“Listen, he may be my brother but Mabe’s, you will always be my sister.” He looks at me.
Man, this kid does stuff to my heart strings.
I gulp down my wine and stand out of my swing. I pick up my bottle of wine from the table and walk over to him.
“Love you,” I say, planting a kiss on his cheek.
“Love you right back, girl,” he says, returning the kiss to mine.
“I’m heading to bed, wish me luck.” I wink at him, and I head over towards the sliding doors.
“You’re gonna’ need it, honey,” he laughs before taking his glass and standing up.
I walk back into my house, lock the sliding door behind me and place bothglass and bottle on the island.
Lord, help me.
Fourteen
Maverick
Looking at my watch in the dimly-lit stable, it’s just gone four-ten in the morning.
Thank God for smart watches otherwise I wouldn’t be able to see. Storm’s standing beside me, letting out a gentle whine.
“Shh, girl,” I say to her with a boyish grin on my face.
My reunion with this girl’s been magical.
I don’t know what I was expecting from her; hell, I haven’t seen her in the thirteen years since I’ve been gone. Although my mom loved putting her on video call for meover the years when I started calling more.
Storm is uncontrollable. As soon as I open the door to her stable, she shoots through faster than she’s done before, knocking me on my ass as she pushed through.
I don’t think my heart could have taken being rejected by her as well.
“All right, girl, ready to work?” I say to her as I give her a pat on her neck.
I practiced over the weekend with Storm, to see if I could still herd, or even ride at all. Another thing I hadn’t thought through properly when Colter offered me the job. But luckily, they’re right when they say you never forget.
Taking grip of the saddle, I place my left foot in the stirrup, and pull my body weight, swinging my right leg over her back to sit firmly in place in the saddle. Taking the reins, I adjust my hat and nudge her with a gentle kick, signalling Storm forward into a walk.
Colter said to be at the ranch for four-thirty, just before sunrise. I already know where I need to go. He offered me a horse, but I don’t want to ride anyone else accept my girl.
I thought about taking her over in a horse box, but luckily my ranch boarders the Riggin’s so it’s easier to ride her over the field’s instead. I kick Storm into a gallop once we reach the open field.
Man, I’ve forgotten the feeling of this, the freedom that comes with galloping a horse through a wide-open space.
It doesn’t take long to reach the stables at the Riggin’s. As I walk Storm into the huge stable, I see Colter tacking up his own horse. He looks at me with a side eye and shakes his head.
“Nice to see you still have good time keeping skills,” he says as he swings his leg onto his horse.
“Some things don’t change.” I wink at him.
I watch as Colter leans forward in his saddle, clicking his tongue against his mouth, urging his horse to walk towards me. I turn Storm to follow in the direction he’s heading and walk side by side with him and his beast.
“Good looking horse,” I say.
“Thanks, his name’s Dash. Good worker.” Colter gives Dash a firm pat.
