"Don't mess with it," he said. "Did you move any of the pieces?"
"No, I can tell there's a game going on."
"Yeah, it's my dad and Henry, and they'll know if it's messed up. And it's off-balance, it teeters, so be careful. Don't bump it. Henry's making a whole new table specifically for that chess board." He laughed. "Me, on the other hand, I barely know which way the pieces move."
"So, is this your dad's area?" I asked. I took a step away, but I pointed around at the office area where I had been standing.
"No, this is Henry's office. My dad's in charge of the cows. He's got a big office in the main barn. Have you been over there?"
I shook my head and shrugged because I wasn't sure.
"This is all Henry's. He does the horses. There was no focus on horse breeding and training until a few years ago. This is Henry's part of it. I'm business partners with him." He shrugged. "I have a percentage of shares in the horses. We work together. I follow his lead, and when we sell one, I get to share in the payday. Henry's cool like that. It took my dad twenty years to work up to earning commissions in his ranching work. Henry's progressive, letting me share with him even though I have nothing to invest."
Josh was proud of what they were doing with the horses, and he was eager to answer my questions about it. We talked as we walked, and he stopped at a fork in the path, pointing toward my apartment.
"See the apartment? Do you know where you're going?"
"Yeah, I see it over there," I answered, pointing.
"I'll be by tomorrow," he said. "I think Jen's got me showing you something with the cows in the afternoon."
"Yay," I said, joking with him but also meaning it.
Josh knew I was having fun, and he smiled at me as we waved at each other and said goodbye. I knew I wouldn't see him again that night. I would go to dinner, and then I would try to do my best not to go see Candice behind everyone's back that evening.
My sister had relationships to tend to. She had a boyfriend and sorority sisters who were counting on her. After dinner, shewent straight back to the apartment to make phone calls and text people.
That was when I got bored enough to take off on foot. I went by the horse barn, and I wanted so badly to go inside, but I was scared I'd get caught. I had been told that I should stay out of all barns. I knew I should follow the rules. But I missed my dog, and I loved Candice. I wanted to see her. It made me happy that she liked me.
I knew our time would be occupied with cow activities the following day and that we didn't have another horseback ride scheduled. I didn't know whether or not I was going to get to visit the horse barn again, and it made my heart ache to think about leaving the ranch without seeing my new friend one last time.
I didn't work up the nerve to go in there.
I wanted to so badly, and I walked by the barn twice, but I just could not make myself go inside. I was too scared that there would be cameras and that I would get called out and reprimanded. I wasn't scared that I would get hurt or put myself in any danger. I was only wary of human repercussions. I didn't want to get in bad graces with the people Alex was working with for the series.
But I was restless all night, and I woke up before dawn, thinking about Candice and knowing I was going to see her that morning. It was our last full day at the ranch, and I just had to hang out with her again.
I got dressed while it was still dark out, and I headed toward the barn as soon as the teeniest bit of sun broke the darkness. I had the cover of night without coming across as being sneaky. Technically, it was morning. I would look for Josh. That was my cover. I told myself I could 'look for Josh' while I snoopedaround the barn. I was confident I could play dumb and pretend I was lost if I got caught.
It felt good that Candice accepted me the first time I met her. Maybe I was anxious to see if she would do it a second time. Either way, there was nothing I could do to keep myself away from that barn. I crossed the ranch on foot, a girl on a mission.
I knew of a way inside through a side door, and I went there and tried it, feeling relieved when it easily pushed open. No one was inside, and it was still fairly dark in the barn. I could easily see where I was going, though, and I quietly started towards Candice's stall on the end. I headed there without a glance toward the other side of the barn.
I walked quickly and silently, knowing I was aiming for the stall on the end. Elanor was standing at her door, and she made a noise when she saw me. "Shh," I said quietly to her.
I didn't stop moving, walking ever so quickly down to Candice's stall.
"Hey girl," I whispered the instant I made eye contact with her.
She had been lying down in the corner of her stall. It was still so early the morning, and I hated to disturb her, but she started to stand the instant she saw a human.
"It's okay," I whispered to her.
I opened her stall door and slid inside.
I knew that Josh and others went into her stall to lead her out to the pasture. I stayed right by the door and she stayed in her spot, close to the back of the stall—both of us keeping our distance.
"You could have stayed lying down," I said to her. My whisper was so quiet that I could barely even hear myself. I sank down, sitting by the door. I wasn't sure how Candice would react. But I could easily get out if I needed to, and I could tellshe was at ease. She was half-standing, and she slouched and breathed like it was no big deal that it was just me.
