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We’d gotten permission from Morgan to bring our horses again, and I assumed I’d pick Jess up. It made the most sense since it kept the small driveway from being overcrowded, and Jess’s house was on my way. And she seemed to have fun before.
I wasn’t trying to steal her heart. Truly, that was not what I’d meant to do. Jess wasn’t the kind of girl to cheat, and I wouldn’t want to put her in that position, no matter what my present thoughts were about the guy she was dating.
But there’d been a few times that day when I’d catch her eye, or she’d say something in a certain way, or when she touched me. I found out just how weak I was. Had Austen not pulled up in the driveway that night to take her to dinner, I’d have asked to take her myself. And I didn’t think she would have refused.
Today, I’d have another chance. I’d laugh with her in the truck, work by her side with the kids, and then ask for a few more minutes when I took her home. And maybe in that few minutes, the whole world could change.
After all, it wasn’t like she and Austen were serious. They’d gone out a few times, and I didn’t want to know what else. But he didn’t own her heart yet. I didn’t even have to ask—I knew, because she would never have let herself get that friendly with me otherwise. And so, I’d decided it was time to stop pulling my punches. I’d just be honest, and maybe I’d find out if there was really something there worth fighting for.
Half an hour before I needed to leave, I slung Duchess’s halter over my shoulder and walked into her stall. “Hello, beautiful,” I murmured as the silver nose touched my hand. I stroked the fine bridge of her nose, the delicate curve of her ears, and slipped the halter on. I had told myself I wasn’t going to fall in love with this mare, but it was already too late.
I knew the ranching life by now. You didn’t get sentimental, and you didn’t get attached. Horses are the job. They’re a tool to get the work done, and the good ones are money in the bank when they’re sold—always right when they’re really at their best, and you’d like to keep them, too. We didn’t have the luxury of holding on to our favorites. We just counted ourselves fortunate to have a ranch full of good ones, with talented horses walking through our barn like a revolving door.
But Duchess’s story would be different. She would join the ranks of horses like Five Iron and Maserati, who took their turn in the show pen or the rodeo arena, then retired to mint little copies of themselves to keep the ranch deep in good horses for another generation. And I was the lucky bloke who got to enjoy her until then.
“Are you ready, pretty lady?” I tugged the blanket off, and she stood like a queen, all statuesque and gorgeous, while I groomed her. Jess had loved her. I smiled at the thought as I brushed out Duchess’s tail. I should offer to let Jess ride her some time.
They were a bit alike, these two ladies who had staked their claims on my heart. Stunning to look at, sweet to be in company with, but easy to underestimate. And too often misunderstood. Very little rippled the surface, and if you weren’t careful, you’d be fooled into thinking they were quiet, simple, and uncomplicated. But deep waves swelled underneath.
Maybe that was what appealed to me about them both.
I tossed my brush aside and slid the stall door open to lead Duchess to the trailer. A few minutes more, and the afternoon would be just right. Jess would climb into my truck, smile at me, and I’d do everything in my power to make her want to stay there forever. But just as I was closing the horse trailer door, she sent me a text.
-I’ll have to meet you at White Pines. I won’t make it home in time for you to pick me up. See you there.
I sagged against the trailer. So she was running late. That was no big deal, but what about the horse? Wasn’t she bringing him today, after all? That changed all my plans. I took off my leather gloves and just typed back a quick acknowledgment. She’d probably tell me all about it later.
“Dusty! Good to see you!” Austen Conrad strolled toward me with his hand out as I opened the door of my truck.
My fist tightened on the door handle, and my jaw clenched before I could compose myself. It wouldn’t do to create a scene. Not here—it wasn’t my turf, and Morgan didn’t need a couple of idiot stags locking horns in the parking lot of her therapy program. I forced a tight-lipped smile, but I picked up a stack of used lariats from the back seat so I’d have an excuse not to shake his hand. My dad would have had my hide for that stunt, but I didn’t care. “Conrad,” I grunted.
“I heard you were volunteering out here a couple of times a week. Came out to see what it’s all about.”
“It’s about kids. Helping someone besides yourself. You should try it,” I growled as I walked toward the barn with the ropes. Jess’s truck and trailer were already here, which meant she was inside somewhere with Nash.
He followed me. “Actually, I wanted to ask you about that. They help kids with disabilities here? And they put them on horses?”
“Some of them. They do lots of things here.”
“Like what? I met the guy who’s missing a leg. What else do they do?”
“All kinds of stuff, but I just work with the after-school program. You need to talk to Morgan.”
“I ask because I’d really like to try it, or donate, or something. You see, I… Seriously, can you stop walking so fast?”
My shoulders sagged, and I turned around. “Fine. What do you want?”
His mouth shifted, and he held my gaze for a few seconds, then dropped his eyes. “I wanted to apologize. I was out of line the last time we spoke. I’m sorry.”
That was the last thing I expected. I blinked, swallowed, and just nodded. Then I walked off.
“For real, Dusty,” he said as he fell in behind me again. “You were nothing but a good friend to me, and I bit your head off. I was stupid. Jealous. That wasn’t cool.”
I slapped the ropes down on a bench inside the barn and turned around. “No, it wasn’t cool. You don’t snap off like that and expect no one will judge your character for it.”
“I know. I know. But that’s not the guy I am, and I’d like to make it up to you.”
“You can’t just make something like that up. That’s what you don’t seem to get. It takes time and a lot of goodwill. No one cares what you say if you don’t follow through with your actions.”
