Page 19 of Fall or Nothing

Ash suddenly appeared by his side, chuckling. “She’s got you figured out. Question is, will you take a moment and listen?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I scoffed and walked around her. She followed.

“Horses are far more intuitive creatures than we give them credit for. They can look deep into your soul.”

Trig spat on the ground, perfectly aimed right at where I’d just raked. “What do you think she sees in yours, pretty boy?”

I stopped and sighed. “Hey girl, can you give me some room?” I put a hand up and stroked her nose. She neighed and leaned into it. Her brown eyes gazed at me, like Sage’s had, engaged too deep, a moment too long—or perhaps seeing past my bullshit.

“Trig, you’re relieved from duty. Go on,” Ash ordered.

It was just the two of us as I finished Sassy’s stall, spreading fresh straw under his critical eye.

My arms and back protested every movement, and blisters had formed on my hands. I’d discovered muscles I didn’t know existed. I planned to fire my trainer in thirty days when I returned to the city. But I hadn’t quit. That must count for something.

“You missed a few spots,” he said, nodding toward one corner. “But for your first day? You lasted longer than I figured.”

“Me too,” I chortled.

He jerked his head toward the bunkhouse. “Get cleaned up. We’ve got church tonight.”

I frowned. “Church? Um… I don’t really go. Haven’t in years.”

“Relax. This isn’t that kind of church.”

That clarified nothing, but I followed him anyway.

“Do I have time to wash these clothes? Whatever kind of church it is, I doubt they want me showing up smelling like this. They’re the only set I have.”

“Don’t worry. We have a bin of extra clothes.Sometimes we hire guys who don’t stay around long. They move on and leave stuff behind.”

“The work here is that difficult?”

He stopped in his tracks. “No. But some of these guys have seen and done things in the military that they can’t get past. They try, but some aren’t ready to work here and face the demons they have to face. They leave, and we hope that somewhere, somehow they’ll find the peace they seek, even if it’s not at our ranch. So when you pick out some things from the bin, just remember that these guys didn’t have the luxurious life that you’ve led. Maybe be a little grateful that you get to wake up each day unburdened by trauma.”

He shouldered past me, leaving me planted on the spot. He was right. I only knew about trauma from stories the guys would talk about in the reserves. Maybe I didn’t know a thing about war, but I had faced tough situations as a reservist though. Things I tried not to think about too much.

When we got to his office, Ash pulled out the box of leftover items for me to sort through and left me to it. The clothes were far from designer wear, but I pulled together two more pairs of well-worn but decent Wranglers, a deep red and black flannel shirt, a denim shirt with pearl snap buttons, another belt, a charcoal wool vest, and some Henleys, a stocking cap, and a knitted scarf too. No winter coat, though.

I thought about what Ash had said about the men who’d worn these clothes before me—what battles they’d fought, what demons they still carried. Honestly, the only real trauma in my life right now was the blisters on my aching hands and the hollow feeling in my empty pockets.

And Sage.

She crossed my mind again—how she’d quietly carried heavy burdens of her own and still showed up forme. Whether I deserved it or not.

I pulled on the flannel, the fabric rough against my skin, and wondered how long I could keep pretending I wasn’t already in trouble.

SEVEN

Warned

SAGE

Colt shutthe driver’s side door and glanced over at us. “Are you sure you’re okay to be here, Daisy?”

She gave a nod, her arm looped through mine, glancing around the hilltop at what had become our Sunday tradition—what we called “church” on the ranch. “I just want to check in with everyone. I’m sure they’re all concerned about Knox. Then I’ll head back to the hospital.”

No one argued. We all knew she wouldn’t stay long. A visit, a bite to eat, a quick shower and change of clothes at home, and then she’d be glued to Knox’s side at his hospital bed again. I couldn’t blame her. If I loved a man who’d gotten injured while protecting me, I’d stay by his side, too.