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“Well, I’m happy to help,” I smile softly as I finish up my coffee.
“Thank you, sweetheart,” his stern voice filling the room before he finishes his own cup of coffee. “Right, we ready?” he asks as he stands, pushing out his back as he does and I hear the click. His red, rosy face looks even more flushed than normal. Concern laces my mind for a moment that he may be getting unwell. He shrugs his shoulders back and he pulls his boots on and I hear a grunt. He isn’t as agile as he once was, he looks tired. He is still built the same. Solid, broad and stands around five foot seven. Regret floods me at not coming home for three years, that I pushed them aside for Luke and that I used to get aggravated with their Sunday night phone calls.
I regret it all.
“Where is Austin?” I ask as I begin to walk towards the boot store and grab my old riding boots. Memories flash in front of my eyes and my chest tightens at the memory.
“He will join us in a bit,” he rolls his lips as he waits for me. Grabbing his flat cap, he pulls it over his head and does his fleece jacket up and under his chin to keep warm in the cold spring air.
“Do you think at some point you could walk with me down to where Blossom is?” I ask, ignoring the sting behind my eyes, the bob in my throat and the way my stomach twists.
“Of course,” my dad smiles and I ignore the tears that are threatening to fall as I follow him out onto the porch.
My steps falter when I see Conrad’s truck pull down the driveway, my heart dropping from my chest.
“Why didn’t you tell me Conrad was coming?” I whisper to my dad and he just laughs.
“I didn’t think I had to,” he shrugs his shoulders, a ghost of a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips.
Nudging him with my shoulder as we walk down to where Conrad is pulling in, I murmur so only he can hear, “Idiot.”
I inhale deeply and plaster a broad smile on my face stopping behind my dad who has just shaken Conrad’s hand. He dips back, and that’s when Conrad seeks me out.
“Aspen,” he smiles, his beautiful eyes glistening in the high spring evening.
“Hey,” I breathe and any awkwardness I was feeling slowly melts away. Conrad is a gentleman, I know that. But I also know that I am not interested in him as anything more than just a friend. Shame swims through my veins at the thought, in no way do I want to lead him on.
“You still owe me another date,” he says quietly as we drop back behind my dad as he leads the way to the stables.
“I do, don’t I?” I turn to look up at him and my smile widens.
“How about Friday?”
“Friday is good, I’ll have a think what we can do,” I skip forward, moving closer towards my dad and away from Conrad.
“I’ll be here at seven!” he calls out and I look over my shoulder at him, giving him a wink before I focus on the job in hand.
* * *
Mucking out the empty stall,I opted for this job instead of having to deal with the horses. I hate myself for it, but I need to build myself back up. I should have just climbed on the back of Blossom after my accident, but I didn’t. I let fear cripple me more and more as the weeks turned into months, months into years.
I’m not alone long when I hear the sound of galloping hooves coming down the paddocks and I see Riggs, Tripp and Pacey. Walking towards the large opening, I lean on the fork handle as I see them slow in front of my dad.
Nosiness gets the better of me as I slowly walk towards where the commotion is. I can see Tripp’s hands flying around and my dad holding his up trying to calm him. Conrad is standing next to my dad, straightening his back as if gearing up for a fight.
“What is going on?” I say as I walk out onto the dirt track, my eyes narrowed on the three brothers.
“Nothing for you to worry about,” my dad gives me a grave look and it panics me.
I look at Conrad then move to the three brothers.
“Is this to do with Clay?” I ask, my brows pinching when Austin barrels in behind us all.
“Is it true?” Austin grits, already grabbing one of the mares and getting ready to tack her up.
“Over a quarter of my cows were maimed along with one of the horses that we left turned out last night,” Pacey finally says and my heart stills in my chest.
My eyes are glued to Riggs.
