“Sure.” I hold her gaze a beat longer, because two can play this game. “Just like I get to pick where I want to live.”
It’s a dig at her selling the farm and she huffs as she sucks up the last of her cocktail and sets the glass aside. “Magnolia rang me yesterday.”
That’s the last thing I expected her to say. “Aunt Maggie?”
“She saw the story on the news and was worried. Wanted you to know that if you need legal representation, she’ll provide it for half her normal fee.”
I snort at the offer, since Rosie’s sister is a very successful businesswoman, mainly because she’s never met a penny she didn’t want to pinch. “That’s generous of her.”
“Well, it doesn’t stop there. Seems she’s had enough of big city life and wants to come back to Knotty Falls.”
“Seriously?” Color me stunned a second time. “But what about her fancy townhouse and her corner office with the view of Central Park?”
“Burnout, I s’pose.” Rosie picks a piece of mint off her tongue, but I can see the happy glow in her eyes. Not at Magnolia’s predicament, but at the thought of her long-lost sister finally coming home. “She says she’s looking for a change of pace, and when I mentioned selling the farm, she said she was interested. She’s made me quite a generous verbal offer, in fact.”
My heart sinks a little, because if dollars are being discussed, this isn’t just idle talk. “But does Aunt Maggie really want to be a flower farmer? You’re always telling people she has agriphobia.”
“Who knows? She says she hasideas.” Rosie clicks her tongue, like her sister is talking about magic beans. “It would keep it in the family, though. And let's be honest, a New York defense lawyer is probably better suited to shoveling shit than we are.”
She cackles at her own joke, but I trace the seam of my jeans with the bottom of my cocktail glass. “You know I don’t mind it so much.”
“Oh, shush! You give everyone that little speech about blood, sweat, and manure. And what happened to your dream of rescuing horses?”
My mouth drops open. “How do you know aboutthat?”
“I listen. Iobserve.” She taps the side of her nose. “You must have filled three scrapbooks with your ideas when you were in middle school. I assumed you'd start pestering me about fixing up the old riding stables, especially when you stole that lame old nag from Dirk Riley's yard.”
“I didn’tstealSunshine,” I protest. “He jumped the fence and followed me home.”
“Like Lily's little lamb,” she coos. “That’s the same excuse you gave Sheriff Winters even though that horse couldn't jump a rain puddle in July.”
I shrug, because we both know I broke that horse out, and I’d do it again. “Dirk Riley was a mean, old bully.”
Rosie sweeps her empty cocktail glass off the table and holds it aloft. “May he rest in perpetual discomfort, the nasty, old coot.”
I smile, because I’m more than happy to toast his predicament, especially since he was eventually given jail time for neglecting his livestock.
“So,choices,” Rosie draws the word out like it’s a drumroll. “You have a few of them, my girl. Including when you’re gonna tell Leo what's happening out there. You can’t stick his head in the sand forever. And it’s a sensible head - most of the time. You find a way to help him through this, and he might surprise you at how well he copes.”
It’s good advice, but my heart still clenches at the thought of Leo being exposed to the cruelest rumors. Tristan has been keeping an eye on it for me, and he says it’s getting more outlandish, not less, since the news cycle hasn’t been fed anything fresh for a couple of days.
“I’ll think about it,” I tell her as Tristan heads towards us with fresh cocktails in hand. “But whatever happens, Leo’s wellbeing comes first.”
Although, it’s hard to remember exactly how rabid the media can be when we’re so far from its reach. The next morning, we take the horses out on a trail ride, George’s son Bobby leading the way on a pretty, dun-coated quarter horse. It’s my first chance to ride Tomorrow’s Roses, and I’m in love before we make it out of sight of the barn. Even though Zander insists it’s the horse who should choose the rider, I quickly realize that she’s perfect for me, with her springy step and willing-to-please personality. We spend most of the morning following meandering creeks and exploring the high mountain pastures, only heading back to the ranch when the stomach growls grow louder than the thump of hooves.
After lunch, the guys take the horses out again to help George fix the fence, while I grab a book and slip into a bath. My muscles are aching from both the morning ride and last night in the nest, when Logan knotted me while the other guys were asleep. The secrecy of it added to the excitement, especially when he put his hand over my mouth to smother my gasps. Every quiet thrust pushed me closer to the edge, until he sucked his mating bite so hard, I saw entire galaxies in the skylight above us.
I’m humming at the memory when my phone buzzes, and Ellis’ name flashes up on the screen. I grab it so fast, I nearly drop it in the tub, and I know I sound breathless as I return his greeting.
“Did I catch you out on the trails?” he asks, clearly smiling despite the thread of exhaustion in his voice.
“I took Tomorrow’s Roses out this morning.” I scoop up a handful of fragrant bubbles and blow them off my fingers, smiling at the memory. “She’s so beautiful, Ellis. You shouldhave seen how happy she looked, frolicking with Moondance and the other horses.”
“I’m so glad, sweetheart.” There’s a rustle at the other end, like he’s settling into a chair. “But are you alone right now? I tried Tristan’s cell, but he didn’t answer.”
“He’s probably out of range. They’ve taken the horses to the high pasture to fix a fence with George.”
“Okay.” He sounds relieved, and I realize how hard it must be for him, so far from his mates. “Why didn’t you go along? Had enough frolicking for one day?”
