Percy's stance altered, and Joey almost giggled. He hated being talked back to, especially when he was on the losing end. As with Drake, Joey saw two entities with Colton.
Drake folded his arms. "If I ever see you hit one of the horses like that again, you'll be flying off this property from a swift kick in the ass. Do I make myself clear?"
Without a word, Percy spun on his heel and stomped away.
She gestured at Warren. "Come on, let's get AJ inside." She didn't want to be standing there when Drake turned toward them.
Warren clicked his tongue and Applejack, now calm and collected, easily walked down the ramp with Joey at his side. She used the horse as a shield to disappear into the barn.
"I wonder if we're just going to pack up and head out."
Joey shook her head at Warren. "Percy won't leave, even if he's pissed off. His pride won't allow it." She shrugged. "Although, if I were the two Hale brothers, I wouldn't turn my back on him or any of his cronies."
"I was thinking the same thing. They really pissed off old Percy."
"Just a little bit." She stroked Applejack's mane. "Come on. Let's get AJ tucked away and see what the feed situation is like."
Warren walked forward and pulled on the reins. "It's low. I heard Clinton cussing about it a little bit ago."
When they reached the supply trailer, it was worse than low. Clinton's face was pinched in anger. "How the hell are we supposed to survive on this?"
Warren glanced at his watch. "And any feed store around is going to be closed by now. I can make a run first thing in the morning."
"Well, that's just great," Clinton retorted, "but this is only going to feed half the horses." He lowered his voice. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say the assholes working for Percy tossed a few bags just to screw us over."
Joey sighed. "Let's feed who we can and see how short we are." She silently fumed, but she knew that if she admitted that she agreed with Clinton's scenario, it was going to start trouble. Trouble that none of them could afford.
Her cell phone rang as they were divvying up the grain. She almost hit the wrong button in her haste to answer when she saw Pine Oaks pop up on the display. "Hello? This is Joey."
"HI, sweetheart."
A moment of clarity. "Hi, Mama." Her voice almost cracked at the normality of it all.
"How are you?"
"I'm good. We're just feeding the horses."
"Aww, well I won't keep you. I was just sitting here thinking about you and thought I'd give you a call."
Joey never wanted the call to end, but she couldn't say that. "How are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine. I was thinking about going to the pool later and getting a little exercise."
"That sounds like fun. Just be careful."
Margarite laughed. "You and your father. You both always worried yourselves about me. I'll be fine."
"I'm sure you will be. I love you, Mama."
"I'll let you go. Call me soon. I love you, baby girl."
As quick as the call started, it ended. Joey held the phone to her heart and committed the words to memory. Again. These moments were so precious, and she always wished she could record the conversations for the bad days.
Scarlet came up behind her. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Joey answered. "That was my mom. She's having one of those moments where she remembers who she is and who I am. They don't come around often, but I love it when they do."
Scarlet rubbed her back. "My dad was like that with Alzheimer's. It's a bitch of a disease."
