immediately the smile on my face dies as the shift in his stare grows heavy. His body is locked tight as he focuses unseeingly on the river.
“No one calls me that anymore. It’s just Harrison.” His voice is dark, deeper than usual.
I carefully set down the containers I started to clean up and turn my body to face him. I search his profile, choosing my next words wisely. Or at least…I hope I do.
“I won’t ask if there’s a reason, as obviously, there is. When was the last time people called you by your given name?”
He narrows his eyes at me. I don’t cower. A shifty stallion can sense fear and hesitation. I hold his angry stare with kindness.
“Well, once Aiden, now Harrison…whatever you’ve been running from, I do hope you lay to rest and find peace. You and your business don’t have a set home, but if you were ready for one,” I look out at the wondrous view before us. “Not a bad place to settle.”
I know when to walk away. Wild mustangs, you get close enough to scratch their neck, you always pull away first. Let the dark horse seek your touch again.
I get up, untie Serenity, and start heading back to work.
Centaur Chiron. The wounded warrior, quiet and wise. The ultimate dark horse. Aiden–because I can’t bring myself to think of him as anything else now–may try to shield himself with his large, prickly walls, but behind the tempest sea in those eyes is a soul searching for home.
Twenty-nine years hasn’t made me less curious. I may have no business leading a forty-year old wounded man to water, but a year in Wild Peak, many ranch hands have come and gone. No one has piqued my intrigue as this steady mountain of a man holding back all the storm waves by himself.
He could use a friend. Hell, we all could.
And like it or not, I’m determined to become Aiden Harrison’s friend.
Chapter Three
HARRISON
