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“It’s because he thinks he’s protecting you.” She rolled her eyes. “He doesn’t think you should work at a bar.”
“I understand that he thinks that it’s not safe for a woman to work at a bar, but I’m fine. I can look after myself. It’s not like the area is known for its criminals.” I threw my hands up in exasperation. “He’s such a jackass. I just can’t believe that he would go behind my back and do that.”
“Are you going to talk to him about it?”
“Oh, you can bet I’m going to talk to him about it! I am absolutely furious!”
“He deserves it. I mean, all of the Hamilton men can be obstinate and pigheaded, but that just goes above and beyond.”
“It really does, but…”
“Arya,” Sadie put a hand on my arm, “you know I can give you some money to get by—”
“No,” I cut her off. “I understand that you want to help me, and I really, really appreciate it, but I can’t take your money.”
“It’s okay. I want—”
“No,” I cut her off again. “Thank you so much, Sadie. You are one of the best friends a girl could have, but I can’t do that. It wouldn’t feel right. I’ve already gained so much from being here. I need to make my own way.”
“It really sucks that Chet did that.” She shook her head. “Sometimes I just don’t understand what these guys are thinking.”
“I know what he was thinking. He told me not to leave, he told me not to take a job at a bar, he told me not to live in that apartment, and I told him it was none of his business. So, he decided to go over my head and make it so I couldn’t work there. Well, joke’s on him because I’ll just find another job, and another bar and…” I could feel myself choking up. “I’m just so upset and frightened and frustrated. It’s so hard, Sadie. I don’t want to break down in front of Eloise, but this has all just been a lot, you know? I sometimes just don’t know what to do.”
“Oh, Arya.” She pulled me into her arms as I struggled to hold back tears. “Don’t worry, Arya,” she whispered “I know you don’t want to take help, but I’m always here for you. And if you want to make it alone or if you just want to stay at my family’s ranch or work for my dad on the farm, you’ve always, always,” she stressed, “got a place with me, okay? You’re always welcome.”
“You’re absolutely the sweetest, you know that, Sadie?”
“I try,” she said. “Now, what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to go and look for Chet Hamilton and give him a piece of my mind.” I wiped my eyes and smiled at her. “I don’t suppose you know where he is, do you?”
“I think he went out to the stables,” she replied. “That’s normally where he is. You know he loves the horses.”
“Yeah. I love horses too, but I don’t know if they’re going to love me when they hear how I go off on their master.”
“You give it to him good,” she said. “Promise?”
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” I snorted.
I entered the first set of stables and looked around. Chet was standing at the far end with his back to me. I recognized him from his Stetson hat. My heart raced as I made my way toward him.
He turned to me with a self-assured smile, and my fingers itched to slap it right off of his face. I pressed my lips together so that I wasn’t smiling back at him.
“And to what do I owe this pleasure?” he said, lifting up his hat and smiling.
I stared at him, willing myself not to be affected by his charm. “You cost me a job.”
“Um, excuse me?” He blinked innocently and turned towards me fully. “I did what?”
“You cost me the job at the bar, and a place to live.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said.
“Don’t play innocent with me, Chet Hamilton. I spoke to Chip.”
“Ah, shit,” he muttered. “Really? Chip squealed?”
“Yeah, he did, and he told me what you said, and he told me what you did. And what do you think I’m meant to do now?”
