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He snaps his fingers and points at me. “That’s him.”
“He’s eighty-four,” I gasp, “with a wife.”
His head goes back, and he laughs. “Oh yeah, he was trying to get you to do the polyamorous thing.”
I glare at him. “Yeah, because you taught him that stupid word. You know his wife came in to have a talk with me.” He slaps the desk. “It’s not funny. She said we should split the chores; she didn’t even care that her husband asked me out.”
“At that age, I’m pretty sure she just wanted to get rid of him.”
I can’t help but belly laugh. “You are not wrong.” I’m taking a sip of my coffee when my phone beeps from my purse.
Putting the coffee cup down and licking the sugar from my fingers, I pull the phone out and see the text from a number not saved in my phone.
Unknown Contact: here is my address, 151 Second Street. Come at five. Can’t wait to see you.
“Everything okay?” Brady asks me. “Your face got a little pale there for a second.”
“Yeah.” I push away the dread that is starting to creep up. “Bryan was confirming.” I put on a fake smile. “Let’s get to work,” I say, trying to avoid the fact that going out with him scares me to my core.
Chapter Seventeen
Charlie
I walk out of my house and bypass the office, going straight to the barn. My hair is still wet from the shower I took not twenty minutes ago. The sun is high in the sky, birds flying in and out of the dense forest all around me.
“You look like you’re in a great mood,” Emmett says to me when I step into the barn. I look over at him as he sits on top of the desk, papers in his hand while he writes, clipboards hanging behind him in five rows across and down. It’s where all the ranch hands go to find out what needs to be done for the day. It’s Emmett’s office of sorts. We gave him an office next to mine, but he never, ever steps foot in it. Instead, he grabbed the desk and placed it here in the barn. “It’s going to be a good day.”
“I’m fine,” I lie to him. I’m pissed. Actually, I’m past the fucking point of being pissed. I just don’t want to think about why I’m so pissed. It’s another lie I just told myself. I’ve been lying to myself a lot these days. “Why aren’t the horses out yet?” I look around and see most of them still in their stalls. “It’s a full day. The horses need to be out there getting prepped.”
He picks up the mug of coffee from beside him. “It’s not even eight,” he tells me. “They always eat at this time and then are taken out.”
He just stares at me while I look around, seeing a couple of the ranch hands chatting and laughing in the corner. “There are people just standing around doing nothing.” I point at them.
“Why don’t you go in your office and do paper things?” He puts his mug down. “Then come back when whatever it is that crawled up your ass is out.”
“Nothing has crawled up my ass,” I hiss at him. “Have we evaluated all the horses twice?” I ask him, and he chuckles.
“If you want to do it, go right ahead.” He smirks. “Seems you have the time.”
I turn around and head to the stall where I was thinking of going first. “She’s ready to be taken out,” he announces, and I unlock the gate.
She just stares at me. “Hey,” I greet her, my voice going low, “come on, let’s get you out of here.” I hold up my hand, and she retreats from me. “I’m not going to hurt you,” I assure her, not moving from my spot, leaving it up to her to come to me. “I’m going to get you out there,” I say as she takes one step forward, her tail whipping behind her. “Atta girl,” I coo to her as she takes another step to me, finally nudging my hand with her muzzle. “What’s up, pretty girl?” I rub up her nose as she stares at me, letting her smell me and get used to me. “You ready to go out?” I hold her lead rope in my hand and walk her out of her stall.
“Feeling better?” Emmett asks me, still sitting on his desk, but now all the clipboards behind him are gone, so I know the jobs have been handed out.
“I’m fine.” I walk toward the fenced pen on the side of the barn.
“Word around is that you were hanging out in town last night.” My back to him, the hair on my neck stands up.
“I went for a walk,” I state, and it’s not exactly a lie. “Jesus, when did people start giving you a play-by-play of my life?”
“And a drink, apparently.” I hear his boots hit the floor and then hear them approach me as he stands beside me. “Not a friendly one either.”
“People need to mind their fucking business,” I hiss at him, “and not worry about what I’m doing.”
“People are also saying she’s fixing to change the state of the distillery.” He continues talking. "Even some of the old folks who are holding grudges are thinking of going in to have a drink.”
“They should.” It’s the only thing I say to him before I walk out with the horse. My thoughts go right back to her, where they shouldn’t be. The last thing I should be doing is thinking about Autumn. “It’s nice out, isn’t it?” I ask Goldilocks, who walks slowly beside me. “It’s going to be a warm day.” I look around, spotting one of the ranch hands. “Can you get me a saddle and bridle?” I ask. “I’m going to take her for a walk.”
