Page 88 of Pumpkin Spice Promises

“I’m aware.”

“Then why do you sound surprised?”

“I don’t.”

I understood suddenly what Dad had meant. Carson expected judgment before anyone had the chance to give it. I wasn’t sure whether that was something she’d always done, or something she’d learned since James died. The girl in the videos hadn’t seemed like it. Then again, I didn’t know her. Not then, and barely now.

“I need to look at the old hay wagons,” I said. “Tractor too. Generator if you still have it.”

Her shoulders lowered slightly when she realized I actually had a reason for being there. “Who volunteered you?”

“The entire town, apparently.”

“That makes two of us.” She headed toward the barn doors and I followed. Outside, she moved quickly despite the uneven ground, pointing out buildings as we crossed the property. “Wagons are in the equipment barn. Tractor’s probably in there too, unless Earl moved it. Generator hasn’t been used since before Pops died.”

“That’s encouraging.”

“It worked last time.”

“Five years ago?”

“Six.”

“Even better,” I mumbled.

She looked back at me. “I’m giving you the opportunity to leave.”

“I appreciate it.”

“You’re not taking it?”

“No.”

She continued walking. A horse approached the fence ahead. Bay coat. White marking between the eyes. I knew before Carson reached her.

Blueberry.

Seeing her through a grainy video and seeing her ten feet away were completely different things. She was older now. Gray beginning around her muzzle. Carson stopped automatically. The mare pushed her nose over the fence, and Carson reached up to rub between her eyes.

Something in her softened. The same way I’d seen in every video. Five years hadn’t changed that.

“That’s Blueberry.”

Carson’s hand stopped.

Slowly, she turned her head toward me. “How do you know that?”

I probably could’ve lied. Dad could’ve told me. Half the town probably knew. Instead, I shoved my hands into my pockets and looked directly into her narrowed hazel eyes. “I looked you up.”

Every bit of softness disappeared from her posture. “Why?” There was enough tension in the question that I immediately understood what she thought I’d found.

“Dad said you were good.”

Her brow furrowed. “So you needed proof?”

“Pretty much.” I shrugged.

For several seconds, she stared at me. Then looked back toward Blueberry. “And?”