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“And that should bother me?” He moved closer to her, keeping his chest a foot away from bumping up against her knees. They’d shared a few intimate moments over the years, but he’d long learned that Brielle was untouchable. She was damaged in her own right—a wild horse, never to be tamed. It was a good thing he’d figured it out before he’d fallen too hard for her.
Brielle adjusted her position on the corral and tilted her head. “Whatever it is you have against her, I suggest you get over it. She’s a nice enough person, Dax. Trust me. She’s trying.”
He arched a brow. “Are you suggesting that you know more about her than you’ve let on?”
She shrugged. “All I’m saying is that you’re better than this. If you could teach me how to handle an untrained horse, then Sarah is a walk in the park.”
“That’s an unfair assessment. You were never afraid of anything.”
Her smile could light up a room. Maybe it was her green eyes that had the boys fighting over her. They could shine like emeralds or darken like a pine forest during a storm. She was the beauty of the Callahan sisters, and the one he would have done anything for.
But she knew all about the feelings he’d had for her, and she couldn’t return them. Or she wouldn’t.
Brielle gave him a pointed look that said he was going to follow her instructions to a T. “From what I understand, she doesn’t have a strong family unit. She’s always felt more on the outside than anything else. It can be hard finding a place where you belong. You know that better than anyone else.”
Dang it.
Why did she have to play to his softer side? He stepped back and replaced his hat on his head. “I can’t make any promises, Bri. You know that.”
“No, what I know is that you’re a whiz with this sort of stuff. Treat her like you treat me.”
He snorted. “Okay, that’s gonna be impossible.” He gave her a meaningful look that made her look away. Guilt. He’d seen it in her eyes before she broke eye contact. “You are one of a kind.”
“Everyone is one of a kind.” She climbed down from her perch and put the rail between them. “I mean it, Dax. Patience and charity. You might be surprised at how that will change things.” She took a step backward before turning and heading in the same direction that Sarah had taken.
What did she know that he didn’t? Sarah was here because of some unfortunate living circumstances back home. She could be running away from something, or she had done something. Either way, this ranch was a chance to adjust her outlook.
And he knew more than anyone how much a person could use that when things got dark.
5
Sarah
This place was supposed to be easier than dealing with her family. How was she ever going to learn all the ranching stuff they were trying to teach her? Failing miserably at everything she tried was turning out to be a good punishment for her criminal actions. She would have been better off just telling her family what had happened.
Sarah hurried into the house, hoping nobody saw her. There was a strong chance she’d get in trouble for not finishing her work with Dax today. She wasn’t quite sure how everything was being calculated for her community service these days. It felt like she wasn’t working nearly as much, but at the same time there was still a lot to do.
It probably had something to do with Dax and the way he made her stick with the drills over and over and over again.
She blew out a sharp breath. Well, Zeke was the one who signed off on those government documents. As long as all the numbers added up, she’d get out of here at the end of the summer and never have to see a horse or chicken again.
The original bedroom they’d put her in had been Adeline’s old bedroom. But over the last two weeks, she’d opted to share with one of Zeke’s daughters. Brielle was more than willing to bunk up. But Sarah had suspicions that it had more to do with the second eldest daughter’s propensity for sneaking out at night.
To her knowledge, the girl wasn’t doing anything against her father’s strict rules besides breaking curfew. Technically, she could date whomever she wanted now that her older sister had gotten married.
Sarah settled onto the edge of her bed and glanced around the room. Her own strict upbringing didn’t seem nearly as bad when she compared it to the way Zeke had raised his daughters. Sheshouldbe grateful for that, right? Maybe the old saying was true. The grass wasn’t greener on the other side, no matter how much it appeared to be.
The open door moved slightly, and Brielle ducked inside. She met Sarah’s gaze and offered her a tight smile. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Sarah scooted back onto the bed and laid down, staring at the ceiling. “Is Dax always such a demanding boss? I can’t seem to do anything right.”
Brielle was quiet—so much so that it was clear Brielle didn’t agree with Sarah’s sentiment.
Sarah groaned. “So he only hates me.”
“He doesn’thateyou.” Brielle moved over to her bed and stared down at her. “Scoot over.”
Sarah obliged, and Brielle crawled onto the bed with her.
