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“Just gentle curiosity and nothing more. You’re my friends, I’m just checking everything’s going okay.” Fin gave Maggie a smile that reached his eyes, and made Joe wonder if in fact he’d been on to something before.
“Gentle, my ass,” Joe snorted.
“And what a nice ass it is,” Maggie said as she always did, but this time it didn’t hold its usual kick.
“Yours too, sweet cheeks.”
“If we’re done butt admiring, shall we saddle you up a horse, Maggie?”
“I got it, Fin, but thanks. You two go back to your beers, and I’ll head out.”
They sat in silence, picked up their beers, and drank.
“She’s off today, it’s not like her,” Fin said quietly, so Maggie couldn’t hear.
“Probably that needle-dick she’s dating. Guy’s a loser.”
“Then why is she dating him?” Fin asked.
“She likes losers, is my guess. Damned if I know.”
“That makes no sense.”
“Okay, I didn’t realize you wanted sense, because let’s face it, anything to do with women and their love lives is black and white, right.”
“Fair point.”
They fell into companionable silence again.
“I sometimes wonder about big city life, and then I look around me and....”
“You think no.”
Fin grunted his agreement.
They turned to watch Maggie come out. She had just put her foot in the stirrup when they heard the noise.
“Was that gunshots?” Joe got to his feet.
“No one should be shooting around here, not without permission,” Fin said, doing the same.
“I’m taking the horse, Maggs.” Joe took the reins she handed him, and vaulted on its back. Seconds later he was galloping away. “Hold on to Buzz!”
Chapter 14
Bailey was enjoying the ride. The tension of the kiss with Joe, and then seeing Angie, was still there, a tight little knot in her chest. How could he do what he had to her, when he obviously had a girlfriend?
“So you used to ride all over this place alone?”
“We had farm hands, and they sometimes came with me. Plus Maggie, when she was allowed. But for the most, yes. This was my playground growing up.”
Jack smiled. “Awesome playground, it has to be noted.”
“No complaints here.”
They headed into the forest, the air cooling as the leaves formed a canopy overhead. Dappled sunlight played on the ground as they moved deeper. She could hear the river that ran past Joe’s house and down from the falls as they approached.
“While I’m here, Jack, if you need any help with rides, or the stables, I’d love to help.”
