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“No, it’s fine; a beer is good.” She waved off his concern. Her smile was both genuine and brittle at the same time. Sunshine fighting through the clouds. “I wanted to see this big, beautiful ranch. Can’t your sister come visit?”
“With her dog and a mountain of luggage, but without Matthew or any warning? No. You can’t. Not without answering a few questions.”
“We broke up.” She took the beer and popped the cap off, using the edge of the quartz counter. The top sailed through the air, landing with a ping on the floor. She lifted the beer and took a long pull. “And I quit my job.”
Tracie, Jethro, and I shared a silent look that screamedholy shit!
“Rae, I’m so sorry.” He squeezed her to his side.
“Don’t be. I’m not.” Her tone was flat and edged with steel.
I decided on the spot to hate Matthew. Team Rae all the way.
Wilson slid his arm off Rae’s shoulders, dislodging the artfully arranged cream and cobalt scarf that had been draped around her neck.
Wow, must have been a hell of a breakup. Because Rae was rocking a hickey like I’d not seen since Wilson and I first started dating. I tried not to stare and failed, but I wasn’t the only gawker.
“And that...” Wilson squinted one eye and wrinkled his nose at her neck.
He was struggling with all of it, and I wanted to help. I knew that a big reason he’d wanted to move to Texas and buy a place was to reconnect with his family. But when he talked about that dream, he always mentioned his parents and rarely Rae. I sensed a bumpy road ahead for the siblings.
She rearranged the scarf without blushing. Rae had guts; I’d give her that.
She shrugged. “So, you know that expressionsave a horse, ride a cowboy?”
Poor Wilson. He rubbed his face like he was fighting a migraine. This was way above his pay grade. High time a woman stepped in.
“Is it like the best way to get over a man is to get under another one?” I asked.
Jethro choked on a sip of beer.
“Or more like ride him hard and put him up wet?” Tracie joined in the female solidarity.
“I like the way you ladies think.” Rae’s smile was infectious.
The three of us clinked our beer bottles. Chicks rule.
“They delayed my flight in Dallas; I found a way to, ah... pass the time.” Rae primly rearranged her scarf and smoothed the fringed ends.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear any of this.” Wilson flailed his open hands at Rae, me, and Tracie.
“Good call.” Jethro had recovered from inhaling beer and gave Wilson a salute with his mostly empty bottle.
The front door opened almost silently. I looked over to see Atley slip inside. He stood silhouetted in the light from the glass door as he removed his cowboy hat. He looked like the Marlborough man bordered by the timber doorframe, light streaming in from outside highlighting his iconic profile. Lean waist, broad shoulders. The hat and boots. The only thing out of character was the yawn. He’d flown in from a trip to Montana this morning. He’d been up north looking at some breeding bulls for Blue Star.
Georgie’s yip of excitement cut through the room. The small dog, a Maltese, I thought, sprang up from the rug and raced for Atley like the ranch manager, not Rae, was his owner. The dog’s long white hair belled out like a cape as it skittered over the slate floors.
Atley took a few steps and kneeled to pet the dog. I often thought he liked animals better than humans. The dog rolled over in ecstasy, offering Atley his pristine white belly to scratch.
Rae turned on the stool, and her beer bottle slipped from her fingers. It crashed to the floor in a terrific explosion of glass. Atley was the only one of us who didn’t startle, too engrossed in petting the little dog.
“Hello again, darling.” Atley looked up from Georgie and gave Rae a smoldering look that would melt a woman’s panties right off her body.
“Fuck,” Rae squeaked.
“Oh shit.” Tracie grabbed my arm, her nails sinking in.
I’d bet a thousand dollars we’d found Rae’s well-ridden cowboy.
