Elise set her mug down. The warmth in her eyes cooled into determination. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“Because it’s not your problem. You have your own life.”
“This ranch is my home too. You are my family.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a checkbook. “How much?”
“Elise, no—”
“I’m not asking permission. I’m asking for a number. Vet bills? Feed supplier? Give me the overdue ones.”
“The vet bill is the worst,” I whispered, the shame burning my cheeks. “Bandit’s colic surgery last winter. I’m still paying it off.”
“Done.” She scribbled something, tore the check out, and slid it across the counter. “Pay it off tomorrow. And the rest… we’ll figure out a budget. You aren’t drowning on my watch, Winnie. Not when I can teach you to swim.”
I looked at the check. It was enough to cover the vet and the feed for the next three months. My knees felt weak. “I… thank you. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say ‘pass the butter.’” She smiled, but her eyes were fierce. “Now. Tell me about the other complication. Pops mentioned a ‘stray’ from Dallas?”
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “Beau. He’s… a lot.”
“A lot good or a lot bad?”
“A lot confusing. He showed up useless. Designer boots, scared of chickens. But now…” I chewed my lip. “He’s working. He’s trying. And a few days ago he told me he wants to be with me.”
Elise’s eyebrows shot up. “And?”
“And then his ex-girlfriend showed up in a Mercedes to drag him back to civilization.”
“Did she succeed?”
“No. She left yesterday. Alone.” I poured Elise more coffee. “Honestly? I think she just needed to see that he’d moved on. And maybe figure out that she needed to move on too.”
“Huh. Mature ending. Rare.” Elise looked impressed. “So what’s stopping you two now?”
“Me, I guess. I’m scared, Elise. He says he wants this life, wants me, but… what if he wakes up in six months and realizes he made a mistake? That is if he even stays til the end of the summer.”
Elise was quiet for a moment, buttering her biscuit. “You know what Nana used to say? ‘You can’t live your whole life braced for the hurt.’ She told me that when I was planning to leave for school, terrified I’d fail.”
“Did it help?”
“Not immediately. But eventually.” She met my eyes. “Love is a risk, Winnie. The question isn’t whether he might leave. It’s whether what you could have together is worth the risk of him leaving.”
Before I could answer, the screen door opened.
Beau walked in, dirt on his jeans, work gloves in his back pocket. He stopped dead when he saw Elise.
“Oh. Hey. I didn’t know we had—” He looked at me, uncertain.
“Beau, this is my aunt, Elise. Elise, this is Beau.”
Elise stood, extending her hand with a smile that was equal parts warm and assessing. “The infamous Beau Sterling. Pops tells me you’ve been learning the ropes.”
Beau shook her hand, and I saw him stand a little straighter under her gaze. “Trying to. Still have a lot to learn.”
“Pops also tells me you’re scared of Pickles.”
Beau’s face went red. “That rooster is demonic.”
Elise laughed—a real, loud one. “I like him already.” She looked between us, noting the way Beau’s eyes kept drifting to me, the way I was very deliberately not looking at him. “Well. I’m going to unpack. Winnie, after breakfast, let’s go to the arena. I want to see this pattern you’ve been working on.” She paused at the doorway, glancing back at Beau. “You ride, Beau?”
