She shrugs. “It was fine today. We just took it slow and easy. That’s how you build confidence. But I need you to help lead her, going forward.”
“I know. I’ll be here. There was just an emergency I had to contend with. The other ranch hands were busy.”
Her eyes snap to me. “Other?”
“Yeah.”
“You tellin’ me you’re a ranch hand?” she asks in disbelief.
“I am. Is that a problem?”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m just surprised. Figured Holland and Caison would have you doing something—”
“Something?”
“More.”
I chuckle. “Nope. Just a dirty ol’ cowboy, like the rest of ’em.”
She looks me over. The mud dried on my jeans and boots from crawling around the busted pump.
“Nothing wrong with dirty ol’ cowboys,” she says.
“Is that right?”
I grin as her cheeks turn pink.
“I meant, there’s nothing wrong with working hard.”
We stand there in silence for a few beats.
“Well, I should go. Get this one home,” I say, glancing down to Ruby, who is now fast asleep. “See you Wednesday?”
“Yeah. See you on Wednesday.”
Ienter the barn in search of Carla with a receipt for the parts I picked up for the tractor this morning and see Matty Storm coming out of Caison’s office.
She doesn’t see me right away.
Her hat is pulled low, brim hiding her eyes, but I can tell something’s off immediately. Her shoulders are tight, jaw clenched, one hand pressed flat to her stomach. She’s breathing shallow, like she just finished sprinting.
“Hey,” I say as I approach.
She startles hard.
She jerks to a stop and spins toward me, eyes flashing before she schools her face into something cold.
“Geezus,” she snaps. “Don’t do that.”
“Sorry,” I say, holding up a grease-stained hand. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
She exhales through her nose, already turning away. “It’s fine.”
I blink. “You okay?”
“I’m good.”
“You sure?”
