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Sam raised his eyebrows at me, but I said nothing.
The older man returned and waggled his finger in my face, but then something close to recognition crossed his eyes. “Are you Johnny’s youngest?”
He was referring to my father, Jonathan Monroe. “Yes, Sir.”
Mr. Clementine’s features softened as he dropped his hand. “You remind me of my sweet Caroline when she was younger. She's been gone a long time, but you know that. You’re the tiny little thing who used to come and sit on my porch and drink tea and eat cookies your mama baked.”
“Yes, Sir. I used to really love hearing stories about her. It’s been so long since I’ve stopped by.”
“Promise to stop by one afternoon and we’ll forget this whole mess. I still buy Caroline’s favorite rose tea, and you used to love it, too.”
His wife had passed away when I was in elementary school and she had always been very sweet to me. My mother would send me to their house to bring cookies and treats for Mr. Clementine. Rose tea was one of the minor comforts I used to partake in when I would cry over Trinity. I think part of me stopped going over to his house after my older sister died because I couldn’t bear for both of us to be sad. I used to think that the hurt would end, but he missed his darling Caroline every day and she had been gone twenty years.
“Yes, Mr. Clementine,” I said sweetly. “I’m off on Thursday. May I stop by around noon?”
“Yes, yes, that will be just fine. Do you know how to make cookies?”
“Um, I’m not so great in the kitchen, but I will pick up some pastries.” I squeezed his hands gently.
“I am so happy we bumped into each other today. We both were fortunate to escape unharmed. Check on your horse.” He embraced me once, planting a kiss on my cheek before releasing me.
“I will,” I assured him.
“We’re both okay, Sam. No need for any reports. My car is fine, not a scratch!” Mr. Clementine grinned as he turned away, waving over his shoulder. “I’ve got to get going. It’s almost naptime.”
My heart felt a million times heavier. I had scared an old man off the road. I could have seriously injured him or something terrible could have happened to Dorianne.
Sam rubbed a hand across his throat. “It doesn’t seem like you can properly ride a horse or you have no navigational skills. Did you lie on your resumé to get a job at the ranch?”
“I plead the fifth.”
He looked up at the sky, shaking his head once. “With how many of our friends have horses and the means to train you, I’m shocked.”
“Your friends aren’t my friends,” I lamented sadly. “I was younger. Then my parents stopped functioning when Trinity died. I’ve basically been on my own.”
“You had so many people looking out for you, but it doesn’t seem like you remember it.”
Crossing my arms over my chest as if I could keep the awful memories from barreling to the surface, I stared at him. “Uh-huh.”
“You are stressing your horse, sweetheart. If you try to ride her back to the ranch without knowing what you’re doing, she could injure herself or you.”
His observation was on point. I opted for a small white lie. “Trey is in the middle of something important or he’d be riding the horses.”
“Let me think for a minute.”
“Maybe I could just walk Dorianne home?”
“You’re going to walk her ten miles to the ranch?” he scoffed. “Do you even know what direction it’s in?”
Pursing my lips, I let out a long breath. I could not deny the truth slapping me in the face. Sam knew better than me how to navigate horses, our town, and life better than me. “Will you please help me?”
“Go comfort the horse. I have an idea, but I need authorization.”
Sam returned to his squad car. I calmly called Dorianne, clucking my tongue and whistling. She perked up as I approached. I rubbed my face against hers. After a few minutes, Sam came back to my side.
“I’m sorry for being a dumbass, Sam. I could have gotten Mr. Clementine, and the horse and myself really hurt.”
“You’re not a dumbass, even if you made a poor decision. Don’t make such nasty comments about yourself, Monica.”
