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Shane stared after her, dumbfounded. Was there a full moon last night? What could have caused Brielle to act like this? He thought he’d been the one who was broken up about their failed attempt at a relationship. Brielle was the one to insist they call it quits.
He shook his head before he headed down the steps and toward Eloise. The second she saw him, it was as if someone had pushed the slow-motion button. She climbed down from the truck and shut the door, then stood there unmoving.
Eloise glanced toward the house and then back to him. “You didn’t talk to Brielle, did you?”
Shane glanced over his shoulder toward the house. “Actually, I did.”
She sucked in sharply with a grimace. “How didthatgo?”
“Not well. Wait…” He returned his focus to her. There were so many questions he had, the answers to which probably wouldn’t make him happy. Rather than go down that rabbit hole, Shane forced himself to focus. “I need to talk to you about something.”
“You do?” She stepped away from the truck, her hands in her back pockets. “Is this about the restaurant?”
“No. Yes. There are a few things I think we should discuss.” How on earth was he supposed to explain about his cousin? Was it possible he was overreacting? Marc wasn’t with her. Maybe his interest was benign? Shane took a deep breath, prepared to just jump in and tell her what was going on when they were interrupted.
“Eloise!”
Her head whipped toward the person calling her name.
He let out a groan, drawing her focus momentarily.
A young man in a cowboy hat hurried toward them. “I’m so glad you’re back. Some of the goats got out. You know they only listen to you.” The cowboy briefly looked to Shane. “I’m sorry, are you busy?”
Eloise glanced at Shane. “We were just talking. I can come get the goats. You don’t mind, Shane, do you?”
“Well—”
“You can come with me if you like.” She didn’t even bother waiting for him to answer before she followed the cowboy.
Shane’s arms dangled listlessly at his sides. If he didn’t get back to tell Gabriel that Eloise would be available to help, then the restaurant would be closed for the evening. And if he didn’t tell her about Marc, then there could be bigger consequences.
He let out another groan and charged after her. He just needed to wait for her cowboy friend to leave them alone and he would bite the bullet and tell her everything.
Well, maybe not everything. He didn’t need her sharing some of the sordid details with Brielle. At this rate, he didn’t know how much she would tell her sister as it was. The fewer people who knew about his family’s problems, the better.
They entered the barn, and the cowboy led a horse from a stall. “Bandit was just about to get some exercise. You can take him to round up the goats.” His gaze cut to Shane. “You riding with her?”
“Riding?” His voice cracked. He was in a suit. What made this guy think that would be a good idea?
“Sure. Get him Bella. She’ll be easy on him,” Eloise answered the cowboy.
Shane scoffed. “I don’t need a horse to go easy on me—”
She patted his forearm. “Trust me, you will want Bella.”
So he was doing this. A trip out to the Callahan ranch that was supposed to be just an invitation to return to the restaurant had turned into him nearly tracking her down to save her from Marc, and now he was getting on a horse.
The cowboy brought another horse toward him and held out the reins. “I have to bring in a few horses from the corral. You got this?”
“Of course. You said the goats are in the southern pasture?” Eloise asked.
He nodded. “Thanks, Eloise. I appreciate it.”
Eloise nodded toward the door. “You coming?”
Clarity hit him over the head hard. He shook his head and held out the reins toward her. “No. I’m not.”
“Okay?” Eloise accepted the rope.
