“What’s up?” Hudson asked, walking over to where I stood with Grayson. He wasn’t quite as tall as Grayson, but almost equally handsome. He was also still single, and not for the first time, I wondered how these men hadn’t found women they wanted to spend their lives with.
Emerson arrived with his brother. At breakfast, they’d said they would be checking fence lines. I’d assumed it meant they would be out in the far pastures, but maybe they hadn’t gotten very far before Grayson called them in.
Hank was the last to arrive. He climbed out of the truck and walked over. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. But something isn’t right.” The look on Grayson’s face told me how hard it was for him to admit that he wasn’t a hundred percent right now. “I won’t put Jessie at risk.”
I helped him into his chair and grabbed the handles on the back.
“I need you to stay here,” Grayson said, looking over his shoulder at me.
“I’m not staying out here.”
“Jessica,” he sighed.
“I can take care of myself. I want to see the horse.”
“I don’t want you at risk. I have no idea what is going on in there.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “You’re right; you have no idea anything is going on in there. Besides, how are you gonna stop me?”
“That’s a low fucking blow, Montoya.”
“Then don’t be an asshole.” I stormed past him and followed Hank and Hudson into the barn. I walked down the center aisle to the stall with the horse I had been visiting every day. I hadn’t seen the grumpy old man since that first day, but I never came at the same time either.
When I got to the stall, it was empty. He must have been outside. I clicked my tongue like I had been doing to call him, but there was no answer. Usually, he would rush inside looking for whatever treat I brought him.
“Jessie, that horse isn’t friendly,” Hank called out.
“He is with me. I’ve been visiting him every day. He usually comes in as soon as I click my tongue.”
“This is where you’ve been coming when you go for a walk?” Grayson asked.
“Yea. It was by accident the first day. I was mad at you and just started walking. It was hot, and the doors were open, so I came inside, and he was the only horse here.”
“He’s my horse. His name is Thunder.” Grayson watched me as he told Emerson to check outside.
“That makes sense. He’s as prickly as you are.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” I turned back to the stall door and stepped up on the rung, clicking my tongue again.
“He’s not out there,” Emerson said as he ran back into the barn.
“What do you mean, he’s not out there? Where the fuck is my horse?” Grayson shouted as he wheeled around to face hisbrothers.
“I don’t know. No one is stupid enough to get near him. I barely get him fed in the morning,” Emerson explained.
“Maybe the hand took him out for a ride.” All four men turned and stared at me.
“What hand?” Hank asked.
“None of the hands work with Thunder. He won’t let anyone but Grayson get near him,” Hudson said.
“The second time I came out here, there was a hand in here. An older guy who walked with a limp. He yelled at me for being out here.”
“Pops?” Emerson asked.
