She lowered her chin in a slow, drawn-out nod. “And where are we going?”
“The ranch.”
“Is this friend at the ranch?”
“No.” My teeth dug into my bottom lip as I imagined her brain flashing warning signals: confusion, no straight answers, ominous. “I promise I’ll explain.”
She set a comforting hand on my thigh, and the tension physically seeped out of me. “I know.”
I took the long way to the ranch, potholes and uneven gravel causing her to steady the casserole dish a time or two. I felt bad, but I needed the time to get my nerves in check. The last thing I needed was to cry on her again.
The ranch was silent as we pulled up, a blessing, given my family knew I visited most Sundays to spend some time in the field. Parker couldn’t ride while pregnant, so when I saw Bucky at the gates, relief flooded me. At least I wouldn’t be taking her on a few-mile-long hike across the pasture searching for him.
She unbuckled, leaving the casserole and hopping out. I did the same, and before I could even loosen my fist, she weaved her fingers through mine, clasping my hand tight.
She was so in tune with me, it nearly made my heart hurt.
Hand in hand, I led her toward the pasture, openingthe gate to let her through. Like he knew the routine we’d gotten into, Bucky headed over to us, his ears forward, head low, and tail swishing. He let out a long snort, nostrils flaring with the act.
I placed a palm on his forehead as he stopped before us, his eyes closing slightly as I rubbed him. “Hey, Buck.”
His head swiveled to Parker, eyes on her. With a small smile, she itched his jaw.
“Up for a walk?” I asked her.
She nodded.
Bucky walked beside us as we went. I typically brought treats with me once I learned he’d do anything for them, but I’d run out on my last visit. He didn’t seem disappointed, though, as he sniffed near my pocket and realized they were empty. He simply matched our pace, content to be in our company.
We crested the small hill, the mid-December sunset casting a warm glow over the yellow grass. The sun set so early this time of year, I’d had to start coming before dinner rather than after. But neither of us minded. Bucky loved a good pre-dinner treat.
I tugged off my jacket and laid it over the grass, thankful for my brown thermal keeping in my body heat. With my hand still in hers, I helped Parker to sit on my coat. I took the spot next to her, half of my ass pressed into the dewy grass. On the bright side, at least there wasn’t a foot of snow yet.
Bucky knew exactly what to do, grazing on the grass beside us.
“This is Bucky,” I started, eyes on him because if Ilooked at Parker while I told her this, I’d surely lose it. “He was the horse me and my friend learned to ride broncs on. He was a crazy fucker in his youth, but he always took care not to get out of hand after doing his job, ya know? Once our asses hit the ground, he was done. Calm as can be, like you’d never have expected that he’d just gone haywire moments before.”
Parker leaned her head on my shoulder, both her hands wrapping around my own where it was slung between her knees.
“Because of that, he taught a lot of kids. While doing the program, I became really good friends with this one guy. Despite having been acquaintances with a lot of people in high school, I had quite the opposite experience in bronc-riding school. A lot of the guys were dicks, just doing it to get the attention of buckle bunnies, so Garrett and I became really close. We were both there for the same reason: to find ourselves and test our limits.” I plucked a few pieces of grass, spinning them between my thumb and forefinger. “I’m taller than your average bronc rider, so I got made fun of a lot. They’d say I wasn’t cut out for it, but Garrett believed in me. He did some ranch saddle bronc riding with me to help me feel comfortable. Less like an outcast.
“Fast forward, we stuck together through the whole thing as best we could. Got hotel rooms together, all that stuff. We even bought a camper at one point, thinking it’d be easier to stay in that in between events.” I let out a breathy laugh at the memory. “Had to sell it after he broke the damn plumbing, though.”
Parker’s cheek lifted against my shoulder.
I swallowed, preparing myself for the rest.
“Garrett was too good. He gave up so much for everyone. Bought homeless people burgers on our trips. Hell, he even bought their dogs food when they had ‘em. He didn’t know it, but he was a big influence on me, and I—” My voice broke and I swallowed again, though this time, it was harder due to the rock forming in my throat. “I owe him so much of me.”
Parker remained still, thumbs running over my skin.
“He wanted me to come home with him one weekend to see his mom. She was going to make his favorite. Shepherd’s pie.”
I paused. Breathed in for eight seconds. Out for many more.
“I told him I would. But right before we were supposed to leave, I got offered to do an event in Billings. I couldn’t pass it up, not for the prize money they were offering. I told him I couldn’t make it home with him, but that I’d come next time. Garrett being the man that he was, he didn’t blink an eye. He wanted so much good for me, and I?—”
I choked again, rolling my lips together and blinking away the inevitable tears.
