"Red Fern Stables called," I say from the doorway.
Her gaze snaps to me. "And?"
"They want to board three horses. Asked about Fall Classic too."
She sets the mug down slow. "That's good. That's real good, Haze."
"Yeah."
She studies me. "You don't sound convinced."
"I am. It's just—it's real now. People are watching."
"We will get this done," Mae cuts in. Matter-of-fact. "You and that boy have been working the colt hard. The ranch is coming back together."
I nod. My throat feels tight.
"Cole stopped by yesterday," Mae says after a beat. "While you were in town."
My stomach drops. "What did he want?"
"Same thing he always wants." She picks up the mug again. "Reminded me his offer's still on the table. Said he'd hate to see me wait too long."
"Mae—"
"I know." She holds up a hand. "I'm not taking it. But Hazel, if Red Fern boards here and the show goes well, that changes things. That's proof we can do this."
The weight of it settles between us.
"You're staying, right?" Mae asks. Not accusing. Just asking. "Through Fall Classic at least?"
"Yeah," I say. And mean it.
She nods once, then turns back to the window. "Good. Now go tell Eli about the call. He'll want to know."
I blink. "What?"
"He's been working himself to the bone to help get that colt ready. He deserves to hear it's paying off." Mae glances at me, something knowing in her eyes. "And you've been pacing around here like a caged animal all afternoon. Go."
My face heats.
She's not wrong.
"Okay," I say finally.
Mae just nods and goes back to her coffee.
I walk back outside, the screen door slapping shut behind me. The air feels cooler now, shadows stretching long across the yard.
I head to the barn and rinse my hands under the spigot, staring at the cracked mirror above the basin.
I look tired. Steadier too.
Eli should know about Red Fern. He's been training the colt since before I got here, putting in hours no one asked for because he cares about this place.
But that's not the only reason I need to see him.
He won't come to me again.
