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She crossed her arms, inching closer to him. “I don’t think I have to remind you that I spent all of my summers up here. I’m sure they wouldn’t care one iota that I’m wandering the trails around here.”
He could read people well enough to tell she was being cautious around him. Her defenses were up, and she wasn’t interested in a friendly chat. Mike took a step toward her.
“Regardless, you shouldn’t take them for granted. You don’t know how much time you have left with them.”
Her eyes softened and her hands dropped to her sides. “I heard about your grandfather. I’m so sorry.”
Mike shrugged. “He was getting up there.”
“That’s not an excuse. He’s the one who raised you.”
Mike rebuffed her. “He missed my grandmother. He was ready to go.”
“I didn’t realize you kept in touch. I’m sure he appreciated that after your grandmother passed. Helen was an amazing person.” Rose continued to inch closer. “So was Otis. I always loved spending time at your farm.”
Mike bit back the emotion that came with discussing his grandparents. While what he’d said was true—the elderly couple deserved to find their peace—it didn’t stop his heart from aching from their loss.
He was officially an orphan with no family to speak of.
Swallowing the lump in his throat, he nodded. “Thanks.”
Quiet enveloped them, only the sound of the breeze that made the foliage dance filled the air. Mike shifted, hating these moments of awkward silence. At any moment, Rose could ask him about the rumors from when he’d run away. She could question him about the night he’d spent in county lockup. Worse, she could ask him what he’d been up to since he’d come back.
Mike couldn’t have that.
He rocked back on his heels and squinted at the sky. “Last I heard, you were running an art gallery.” He chuckled. “I never would have thought you’d be successful at that, but I guess you showed me.”
“You’re not serious,” she snapped.
His eyes shot to meet hers. “Huh?”
“Who do you think you are? I bet you think you’re so funny. What did you expect, funny guy? That you could just poke fun at me, and I’d sit here and laugh with you?”
Rose’s face matched her namesake. Her hands had balled into fists and a single angry tear pooled in one eye.
Mike scowled, his defenses rising with her sharp tone. “Maybe you should check yourself before you make yourself look like a real idiot. Whatever it is you’re upset about can’t be that bad, and it most definitely has nothing to do with me.”
His words were lost on her as she continued her rampage. “You’re a jerk, you know that? I can’t believe you would say something like that to me. Who told you? Did you talk to Ethan?”
“A jerk? Because I asked you how your gallery was doing? I knew the people around here were going to be judgmental, but I didn’t think they’d be nuts.” Mike shook his head. “I also didn’t expect you to be part of that group.”
Rose huffed. No more insults were flung, but that tear that had welled up in her eye spilled down her cheek, along with two more that he noticed before she spun around and charged down the hill.
Ridiculous. Rose was something else. He was just being neighborly.
It was probably a good thing that he’d avoided the Boone family. If this was what he had to look forward to with Ethan, perhaps he should start looking for a different job.
Mike rolled his shoulders and tilted his head from side to side, but it didn’t ease the tension that stretched from his legs all the way to the ends of his hair. He headed down the hill toward the wranglers’ cabin that just happened to be a few yards from the barn. If he could slip inside without being seen, then he’d call that a win.
He was nearly successful, until Ethan himself exited the back of the barn with an empty box. They both stopped. Each sized up the other.
Mike had thought endlessly of what he would say to his childhood friend when they finally bumped into each other. He’d wanted to tell Ethan that all the rumors he’d probably heard didn’t mean anything. He’d wanted to remind Ethan of all the fun they’d had.
But all of those wants fell to the wayside, and Mike opened his big mouth and stuck his foot there instead.
“Rose didn’t turn out like I expected.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Ethan shot back. He dropped the box to the side, his shrewd gaze remaining locked on Mike.
