A blush skimmed Sean’s cheeks. “Nothing that shouldn’t have been done two months ago. You’ve got to talk to him, Ashley.”
“I tried talking to him when I came home, but he doesn’t want to listen to me. He thinks I’ll leave again.”
“Will you?”
“No.”
“Well, go and tell him.”
Her hand dropped away from Sean’s arm. “He’s in the barn?”
“Feeding the horses.”
Ashley bit her bottom lip. If she saw him now, it might make dinner easier. If they ended up having an argument, she could drive to Amy and Nathan’s home. At least Catherine and Toby would be happy to see her.
She turned toward the barn and frowned. “If you see smoke, run toward the barn fast. I might need backup if your brother gets upset.”
“Matthew doesn’t get upset.”
“Yeah,” Ashley muttered. “He gets even. Wish me luck.”
Sean smiled. “You won’t need it. You guys have known each other for years. If nothing else, you won’t keep avoiding each other.”
“I haven’t been…”
Sean raised his eyebrows.
“Okay. Maybe I have.” She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. “I won’t be long.”
“Take as much time as you need. I won’t turn on the barbecue until I see you.”
Sean might not have to wait long. This could be the fastest visit to the barn she’d ever made.
***
Her first steps across the yard were the hardest, but Sean was right. She’d known Matthew for a long time. If they couldn’t be friends, they could at least get used to being around each other.
The barn doors were wide open. She stood beside an old saddle, listening for any sign of movement. A horse snickered, and Matthew’s voice echoed down the breezeway.
His softly spoken words made her sigh. She’d missed him more than she thought possible. “Matthew?”
His head appeared around the edge of a stall. “Down here.”
Placing one foot in front of the other, she slowly made her way toward him. “Sean said you were feeding the horses.”
Chan’s head appeared over the edge of another stall.
She stroked his neck, smiling when he lowered his head. “Do you like that?” she whispered. For such a large horse, Chan was a big softie when it came to being rubbed.
Matthew walked across the barn. “He missed you.”
Despite her nerves, Ashley smiled. “Chan gets lots of attention from your family.”
“Maybe, but he knows when you’re close.”
She gave Chan another pat before turning to Matthew. It was no use. She was fooling herself if she thought she could be happy being his friend. Her heart pounded as she looked into his clear green eyes. Being this close, pretending that everything was okay, was hard.
She stood straighter, determined not to make a mess of things. “I saw Sean when I arrived. I thought asking me here was your idea, but it wasn’t. Would you like me to leave?”
