From behind us, a low voice called out. “Hi, Evie.”
Jack wrapped his arms around Henri. “Are you getting me confused with the ranch hand?” He kissed her neck. It was a small gesture but seemed so intimate.
Henri blushed. “He’s wearing all of your clothes.”
It was easy to see how the two could’ve been mistaken for each other. They were similar in height and both had dark brown hair, although Jack’s was a little shaggier and he had a bushy mountain man beard. “Pleased to meet you, Evie.” Jack extended his hand.
“Nice to meet you.” I tried to keep my focus on Jack, but it was hard with Nick standing in the same building.
Jack slung his arm over Henri’s shoulders. “Come and meet Nick. Mom rented him the cabin and he’s going to do some help around the farm.”
No. This couldn’t be happening. Could I not get away from Nick Tinsel for just one day? I followed behind Jack and Henri. The world around me blurred as Jack introduced Nick to Henri, then Jack stepped aside. “This is—”
“We’ve met.” I crossed my arms.
Jack’s brow knitted and he exchanged a glance with Henri.
“I mean.” I softened my tone. The last thing I needed was to get fired because I couldn’t get along with the other “staff” member. “Nick stayed at the inn for a few days.”
Henri snapped her fingers and pointed at Nick. “I knew I recognized you. The Last Chance stripper night.”
Jack shook his head. “And with that, I’m going to go muck out a stall.”
Henri laughed. “This poor guy was hazed by the team. Stacey was all over him, but Evie here saved him.”
“Whatever.” Jack rolled his eyes but smiled. “Come on, Evie. I’ve heard that you might be able to help me with Kick-O.”
“Is that his name?” I followed Jack, thankful to be walking away from Nick.
“For now it is. You’ll see why in a minute…”
I spent an hour with Jack.He showed me around the barn and filled me in on the ornery horses’ background. Kick-O was definitely an appropriate name, but I knew that I could work with him. For the first day we agreed that the session should be a short one. After spending some time in the ring with the horse, I pulled a plastic bag of apple slices from my pocket and held one out for Kick-O. “We’re going to give you a better name than that.” He grunted as he chomped on the apple.
“Do you want to meet some of the good horses?” Jack asked.
Kick-O grumbled and I laughed. We already had a good rapport. “They’re all good horses.”
“Whatever you say.” Jack introduced me to the rest of the livestock, including a beautiful mare named Nutmeg and a couple of alpacas named Dave and Simon. “Are these the stars of the parade?” The two bulgy-eyed creatures stared at me as they munched on the last piece of apple I had in my pocket.
“Yes. And it’s gone to their heads.” He was gruff like Nick, but a lot more serious.
“As it should. You’re beautiful.” I stroked the neck of Nutmeg “Hey, Jack?”
“Yeah?”
“Would any of your other horses like to be ridden, you know, on a daily basis?”
His face lit up. “Of course they would. I try to ride them as often as I can, but I’m in the middle of a constructionproject. I don’t get down here as often as I’d like. You can take one out today if you’d like.”
Adrenaline surged through my body. “I would like that.”
“Do you think you could teach Nick the basics? If he’s going to be working here, he should know how to be around horses. I don’t think he’s got any idea.”
Visions of flying down the driveway with the chestnut mare’s mane tickling my face disappeared. “I’ll do my best.”
Jack crossed his arms and bit his bottom lip. “Is there anything I should know about Nick? You seem to know him. My mom didn’t really do any reference checks, I think that she just took your grandmother’s word for it.”
I rested my hand on the door to Nutmeg’s stall while I tried to figure out how to answer Jack’s question. “Like I said. He was a guest at the inn. He helped out a lot while he was there.” My mind flashed to his stealthy plumbing job. “I think that he’s a good guy.”With commitment issues, I wanted to add. “But why don’t we let Nutmeg here meet him, she’s probably a better judge of character than me.”
