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Come Home to Me

Page 68

by Kris T. Bethke

“Which is?”

“Well, she looked at the options on the internet, and I think I want the one with a proper bathroom at one end and a bedroom with a queen in the other. Kitchen and sitting area and such in the middle.”

He showed me the app’s functions, then asked, “So it’ll be your base for now? Like an office, too?”

“Yeah.” I sighed and took the phone back with a nod. I thought I understood the app and if I didn’t, I’d ask him to show me again. It wasn’t rocket science. “I think Bodhi will want me to move in as soon as possible.”

Ville turned to lean against the fence, and we both pointedly ignored the filly that was curiously stepping closer to us. “But?”

“What if it doesn’t work?”

He grinned. “Well you’ll have your fancy Airstream to hide in.”

I groaned and barely held back from punching his arm because of the filly. “Turns out he’s not ace after all.”

“I hope so, with how much you stink right now.”

“I didn’t have time to shower, you ass. Quit it.” I glared at him, but there was no heat in it whatsoever.

“All I’m saying is, maybe it’s time to trust the universe’s process.” He slowly turned and the filly snorted, dancing away. “You’ll be fine.” I wasn’t sure if he was talking about me or the foal.

“You’ll get your couch back. And your wild, noisy monkey sex.” I smirked at him, not that it affected him in any way.

Nyx ambled over from the side of the yard and Ville smiled at her. “Oh, I called Nessa Sanders. She’ll have a replacement dog in the spring. Nothing before that.”

“I’m going to pay for that one. Or for Nyx. Whichever is more expensive.”

“Yeah, I told her as much. She’ll let me know when the time comes.”

It felt only fair, given that while I hadn’t done it on purpose, Nyx had chosen me and would no doubt follow me wherever I went any given night.

When we got back to Yellow Ribbon after tending to the ponies, I let her out of Bodhi’s truck. My loaner from the ranch was still on my property, but that couldn’t be helped. Besides, if it came to that, I could take Nyx and make it a brisk walk on the path instead. It wouldn’t be too bad, and well, I liked to think my girl would enjoy that a lot.

Since I couldn’t see anyone in the yard, I wandered to the main building. As soon as I opened the door, I could hear laughter. Smiling, I headed toward where Bodhi, Nick, and Sky were sitting in Nick’s kitchen. They were having coffee there for whatever reason instead of going to the dining room.

The reason became obvious when Nick got up to pour a mug for me and stirred something in a big pot in the same go.

“Everything good at your place?” Bodhi asked and lifted his face in a way that was so unfamiliar, but felt so right.

I kissed him, then sat on the stool next to him. I was pretty sure there was a pile of them in the corner of the kitchen at all times for when people wanted to hang with Nick while he did his thing. Not that it happened often. Nick was a bit of a solitary being, so I hoped that Sky would bring more life and company to Yellow Ribbon.

“Yeah, we put some cameras in and I am also in the process of ordering myself an Airstream.”

Bodhi looked confused for a moment, which I didn’t blame him for, and then clearly pushed the latter out of his mind for now.

“Wren, this is Sky Spotted Horse.”

I held out my hand over Bodhi’s lap and the corner of the island we were gathered around. “Nice to meet you, Sky.”

It had been clear she’d recognized me in the yard earlier, but now she was looking at me in a much more neutral way.

“Good to meet you.” She gave me a small smile as she shook my hand. “Bodhi was just telling me about the ponies.”

“Oh yeah, they’re doing good. Mal’s going to take a look at the hooves tomorrow. That’s Bodhi’s brother in law.”

“One of many,” Nick deadpanned.

“There aren’t that many,” Bodhi grumbled playfully.