It was tempting. Apple needed that feed.
But she couldn’t leave the ranch.
“Let me figure things out and call you back,” she told Cal.
“Sure thing. Just remember, we close at four today.”
After hanging up, Willow stared at her phone, anxiety churning in her stomach. She looked at the time again. Her brothers and Decker said they’d be back by lunch at the latest. It was going on one o’clock. Where were they?
As she entered the kitchen, her mind was spinning with possibilities. If she could only find someone to run into town and fetch the feed…
She picked up the coffeepot, but a knock on the front door made her abandon the coffee. When she reached the door, Crew, one of the veterans in the therapy program, stood in the doorway looking apologetic.
He dipped his head in greeting. “Hey, Willow, sorry to bother you, but Apple’s out of food. I gave her a full feed, but this evening will only be a partial feed.”
Damn.
The decision crystallized in that moment. She had no choice. The sick horse needed food, and Cal had the feed ready at the loading dock.
Five minutes, in and out.
“Thanks for letting me know, Crew. I’ll take care of it.”
She could send one of the guys from the therapy program. Several were allowed to come and go.
But she hated to ask any of them to run errands for her. They had more than enough to deal with in their own lives.
After Crew left, she called the feed store back with a last-ditch effort. “Cal? It’s Willow again. Is there any way someone could deliver if I paid extra? Double the delivery fee?”
“Darn, Willow. I really wish I could help, but there’s literally no one here but me. I can’t leave the store unattended.” His voice was genuinely regretful. “But like I said, it’s right there on the loading dock. You pull up, I’ll load it. You don’t even have to get out of your truck.”
Decision made, she shoved her feet in her rubber boots and grabbed her jacket and keys to the truck. “Okay. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
The drive to town felt longer than usual, her hands tight on the steering wheel as she navigated the snow-dusted roads. The anxiety in her chest grew with every mile, but she pushed it down.
This was ridiculous. She was a grown woman driving to a feed store in her hometown in broad daylight, not embarking on a dangerous mission.
Besides, she hadn’t broken any of her brothers’ rules in a while. They could use some stirring up.
Still, she couldn’t help but have an imaginary conversation with Decker in her head.
I’m fine. I’ll be back on the road in minutes.
Dammit, Willow. I can’t tell your brothers I failed.
They’ll be mad at me, not you.
It’s my job to keep you safe.
Her face felt too hot, and it wasn’t from the warm air streaming from the vents.
When she pulled into the loading area behind Willowbrook Feed and Seed, Cal was already there, waiting by a pallet of feed bags. He waved, and she noticed immediately that he was struggling—stumbling slightly, wincing with every step.
Her heart went out to him. The veteran was clearly in pain, his prosthetic leg maybe more problematic in the cold, wet weather. And he was still out here, working, loading heavy bags into her truck bed.
She reached for her door handle, instinct telling her to help.
But then she imagined Decker’s reaction. Her brothers’ reactions. They’d lock her in the house for a month if they heard she got out of the truck when they’d specifically told her to not leave the ranch.
