“Just a second. I need to finish writing this down,” I call over my shoulder as I type out another note on my phone about tweaks we’re going to make next year to help the regenerative agriculture transition go even smoother. Things have gone extremely well this year. Costs have been lower, the cows have been thriving, and I have high hopes for our yields, but I know there’s still room for improvement.
Olivia sits on the porch steps with me, finishing up an Instagram reel she wanted to make for the rescue. As her fingers move furiously, her engagement ring glitters in the orange sun.
Callie barges down the steps, tugging my phone from my hands. “Get off your phone. If we don’t leave now, we’re going to miss the sunset.”
“Olivia’s on her phone too.” I thrust my hand in her direction. “Bug her.”
“I had to finish this reel while the idea was fresh, or it wouldn’t look as good when I make it later.” Olivia sets her phone down and holds up her hands. “I’m done now.”
“Well, I need to finish writing down these changes before I forget them.” I turn back to my phone, rereading what I’ve typed. “Crap. I don’t remember. It was something to do with paddock nine.”
Callie scoops her hands under my armpits and drags me off the step I’m sitting on. “Remember when I said it would be cool to go on a sunset horseback ride? It won’t exactly be asunsetride if the sun has already set, will it?”
“I don’t get why you want to do this anyway. It feels like all three of us are going on a date.”
“Maybe I wanted a little romance in my life for once.” Callie fake sniffles.
“You’re being ridiculous.” I gently shove her as laughter breaks free from my chest.
“No, that outfit is ridiculous.” Callie gives me the elevator look, a frown painting her lips. “Go change. You can’t wear that.”
“What are you talking about? This is what I always wear to ride.”
“Not if you’re going on a date with me.” Callie surges past me, down the hall, and into my bedroom, heading straight for my closet. “We agreed we were going to finally get some cute pictures of the three of us. Let me help you pick something out.”
She pulls several tops off the hanger, laying them out on my bed along with a different pair of jeans. “These ones make your buttlook good.”
“But they’re not as comfortable when I’m riding.”
She holds up a white top. “But they will look cute with this top, which lookssogood on you when you have a tan.”
“What are you up to?” I look from her to Olivia, who is standing in the doorway with a suspicious smile on her face. “Olivia, tell me what you two are doing.”
“Nothing.” Her voice is two octaves too high, and her cheeks are flushed.
Ignoring her, Callie says, “I already told you. I want to take pictures at sunset. We have no pictures with the three of us. Come on. It’ll be cute.”
“Can’t we do them another time, so I don’t have to wear these jeans?”
She thrusts the white top and jeans into my arms. “Please just put them on. We don’t have time to argue about this. The sun is setting by the second.”
Sighing, I get changed and meet the two of them at the front door. Olivia is looking at me all misty-eyed.
“Why are you looking at me like you want to remember what I look like before I die? It’s creeping me out.”
Callie shoots a scary look at Olivia before she leads us out the door to the barn.
“What’s Jax doing tonight? Is he still working? It’s getting late.” Callie slides the door open and hands me the gear to tack up Maggie, the horse I learned how to ride on and the only horse Olivia trusts to get on.
“He came in from the fields, and we had dinner together before you got here. I think he’s hanging out with Rhett tonight, isn’t he?” I turn to Olivia.
“Oh, yeah, they are. It’s great they’re getting along.”
“I knew they would if we forced them together enough.” I grin.
“Rhett just takes time to come out of his shell, but he seems to really like Jax.”
I finish tacking up Lucky and help Callie with my mom’s horse so we can leave.
