“So yes,” she said. “I know what it feels like to be happy, and unhappy, and to second-guess literally everything I’ve ever thought, felt, or believed.”
“I’m sorry. Of course you know what this feels like. I’m so stupid.”
“Hey, no you’re not.” Winnie pulled away and looked at him. “It’s okay for you to have this be a new experience for you.” She tilted her head and watched his gaze flit around. “Can I tell you something that will feel like a lecture, or would you rather I not?”
Ty took the now-empty bag of oats from Laura Ingalls and re-hung it on the wall. He nodded down to the next horse. “Yeah, I can hear a lecture.” He gave her that sexy, lopsided grin she loved so much. “If it’s in your voice, it’ll sound like sweet music.”
Winnie giggled and shook her head, moving down to the next stall. “Now you’re just sweet-talkin’ to me.”
“Is it working?”
She ran her hands down the sides of the next horse’s neck and glanced over to the nameplate. Light glinted off it, and she couldn’t make out the letters.
The words she wanted to say stormed through her head, and she debated whether she should say them out loud or not. She reminded herself that she wanted a partner she could speak her mind with, and she’d asked first.
He’d said yes.
“This is a new experience for you,” she said. “Learning how you feel, and if it’s true or whatever. But you’re not alone.” She lifted her eyes and met his. That tether that had always been there between them reformed, stronger and tighter than ever.
“You’re not the first person to experience this, and you won’t be the last. God knows you, and He knows what you need to become the man He wants you to be.”
“I want to be someone who’s good for you,” he whispered.
Winnie’s heart leapt and sang, causing a smile to come to her face. “You might be,” she said. “But you might not be. We’ll figure it out, but you shouldn’t try to be who you think I want you to be. You should try to be the best person you can be, because I might not be the one for you, and then?—”
“Don’t say that,” he said. “I can’t think of a single reason why we shouldn’t be together.”
Winnie nodded. “I honestly feel the same right now, but Ty, we’re only one month in.”
“How long does it take?”
“How long did you date Jenn?”
He flinched and blinked like she’d thrown ice water in his face. “Okay,” he said. “Point taken.”
“We’re together,” she said, linking her arm through his as he checked the clipboard. “And I’m really enjoying it. I’m just trying todo what I think is right, and I know you are too.”
“Yeah,” he said.
“Hey, you guys.”
Winnie dropped her arm at the introduction of another voice to the conversation. She looked past Ty to see Burt headed their way.
“Morning, Burt,” Ty said, all diplomatic and professional. “I was told to check with you when we’ve finished our list.”
“Did Caldwell give it to you?”
“Yep.” Ty dug in his pocket for the paper, and he passed it Burt. “We’re just checking the horses right now and doing the special feeding. Then I’ll get them fed, and we’ll work on the tack room.”
Burt scanned the list. “I have a couple of guys on the tack room already.”
“Oh,” Winnie said. “That’s not what Caldwell said.”
Burt glanced at her, his expression darkening. “Henry and Angel brought in a lot more people than we need.” He checked something on the paper and thrust it back toward Ty. “Did your sister change her phone number?”
Winnie blink-blink-blinked at him now. “Not that I’m aware of.”
Burt growled something that sounded like, “So she’s just ignoring me,” and then spun on the heel of his boot.
