He shook his head. “No, I’m planning to start work on the deck I promised Lacey.”
She stifled a grin. Wait until he discovered the lumber gone.
Annette passed the plate with two T-bone steaks still on it. “Here, Riley, you need to have more. You deserve it after having to repair that fence rail and get the barn ready for the new horse on such short notice.”
The older woman gave her a conspiratorial wink, which definitely made her feel appreciated.
“Thank you.” Without hesitation, she took a steak off the tray.
A groan sounded from across the table. “I’m sorry, Riley. I forgot to tell you. I went into the station at two this morning and spaced it.”
Cole’s apology took the edge off her irritation. “It wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle. Though I was surprised to see a new driver.”
“You got a new driver?” Lacey turned on her husband. “What happened to Manuel? I liked him.”
Cole looked away and sighed. Riley almost felt bad for him. “Looks like I need to apologize again. Manuel moved to New Mexico to live on his daughter’s ranch. She’s expecting their first grandchild.”
“Oh, well, that’s a good reason.” Lacey’s smile returned. “Who did you hire on such short notice?”
“An old classmate of mine, Garrett Walker.”
Trace frowned. “If he’s your age, does he realize the pay won’t keep a roof over his head?”
Cole nodded. “Yes. It’s not his only income.”
Riley swallowed the piece of steak she’d been chewing. “I don’t think he realized exactly how different our horses are.” She smirked. “After seeing Cyclone break the fence rail, he thought I was next.”
Whisper grunted. “That horse wouldn’t hurt a rabbit.”
The phrase waswouldn’t hurt a fly, but she wasn’t about to correct Whisper. “He said he’s bringing the other two horses in a couple days and that the grandson of the deceased is also going to arrive?”
This time it was Annette who jumped on Cole. “You didn’t tell me we’d be having company while we’re gone. I need to make up the other bedroom upstairs, get out towels, prep more food. I only made enough for Riley for the week.”
Her boss’s face froze, his lack of communication seriously catching up to him. Before he could apologize once again, his wife saved him. “Don’t worry, Annette. Cole and I will be here. If I need to help Riley cook up some extra food, I don’t mind, or I can have the young man over to our house.”
Riley just couldn’t let Lacey’s comment go. “Or he can cook his own food.” She was proud of herself for not voicing her real thought which was that the boy could cook his owndamnfood. She’d planned to cook for herself. That Annette had prepared meals for her didn’t sit well. It wasn’t like she was family, nor did she want to be. Being alone and separate was better.
Whisper laughed. “What she said. Annette, you enjoy your trip. We’re all adults here. We can take care of the place while you’re gone.” Whisper rose. “Now if I’m not mistaken, there’s a new horse in the barn that I need to meet. Dr. Jenna, want to grab your bag?”
Logan’s fiancée wiped her mouth and pushed back her chair. “Yes, I will.”
Whisper grabbed Riley’s shoulder. “What’s the new horse’s name?”
She put her forkful of meat back down on the plate. “It’s Lady. From what I understand, she’s just old, but I noticed a bit of competitiveness in her this afternoon. You want me to introduce you?”
Whisper’s hand on her shoulder tightened. “No. We’re good.”
She filled her mouth with meat to show she’d stay, but she’d be done shortly and planned to join them. As the conversation moved to other topics, she focused on wolfing down her food.
By time she’d finished, Lacey had offered to take care of setting up the bedroom across the hall from her. She didn’t mind sharing a bathroom with men, but a teenage boy who thought he knew more about horses than her was bound to be a problem.
She rose and brought her plate to the counter.
Cole stepped up next to her to add his to the sink. “Hey, I’m sorry about all that. I’ve got too much on my plate.”
“I know.” The question was, what was he going to do about it? “It happens.” She shrugged. She wanted things to change, but she wasn’t willing to make a commitment. The rescue horses deserved someone who would stay with them. Staying wasn’t her forte.
She’d been at Last Chance a year and eight months now. That was edging up toward being forever for her. So why wasn’t she leaving?
