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So, maybe he wasn’t as annoying as he seemed. Maybe I was simply judging him harshly because his life seemed perfect at first glance.
Nobody’s life could be that perfect. Not even Cassidy, who had an aura of casualness about him that I would never achieve. And his smile was rather nice, especially when it made those dimples appear.
Stop, Briar.
I didn’t like him. That’s right. All I needed was for him to make sure this horse was trained properly, that he wouldn’t find me or the stallion, and then I’d disappear, leaving Cassidy’s annoying, too good, too perfect, charm behind.
I knew I was being contradictory even if I didn’t understand why I was acting this way. I’d met him just a few hours ago, but I couldn’t keep the back-and-forth thoughts from tumbling around in my head. He needed to stay an arm’s length from me; I would not let my guard down. But why was I working so hard to push him away when I should be trying to not upset him?
A knock sounded at the door, and I stomped away from the final few things still packed in the duffel and threw open the door. I scowled at his ridiculously, perfect, handsome face with his long, perfectly tousled hair. “What?” I snapped.
He chuckled to himself, his eyes swimming with amusement. “I made room in the bathroom for your stuff since my master bath isn’t quite finished. We’ll have to share for the time being. Take your time getting settled, but I’ve got some work to get to.”
“Fine,” I stated.
“Alright, Goldie.” He grinned to himself and clomped away like a horse, the muscles in his forearms rippling as he adjusted his button up, which was tucked into his pants. Of course he had one of those massive buckles. I mean, what had I expected? Anything less wouldn’t have been his style.
I quickly shut the door and shook my head. Dealing with this too-good-for-others attitude of his was going to make this already frustrating experience that much more irritating. And I had to share a bathroom with him? Of course…
Sighing, I pushed off the door and padded softly to the bed. Beautiful navy accented the monotone of the room with decorative pillows, a throw blanket, and even some portraits hanging on the pale, gray walls. The beige hardwood beneath my feet was covered in a deep-blue plush rug. Either he had an unusually good sense of style or his mom had helped him decorate.
The thought made me curious as to what his room looked like. If it was decorated in a similar manner, then he might actually have some sense of style.
Maybe a single peek wouldn’t hurt?
Wait, no. I wouldn’t want him snooping in my room, so there was no way I should even dare to enter his. Quickly digging into my duffel, I stalked to the opposite end of the room and pulled open the last bare drawer of the light-brown dresser. Plunking in my final few articles of clothing, I pushed it closed, grabbed my bag of toiletries from the duffel, and quickly tossed the empty luggage into the closet at the opposite side of the room.
Carrying my toiletries, I exited the bedroom and entered the only door separating my quarters from Cassidy’s. I easily found the empty drawers in the bathroom, and I began unloading my things. I shouldn’t have been shocked to find it rustically designed, but after how modern the guest room looked, I was a bit surprised. The sink faucet looked like an outdoor hand-pump water spigot, the copper color pairing well with the raised bowl, mounted on top of a single vanity.
The dark, oak cabinets matched cohesively with the warm, brown-stained wooden walls, as if I’d stepped into a cabin in the woods. The tub and shower were combined, with a rock tile design for the wall. Clean, fluffy, white towels hung on the rack across from the sink, and a simple potted plant sat on top of the porcelain toilet separating the sink and shower.
I really liked it, and once again wondered if this was his doing or his mom’s.
Once I’d unloaded my toiletries, I quickly left his house, tugging on my boots and wandering down the worn dirt path. Trees surrounded his house, and a small creek bubbled along the brook to the right. Wildflowers bloomed around the pathway, untrimmed by man. Nature itself had designed the trail, and I loved that no one had tried to change it.
The walk from his house over to the main road was a bit longer than expected. Earlier, he’d driven us to his house on a Razo, so it hadn’t seemed as long of a trek. I didn’t mind the walk, though, as I soaked in the warmth and heat around me, filling my soul with momentary peace.
He wouldn’t be able to find me for a while. There was no way he knew where I’d escaped to. At least not yet. He’d been too drunk to have noticed when I left. Well, at least yesterday. He definitely knew I was gone now—and was definitely upset that his horse was missing.
But I hadn’t been willing to wait any longer. Besides, there was nothing left there for me, not after he’d destroyed it all—even though I couldn’t prove it was him. I had no other enemies. My father didn’t have any other enemies, but there was also no hard evidence that it was all his doing.
Rounding the bend, I stopped, rather taken aback with the sight before me. Cassidy stood in the middle of the round pen while the stallion was pressed against the rail. Neither of them was moving.
Everything in the air whirled slower. The birds chirped a little quieter, the breeze moved a little more leisurely, even the sun didn’t glisten quite as brightly or intensely. The horse’s chest was heaving, but he wasn’t doing anything, and nor was Cassidy.
They were simply looking at each other. That was it. I’d never seen that horse so calm around a man, myself, or really anyone else. Anytime someone had shown up to have their mare bred to that stud—or to simply look at him—he’d gone ballistic unless pushed into a small chute.
That horse was an incredible stallion, and the papers had always swayed people to choose him, regardless of what condition they saw him in. Besides, that terrible excuse for a human being had always been really good at hiding the worst of what he’d done to that creature.
Watching the silent dance between man and horse calmed the ever present bubbling of worry within me. There was something light in the air as the horse took a hesitant step away from the fence, turning to face Cassidy.
My mouth parted in shock. The stallion voluntarily moved closer to him.
Cassidy still didn’t move. His hands were lazily stuffed in his pockets, and a piece of straw hung from his teeth. Sunlight danced across his chiseled face, the shadows deepened by the cowboy hat pulled over his head.
The mischievous man I’d met seemed…different.
I couldn’t read him right now, but the horse certainly could. And whatever the animal saw was good.
