After years of cominghere every spring, and the week being mostly over, the unknown man standing near the stall of my horses sticks out like a sore thumb.
At first I don’t think much of it, except when I see him step up onto the fence and reach into the paddock.
“Can I help you?” I call out loudly from the end of the aisle between the pens as my boots beat against the dirt in his direction.
His suit is out of place here with the sweat and grime of days of hard work.
“Oh, sorry. I’m an old friend of the family.” His smile is practiced over too-white teeth.
“Of mine? I don’t think so.” I squint at him, trying like hell to place his face.
Straight nose, defined jaw, and a crisp collar of a pressed shirt under a stark new cowboy hat.
His pale brows knot. “I apologize, I must have the wrong animals. The chart said—”
My arms cross as I stare him down.
The chart likely still has Sophia McCullough’s name on it.
“Everything got switched around. Too many critters, not enough slots.” I pull my lips into a thin smile. “Even then, ya better ask before messing with people’s animals. We put a lot of work into them. It’s a shootin’ offense around here.”
His eyes widen and his finger raises to tip the edge of his brim, making the sun glint off his ruby ring. “No harm meant, friend. I was just going to wish them well.”
“I’ll be sure to pass it on. You are?” I shift just enough to block his easy escape route.
“It doesn’t matter.” He side steps, brushing by to leave a waft of his fruity cologne. “Have a good day.” His words are loaded with fake pleasantry before he brisks away.
Huh.
Weird.
Propping my heel on the bottom rail of the gate, I pull out my phone and send a quick text to Brent to tell him what happened.
Footsteps make me glance up.
Oh, it’s the other gal that’s been working with the McCullough girl.
Rachel, I think her name is?
“Hi, Oliver.” Her grin is wide. “Can you believe this week is already over?”
My shoulder has felt every second of it, slinging rope all the time.
I’m ready for a break.
And to get back to work. Denny and Mike said they’re about done with the demolition on the Black Gulch place.
It’s ready to get a solid materials quote.
“Every year it goes by faster,” I grunt.
Then I look down.
RacingQueen: I’m in Oregon. How far is that from you?
Fire boils through my veins.
“Is everything okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Rachel cuts the strings on one of the bales ofspecialhay to feed to the mare.
