“Except I’m normally up when it’s dark,” she says. “Otherwise, I’d never get anything done.”
“Touche.”
I love how smart she is, and hardworking. And the fact that she looks so smoking hot in those daisy dukes with boots… It’s criminal. What’s also criminal is how I can’t touch her.
“So? If you’d really like to help me get a head start, the stables…” She thumbs behind her. “I’ll introduce you to the horses, get you acquainted.”
“Sounds good.”
“How do you feel about saddling up?” she asks.
My heart rate accelerates at the mere mention of it. “I-I think I’d need a little practice. It’s been… a while.”
“No pressure, but I have a trail ride this afternoon. I was gonna tackle it alone because we only had four bookings, but now there’s six. If you wanted to join me, it’s slow paced, fun and you get to see some parts of Alpine Falls the tourist books won’t tell you about.”
“Insider knowledge?” I just can’t help the way she makes me feel. Warm and fuzzy comes to mind. I still have a few reservations about tackling a trail ride, but a bigger part of me wants to do it.
“You bet.”
“I like that.”
“Well, when you’re done cleaning out and we’ve put the horses out to pasture, we can maybe do a few laps of the farm.”
I try not to show how her words make me feel… anxious, excited, and ready to rumble. It’s taken me up until now to realize just how dumb I’ve been. Feeling sorry for myself—as if this is some pity party. Meeting her horses last night made me realize just that, and I’d been shutting out all the good memories I’d had with Clyde over the years. That part doesn’t sit well with me. I want to remember him fondly, not feel sad every time I think about him, or I scroll through my phone and see his face. He wouldn’t want that. Maybe getting back in the saddle is exactly what I need.
“That sounds… great,” I say.
She levels me with that famous Bailey stare, one I shouldn’t already know by heart, but somehow I do. “You’re sure? I don’t want to pressure you?—”
“I realized a lot of things last night,” I say. “One of them being what a disservice I’ve been doing not ridin’. I need this, Bailey. Thank you for making me realize it.”
“That’s, uh, okay,” she replies, shifting from foot to foot. Why is she so nervous? Bailey doesn’t strike me as a nervous person, but around me… I don’t know? Her vulnerability? I’ve never had a woman give me all of her. Never. Yet, Bailey has been more honest and forthcoming than any of the women I’ve been with. She doesn’t wear her heart on her sleeve or anything close, but when she does share things with me, it’s from the heart. Bailey doesn’t say or do things she doesn’t mean. That’s refreshing.
In a world that is full of ‘yes men’ and people who just want a piece of me, her making me shovel shit in the stables today is kinda humbling. I’m all for it. In fact, I’ve never been happier in my life than I have been right now. A warm, familiar feeling rushes through me.
It feels like home.
It shouldn’t, but it does.
I can’t shake it. The familiarness of being outdoors again, in the thick of it, getting dirty and doing a good, honest day’s work. It didn’t kill anyone, and it won’t kill me.
“Where would you like me to start?” I ask.
She points over to the far stall. “You can start with the big fella, Zeus.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ll be right over here if you need anything.”
I tip my hat, trying my best not to do a look back as she walks off to the other side of the barn.
Jed is right. Maybe I am in love. This woman has encapsulated my heart and turned it upside down in the space of a few short hours. I’ve barely known her a day, and this isn’t like me.
I smile, headed toward Zeus’s stall.
Already, this is the best day ever.
Brianna
